Cabul was both a town on the boundary of Asher and a district containing twenty cities given by Solomon to Hiram of Tyre. Hiram’s name for the cities expressed his dissatisfaction with the gift, though the exact meaning and later disposition are uncertain.
Definition
Cabul designates both a town on the eastern boundary of Asher and a northern district near Tyre containing twenty cities. The town is represented by modern Kabul, east of Acre. The district was given by Solomon to Hiram, king of Tyre, in payment for services and gold connected with the building of the temple.
Biblical Usage
The town appears among the boundaries of Asher. The district appears in the account of Solomon’s gift of twenty cities to Hiram. Hiram called the district Cabul, a name understood to express his dissatisfaction with the gift; the cities were apparently later restored to Solomon.
Historical Background
Cabul lay near the borders of Galilee and Tyre. The town is identified with modern Kabul, about nine miles southeast of Acre. The name is explained as meaning “how little,” “as nothing,” or “good for nothing,” though the exact interpretation is uncertain.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
How little! as nothing. (1.) A town on the eastern border of Asher (Josh. 19:27), probably one of the towns given by Solomon to Hiram; the modern Kabul, some 8 miles east of Accho, on the very borders of Galilee. (2.) A district in the north-west of Galilee, near to Tyre, containing twenty cities given to Hiram by Solomon as a reward for various services rendered to him in building the temple (1 Kings 9:13), and as payment of the six score talents of gold he had borrowed from him. Hiram gave the cities this name because he was not pleased with the gift, the name signifying “good for nothing.” Hiram seems afterwards to have restored these cities to Solomon (2 Chr. 8:2).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ka'-bul (kabhul; Codex Vaticanus, Chobamasomel; Codex Alexandrinus, Chabol apo aristeron):</p><p>(1) A city on the boundary between Asher and Zebulun (Jos 19:27). It corresponds to the Chabolo of Josephus (Vita, 43, etc.), and is represented by the modern village Kabul, about nine miles Southeast of Acre.</p><p>(2) A district probably connected with (1), containing 20 cities, given by Solomon to Hiram king of Tyre (1Ki 9:10 ff).</p>
