1 Kings 9:10-28
Trade and Tribute
10Now at the end of the twenty years during which Solomon built these two houses, the house of the LORD and the royal palace,
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.
14And Hiram had sent the king 120 talents of gold.
15This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
16Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
17So Solomon rebuilt Gezer, Lower Beth-horon,
18Baalath, and Tamar in the Wilderness of Judah,
19as well as all the store cities that Solomon had for his chariots and horses—whatever he desired to build in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout the land of his dominion.
20As for all the people who remained of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (the people who were not Israelites)—
21their descendants who remained in the land, those whom the Israelites were unable to devote to destruction—Solomon conscripted these people to be forced laborers, as they are to this day.
22But Solomon did not consign any of the Israelites to slavery, because they were his men of war, his servants, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and cavalry.
23They were also the chief officers over Solomon’s projects: 550 supervisors over the people who did the work.
24As soon as Pharaoh’s daughter had come up from the City of David to the palace that Solomon had built for her, he built the supporting terraces.
25Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built for the LORD, burning incense with them before the LORD. So he completed the temple.
26King Solomon also assembled a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.
27And Hiram sent his servants, sailors who knew the sea, to serve in the fleet with Solomon’s servants.
28They sailed to Ophir and imported gold from there—420 talents—and delivered it to Solomon.
Berean Standard Bible
After twenty years, Solomon has built the temple and palace. He gives Hiram twenty cities in Galilee, but Hiram is displeased with them and calls the land Cabul. The exchange shows that political cooperation can still contain disappointment and unequal expectations.
The chapter records Solomon's forced labor, the cities he builds, and the people he does not destroy. Israelites serve as soldiers, officials, commanders, and overseers, while others are subjected to labor. The administration is strong, but the reader is meant to remember that strength can be purchased through burdens placed on people with less power.
Solomon builds Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer, Lower Beth-horon, Baalath, and other store cities. He also builds the Millo and the wall of Jerusalem. The projects expand royal security and economic capacity.
Solomon offers sacrifices three times a year at the altar he built for the LORD. He completes the temple and employs ships with Hiram's servants to bring gold from Ophir. Worship, construction, trade, and forced labor are all operating together; the chapter invites us to examine the whole kingdom rather than praising one part in isolation.
How We Know
This account is best tested by reading it alongside the surrounding witness. The events in 1 Kings 9:10-28 are part of the royal history that 2 Chronicles also summarizes. The temple, succession, and court details are presented within Israel's continuing covenant story, giving the reader internal points of comparison rather than an isolated legend.
Questions
1 What does Solomon give Hiram?
AnswerSolomon gives Hiram twenty cities in Galilee, but Hiram is displeased with them as part of their exchange.
2 What kinds of work are described?
AnswerThe chapter describes city building, store cities, walls, military service, administration, and labor imposed on subject peoples.
3 How often does Solomon offer sacrifices?
AnswerHe offers sacrifices three times a year on the altar he built for the LORD.
4 What do the ships bring from Ophir?
AnswerSolomon's ships, staffed with Hiram's servants, bring gold from Ophir to the king through their maritime trade.
What This Means for Us
Economic success can stand beside spiritual activity without proving that everything is healthy. A household may worship sincerely while still needing to examine whether its comfort depends on unfair burdens.
Look beyond a project's public purpose to its labor practices, costs, and effects on people with less power. Faithful stewardship asks not only what was built but also who paid for it.
Prayer
God of justice, keep our worship from becoming cover for exploitation. Help us examine the costs of our comfort, honor workers, and build only in ways that respect the dignity of every person. Amen.