So tell us Dexter how you would have said "service" in Biblical Hebrew? And if he meant slaves he would have said "Haim Yehiyu L'chem L'avadim".
Shirut, LeSharet:
"וַיִּמְצְאוּ אֶת־אֲבִישַׁג הַשּׁוּנַמִּית וַיָּבִאוּ אֹתָהּ לַמֶּלֶךְ...וַתְּהִי לַמֶּלֶךְ סֹכֶנֶת וַתְּשָׁרְתֵהוּ" (מלכים א א, ד)
"הַקְרֵב אֶת־מַטֵּה לֵוִי וְהַעֲמַדְתָּ אֹתוֹ לִפְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן וְשֵׁרְתוּ אֹתוֹ" (במדבר ג, ו)
Rambam says
קיבלו עליהן המס, ולא קיבלו העבדות, או שקיבלו העבדות, ולא קיבלו המס--אין שומעין להם"
means: "Accepted the taxes and not slavery, or accepted slavery and not texes, we don't listen to tham".
Maybe Rambam meant slavery as a proverb but I would like someone that know Hebrew clearly to tell me.
OK, I take my words partly back because I suspect the Rambam means their slavery will be that they will have no political rights and they will low their heads infornt of us etc'. What do you think ?