Why did Hiram call the cities "Cabul" in 1 Kings 9:13? Immediate Biblical Setting (1 Kings 9:10-14) • “At the end of the twenty years during which Solomon built the two houses—the house of the LORD and the royal palace—King Solomon gave Hiram twenty towns in the land of Galilee. So Hiram went out from Tyre to look over the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them. ‘What sort of towns are these you have given me, my brother?’ asked Hiram. So he called them the land of Cabul, as they are called to this day.” (1 Kings 9:10-13) • 2 Chronicles 8:2 notes that Hiram later returned the towns to Solomon, underscoring his continuing dissatisfaction. Meaning of “Cabul” • Hebrew kāḇûl sounds like “worthless,” “good-for-nothing,” or “as nothing.” • It can also carry the idea of something “fettered” or “restrained,” picturing land of little productive freedom. • By naming the district “Cabul,” Hiram labeled it unproductive and disappointing in contrast to his expectations. Why Hiram Found the Towns Unacceptable • Geographic limitation – The towns lay in upland Galilee, far from the coast; they offered no strategic harbor for Tyre’s maritime trade. • Agricultural barrenness – Galilee’s soil in that area was rocky (cf. Matthew 13:5-6), less fertile than Tyre’s fertile Phoenician valleys. • Economic mismatch – Hiram supplied Solomon with “cedar, cypress timber, and gold” (1 Kings 9:11); he expected an equal-value return. The towns did not match the treasure he had delivered. • Political symbolism – In the ancient Near East, transferring cities implied lasting alliance. Towns that failed to strengthen Tyre’s security or economy weakened the gesture Solomon intended. The Exchange in Light of God’s Standards • Duty of just weights and measures—“Differing weights are detestable to the LORD” (Proverbs 20:23). A lopsided exchange violated covenant ideals of fairness. • Stewardship of inheritance—Israel’s tribal allotments were sacred trusts (Leviticus 25:23). Solomon risked cheapening God-given land by offering it merely as barter. • Integrity in agreements—Psalm 15:4 praises a man “who keeps his oath even when it hurts.” Solomon’s offer, though legal, lacked the generous integrity expected of a king blessed with wisdom (1 Kings 3:12-13). Lessons for Believers Today • Value over appearance: Land that seemed insignificant to Solomon was judged worthless by Hiram. God calls His people to assess resources through His eyes, not merely commercial value (Deuteronomy 8:7-10). • Faithful exchanges: Believers are to honor commitments with equity, mirroring Christ’s righteousness (Colossians 3:23-24). • Guarding God’s gifts: Our inheritances—spiritual and material—are to be managed, not traded away carelessly (1 Peter 4:10). • Reputation among outsiders: Solomon’s misstep marred his witness before an ally; likewise, the church must maintain credibility in all dealings (1 Thessalonians 4:12). Summary Hiram called the twenty Galilean towns “Cabul” because, in his eyes, they were unproductive, strategically weak, and unequal to the rich resources he had supplied Solomon. The episode highlights the importance Scripture places on fairness, wise stewardship, and integrity in every covenant or transaction. |
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