( Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
1 KINGS 9:11KJVWhat does 1 Kings 9:11 mean?
1 Kings 9:11 describes how King Solomon gave Hiram, the king of Tyre, twenty cities in the region of Galilee as a gift. This exchange happened because Hiram had supplied Solomon with cedar and fir wood, as well as gold, to fulfill all of Solomon’s requests for building projects.
In this verse, the focus is on the relationship between Solomon, the king of Israel, and Hiram, the king of Tyre, who had been an important ally. Hiram had provided valuable building materials and gold for Solomon’s construction of the temple and his palace. As a gesture of gratitude and to settle their agreement, Solomon gave Hiram a group of cities in Galilee, showing the scale and seriousness of their partnership.
The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 9:11
- חִירָם (ḥîrām, "Hiram"): This is the name of the king of Tyre, a key figure in Solomon’s building projects. His involvement highlights the international cooperation in Israel’s history.
- אֶרֶץ (ʾereṣ, "land"): Used here for "land of Galilee," this word often refers to territory or region, emphasizing that Solomon gave not just property but whole cities within a significant area.
- זָהָב (zahāv, "gold"): The mention of gold shows that Hiram’s support was not just in materials but also in wealth, underlining the high value of what Solomon received and the seriousness of the exchange.
- עִיר (ʿîr, "city"): The word for "city" here means a settled, organized community, so Solomon’s gift was substantial—whole communities, not just empty land.
Why 1 Kings 9:11 matters
- This verse clarifies that Solomon’s building achievements relied on international alliances and resources, not just local effort.
- The exchange of cities shows the scale of Solomon’s gratitude and the costliness of his projects, giving a sense of the wealth and political dealings of his reign.
- It sets up later verses where Hiram’s reaction to the gift is described, which adds nuance to their relationship and the value of the cities Solomon gave.