This verse reveals how reciprocal giving forged a peaceful and prosperous alliance, as Solomon bestowed territory to Hiram in response to the abundant resources he received.
Solomon’s busy building projects are summed up when Scripture affirms, “Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold according to all his desire” (v.11). In response to Hiram’s faithful provision, the verse continues that King Solomon “then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee” (v.11). By highlighting this generous reward, 1 Kings 9:11 underscores the great bounty of materials Hiram sent from his land of Tyre—cedar and cypress timber being especially prized in the ancient Near East for monumental construction—and notes Solomon’s decision to return that favor with an entire cluster of cities in northern Israel. Tyre itself was an influential city-state situated along the Mediterranean coast north of Israel (modern-day Lebanon), known for its dominant maritime trade and skilled craftsmanship, as demonstrated by Hiram’s supply of choice timbers (1 Kings 5:10-12).
Hiram reigned approximately from 980 to 947 BC, and he had a mutually beneficial alliance with Solomon, who ruled Israel from around 971 to 931 BC. Their partnership was rooted in a formal covenant, leading to peaceful collaboration between Israel and Tyre. In gifting Hiram twenty cities in the district of Galilee, King Solomon extended his gratitude in a tangible manner, although the biblical text later indicates Hiram was not entirely pleased with the quality of these cities (1 Kings 9:12-13). Even so, the gesture shows that Solomon, in his era of vast wealth and expanding influence, recognized and appreciated Hiram’s vital contributions of lumber and precious resources for building the temple of the LORD and his royal palace.
Galilee, the area specified in this passage, lay in the northern part of Israel and consisted of rolling hills and fertile valleys. Centuries after Solomon’s time, this same region would become central to Jesus’s earthly ministry (Matthew 4:12-23). The mention of Galilee here not only foreshadows its future significance in redemptive history, but also illustrates how its strategic location was valued even during Solomon’s reign.
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1 Kings 9:11 meaning
Solomon’s busy building projects are summed up when Scripture affirms, “Hiram king of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold according to all his desire” (v.11). In response to Hiram’s faithful provision, the verse continues that King Solomon “then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee” (v.11). By highlighting this generous reward, 1 Kings 9:11 underscores the great bounty of materials Hiram sent from his land of Tyre—cedar and cypress timber being especially prized in the ancient Near East for monumental construction—and notes Solomon’s decision to return that favor with an entire cluster of cities in northern Israel. Tyre itself was an influential city-state situated along the Mediterranean coast north of Israel (modern-day Lebanon), known for its dominant maritime trade and skilled craftsmanship, as demonstrated by Hiram’s supply of choice timbers (1 Kings 5:10-12).
Hiram reigned approximately from 980 to 947 BC, and he had a mutually beneficial alliance with Solomon, who ruled Israel from around 971 to 931 BC. Their partnership was rooted in a formal covenant, leading to peaceful collaboration between Israel and Tyre. In gifting Hiram twenty cities in the district of Galilee, King Solomon extended his gratitude in a tangible manner, although the biblical text later indicates Hiram was not entirely pleased with the quality of these cities (1 Kings 9:12-13). Even so, the gesture shows that Solomon, in his era of vast wealth and expanding influence, recognized and appreciated Hiram’s vital contributions of lumber and precious resources for building the temple of the LORD and his royal palace.
Galilee, the area specified in this passage, lay in the northern part of Israel and consisted of rolling hills and fertile valleys. Centuries after Solomon’s time, this same region would become central to Jesus’s earthly ministry (Matthew 4:12-23). The mention of Galilee here not only foreshadows its future significance in redemptive history, but also illustrates how its strategic location was valued even during Solomon’s reign.