Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But when Hiram went from Tyre to see the towns that Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. New Living Translation But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the towns Solomon had given him, he was not at all pleased with them. English Standard Version But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please him. Berean Standard Bible So Hiram went out from Tyre to inspect the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them. King James Bible And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. New King James Version Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him. New American Standard Bible So Hiram left Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him. NASB 1995 So Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him. NASB 1977 So Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him. Legacy Standard Bible So Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they were not right in his eyes. Amplified Bible So Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, and they did not please him. Christian Standard Bible So Hiram went out from Tyre to look over the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them. Holman Christian Standard Bible So Hiram went out from Tyre to look over the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them. American Standard Version And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. Contemporary English Version When Hiram went to see the towns, he did not like them. English Revised Version And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. GOD'S WORD® Translation Hiram left Tyre to see the cities Solomon gave him. However, they didn't please him. Good News Translation Hiram went to see them, and he did not like them. International Standard Version Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, but he wasn't happy with them, NET Bible When Hiram went out from Tyre to inspect the cities Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them. New Heart English Bible Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they did not please him. Webster's Bible Translation And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo Hiram went out from Tyre to inspect the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them. World English Bible Hiram came out of Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they didn’t please him. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Hiram comes out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon has given to him, and they have not been right in his eyes, Young's Literal Translation And Hiram cometh out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon hath given to him, and they have not been right in his eyes, Smith's Literal Translation And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon gave to him, and they were not right in his eyes. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Hiram came out of Tyre, to see the towns which Solomon had given him, and they pleased him not, Catholic Public Domain Version And Hiram went out of Tyre, so that he might view the towns that Solomon had given to him. And they did not please him. New American Bible Hiram left Tyre to see the cities Solomon had given him, but he was not satisfied with them. New Revised Standard Version But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please him. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they did not please him. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Khiram went out from TsurTyre to see the towns that Solomon gave to him, and they were not pleasing in his eyes. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him: and they pleased him not. Brenton Septuagint Translation So Chiram departed from Tyre, and went into Galilee to see the cities which Solomon gave to him; and they pleased him not. And he said, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Solomon's Numerous Achievements…11King Solomon gave twenty towns in the land of Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, who had supplied him with cedar and cypress logs and gold for his every desire. 12So Hiram went out from Tyre to inspect the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them. 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.… Cross References 2 Chronicles 8:2 Solomon rebuilt the cities Hiram had given him and settled Israelites there. 1 Kings 10:10 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again were spices in such abundance brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 2 Chronicles 9:9 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There had never been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. 1 Kings 5:1-12 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. / And Solomon relayed this message to Hiram: / “As you are well aware, due to the wars waged on all sides against my father David, he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God until the LORD had put his enemies under his feet. ... 2 Chronicles 2:3-16 Then Solomon sent word to Hiram king of Tyre: “Do for me as you did for my father David when you sent him cedars to build himself a house to live in. / Behold, I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God to dedicate to Him for burning fragrant incense before Him, for displaying the showbread continuously, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening as well as on the Sabbaths, New Moons, and appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is ordained for Israel forever. / The house that I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. ... 1 Kings 10:11-12 (The fleet of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir also brought from Ophir a great cargo of almug wood and precious stones. / The king made the almug wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had such almug wood been brought in, nor has such been seen again to this day.) 2 Chronicles 9:10-11 (The servants of Hiram and of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir also brought algum wood and precious stones. / The king made the algum wood into steps for the house of the LORD and for the king’s palace, and into lyres and harps for the singers. Never before had anything like them been seen in the land of Judah.) 1 Kings 5:6 Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.” 2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours Matthew 12:42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here. Luke 11:31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here. 2 Chronicles 9:12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—far more than she had brought the king. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants. 1 Kings 10:13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired—whatever she asked—besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned to her own country, along with her servants. 2 Chronicles 9:14 not including the revenue from the merchants and traders. And all the Arabian kings and governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon. 1 Kings 10:22 For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. Treasury of Scripture And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. Numbers 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. Judges 14:3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. Jump to Previous Cities Eyes Hiram Please Pleased Right Solomon Towns TyreJump to Next Cities Eyes Hiram Please Pleased Right Solomon Towns Tyre1 Kings 9 1. God's covenant in a vision with Solomon10. The mutual presents of Solomon and Hiran 15. In Solomon's works the Gentiles were his bondmen, the Israelites servants 24. Pharaoh's daughter removes to her house 25. Solomon's yearly solemn sacrifices 26. His navy fetches gold from Ophir So Hiram went out from Tyre Hiram was the king of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city known for its wealth and maritime prowess. Tyre was a significant trading hub in the ancient world, and Hiram's relationship with Solomon was mutually beneficial, as seen in their collaboration on the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem. This journey from Tyre indicates Hiram's personal interest and investment in the agreement with Solomon, highlighting the importance of their alliance. to inspect the towns that Solomon had given him but he was not pleased with them Persons / Places / Events 1. HiramThe king of Tyre, a significant ally of King Solomon. He provided materials and craftsmen for the building of the temple and Solomon's palace. 2. Solomon The king of Israel, known for his wisdom, wealth, and building projects, including the temple in Jerusalem. 3. Tyre A prominent city in ancient Phoenicia, known for its wealth and trade. It was Hiram's kingdom. 4. The Cities These were the towns in the region of Galilee that Solomon gave to Hiram as part of their agreement. Hiram was dissatisfied with them. 5. The Agreement A mutual exchange between Solomon and Hiram, where Hiram provided resources for Solomon's building projects, and Solomon gave him cities in return. Teaching Points The Value of Integrity in AgreementsSolomon's exchange with Hiram reminds us of the importance of fulfilling promises and agreements with integrity. As Christians, we are called to be trustworthy in our dealings with others. Perception vs. Reality Hiram's dissatisfaction with the cities highlights how expectations can differ from reality. This teaches us to manage our expectations and communicate clearly in our relationships. The Significance of Land and Inheritance The land was a significant part of God's promise to Israel. Understanding its value can help us appreciate the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ. The Importance of Contentment Hiram's reaction can serve as a reminder to find contentment in what we receive, trusting that God provides for our needs. The Role of Alliances and Partnerships The relationship between Solomon and Hiram shows the importance of forming alliances that honor God and contribute to His purposes. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Kings 9:12?2. Why did Hiram call the cities "a wasteland" in 1 Kings 9:12? 3. How can we discern God's blessings in seemingly undesirable situations? 4. What does 1 Kings 9:12 teach about earthly versus spiritual value? 5. How does this verse connect with Jesus' teachings on worldly wealth? 6. How can we apply Hiram's reaction to our own contentment in life? 7. Why was Hiram displeased with the cities Solomon gave him in 1 Kings 9:12? 8. What does Hiram's reaction in 1 Kings 9:12 reveal about Solomon's leadership? 9. How does 1 Kings 9:12 reflect on the value of material wealth versus spiritual wealth? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 9? 11. Who is Qoheleth in the Book of Ecclesiastes? 12. In 1 Kings 9:11, how could Solomon give Hiram twenty cities in Galilee, and is there any historical or archaeological evidence confirming this exchange? 13. In 2 Chronicles 8:2, Solomon rebuilds cities given by Hiram, yet 1 Kings 9:11–13 implies those cities were unacceptable to him; how can both accounts be accurate? 14. In 1 Kings 9:26-28, Solomon's fleet sailed to Ophir for gold; does any evidence confirm the location of Ophir or the plausibility of these voyages? What Does 1 Kings 9:12 Mean So Hiram went out from Tyre• Hiram, king of the prosperous port city of Tyre, had long been Solomon’s ally, supplying cedar and skilled labor for the temple (1 Kings 5:1–12). • His journey south underscores the strong trade and diplomatic ties between Israel and Phoenicia, ties that God used to advance the building of His house (cf. 2 Samuel 5:11, where Hiram aided David). • The text shows Hiram’s personal involvement; he didn’t delegate the trip. His direct presence hints at high expectations for what he was about to receive. to inspect the towns • 1 Kings 9:11 notes that Solomon had given Hiram “twenty towns in the land of Galilee” as partial payment for lumber and gold. • Inspection was normal in covenant arrangements (cf. Genesis 23:17-18, Abraham carefully viewing the field he bought). It affirms accountability—what is promised must match what is delivered. • Spiritually, this moment reminds us that integrity honors God; both giver and receiver must walk uprightly (Proverbs 11:1). that Solomon had given him • The towns lay in Galilee, a region later blessed by Jesus’ ministry (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:15-16), but in Solomon’s day they were lightly settled and less developed than coastal Phoenicia. • Solomon’s choice may reflect strategic thinking: he kept Israel’s prime agricultural heartland while ceding marginal territory, yet he still fulfilled his obligation (compare Joshua 19:32-39, the earlier tribal allotment of this area). • The narrative confirms that land transfers were real and tangible, reinforcing the literalness of Scripture’s historical claims. but he was not pleased with them • 1 Kings 9:13 records Hiram’s blunt verdict: “What kind of towns are these You have given me, my brother?” and he names the region “Cabul,” sounding like “good for nothing.” • Possible reasons for his displeasure: – Inferior farmland compared to fertile Phoenician plains. – Sparse population and infrastructure, meaning high development costs. – Distance from Tyre’s maritime focus, making trade benefits minimal. • Though disappointed, Hiram did not break the alliance; 2 Chronicles 8:2 indicates Solomon later rebuilt these cities, perhaps returning or improving them. Faithful partnership endures even amid unmet expectations. summary Hiram’s journey reveals the practical side of Solomon’s grand building era: real towns exchanged hands, real reactions followed. The episode teaches integrity in agreements, realistic assessment of resources, and the value of sustaining godly partnerships even when plans disappoint. God uses such ordinary transactions to advance His larger purposes, weaving human diplomacy into the tapestry of His redemptive story. (12) The cities are said to have been in "the land of Galilee." The name Galilee, signifying properly a "circle" or "ring" of territory, is used twice in the Book of Joshua for a region round Kedesh-Naphtali (Joshua 20:7; Joshua 21:32), lying to the north-west of the Lake of Gennesareth, and extending to the Waters of Merom. (See also 2Kings 15:29.) The western portion of this territory would lie nearly on the frontiers of Tyre, and so would suit well the purpose both of Hiram and of Solomon. The discontent of Hiram probably referred to the condition of the cities (which afterwards had to be rebuilt), not to their geographical position.Verse 12. - And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not. [Heb. were not right in his eyes. It has been conjectured that Hiram had hoped for the noble bay of Acco or Ptolemais (Milman, Rawlinson), but surely he had seaboard enough already. It was rather corn lands he would most need and desire. His disappointment is amply accounted for by the fact that the country assigned him was a hungry and mountainous, and therefore comparatively useless, tract. "The region lay on the summit of a broad mountain ridge" (Porter).]Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So Hiramחִירָם֙ (ḥî·rām) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2438: Hiram -- a Benjamite, also two Arameans (Syrians) went out וַיֵּצֵ֤א (way·yê·ṣê) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim from Tyre מִצֹּ֔ר (miṣ·ṣōr) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 6865: Tyre -- a Phoenician city to look over לִרְאוֹת֙ (lir·’ō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7200: To see the towns הֶ֣עָרִ֔ים (he·‘ā·rîm) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 5892: Excitement that אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that Solomon שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (šə·lō·mōh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne had given נָתַן־ (nā·ṯan-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set him, ל֖וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew but he was not וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no pleased with יָשְׁר֖וּ (yā·šə·rū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3474: To be straight, even, to be, right, pleasant, prosperous them. בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ (bə·‘ê·nāw) Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain Links 1 Kings 9:12 NIV1 Kings 9:12 NLT 1 Kings 9:12 ESV 1 Kings 9:12 NASB 1 Kings 9:12 KJV 1 Kings 9:12 BibleApps.com 1 Kings 9:12 Biblia Paralela 1 Kings 9:12 Chinese Bible 1 Kings 9:12 French Bible 1 Kings 9:12 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Kings 9:12 Hiram came out from Tyre to see (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) |