1 Kings 9:13

“What are these towns you have given me, my brother?” asked Hiram, and he called them the Land of Cabul, as they are called to this day.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Hiram addresses Solomon, using the diplomatic term "my brother," immediately after inspecting the Galilean towns provided as payment for cedar and gold. This exchange occurs at the conclusion of their temple-building alliance, directly following Hiram's expressed dissatisfaction.

The words — The Hebrew מָה (mah) literally asks "what?" to question the quality of the settlements, while וַ/יִּקְרָא (va/i.yik.Ra') records the naming act that produces the pejorative title "Cabul."

The thread — The underlying tension over Tyre's commercial practices and future divine judgment resurfaces in 1 Kings 5:1 and Amos 1:9. These passages trace the same political and economic friction that begins here and culminates in later prophetic condemnation.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to confront the reality of compromised exchanges rather than accepting diplomatic euphemism. It demands honest evaluation of any arrangement that falls short of its stated purpose or covenant standard.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֕אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said מָ֚הmahwhat?הֶעָרִ֣יםhe./'a.Rim[are] the/ cities הָאֵ֔לֶּהha./'E.leh<the>/ these אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which נָתַ֥תָּהna.Ta.tahyou have givenלִּ֖יl/ito/ meאָחִ֑י'a.Ch/iO brother/ my וַיִּקְרָ֤אva/i.yik.Ra'and/ someone calledלָהֶם֙la./Hem<to>/ themאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retz[the] land of כָּב֔וּלka.VulCabul עַ֖ד'aduntil הַיּ֥וֹםhai./Yomthe/ day הַזֶּֽה׃ פha./Zeh<the>/ this

King James Version

And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.

Cross-references

Joshua 19:27 then turned eastward toward Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.
Amos 1:9 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Tyre, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they delivered up a whole congregation of exiles to Edom and broke a covenant of brotherhood.
1 Kings 5:1 Now when Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father’s place, he sent envoys to Solomon; for Hiram had always been a friend of David.