1 Kings 9:12

12 So Hiram went out from Tyre to look over the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them.

1 Kings 9:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 9:12

And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon
had given him
For these cities, being in or near Galilee, were not far from Tyre:

and they pleased him not;
being either out of repair, as some think; see ( 2 Chronicles 8:2 ) or the ground barren, and unfruitful; which is not likely, being in a very fruitful country, as the tribes on which they bordered were: but they were not agreeable to him, they did not suit with the disposition of him and his people, who were given not to husbandry, but to merchandise; and the land about these would require a good deal of pains and labour to till, which they were not used to.

1 Kings 9:12 In-Context

10 At the end of 20 years during which Solomon had built the two houses, the Lord's temple and the royal palace-

11 Hiram king of Tyre having supplied him with cedar and cypress logs and gold for his every wish-King Solomon gave Hiram 20 towns in the land of Galilee.

12 So Hiram went out from Tyre to look over the towns that Solomon had given him, but he was not pleased with them.

13 So he said, "What are these towns you've given me, my brother?" So he called them the Land of Cabul, as they are [still called] today.

14 Now Hiram had sent the king 9,000 pounds of gold.