In this list Solomon’s servants are associated with the temple servants and are counted together with them in the total number that is given in this verse. By this time in the history of Israelite religious practice, these workers were recognized as Temple officials, though of low status. Translators should therefore use a word like “servant” and not “slave” in this context.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .