The strangers that were in the land - Those who had become proselytes to the Jewish religion, at least so far as to renounce idolatry, and keep what were called the seven Noahic precepts. These were to be employed in the more servile and difficult parts of the work: see on 1Ki 9:21 (note). For the account of building the temple, see 1 Kings 5-9 (note), and the notes there.