(now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and cypress trees, and with gold, according to all his desire), King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 11. Galilee, the higher, which was nearer to the sea and the confines of Tyre; ( Menochius.) or rather the lower Galilee lay in this direction. Calmet.—This was not a part of the country allotted to Israel, (Joshua 19:27) but had been conquered: as Hiram gave the cities back, 2 Chronicles 8:2. Solomon caused them to be rebuilt, and peopled by the Israelites. Grot.—If they had formed a part of his dominions before, he would not have had to send a colony thither. Calmet.—Others think that he only ceded that country for a time to Hiram, till he should be indemnified. Abul. Tostat. Menochius. Tirinus. Worthington.—The country belonged to the Lord, (Leviticus 25:13) and could not be given away by the prince. In case it had been occupied by strangers, Solomon would have taken care that the Israelites should have the free exercise of their religion. But as Hiram rejected his offer, he would make him recompense by some other means; ( Calmet.) in ready money, verse 14. Joseph. Tirinus.