Definition: And he said, What cities [are] these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Kings 9:13. It's a pretty interesting and somewhat mysterious passage! Here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes King Solomon receiving a large amount of land – specifically, a vast area – as a gift from God. He’s essentially saying, “These lands you’ve given me, these cities you’ve designated, are now mine.” Let's unpack it further: “And he said…” : This tells us that Solomon is speaking to someone who has gifted him with this land. “…What cities [are] these which thou hast given me, my brother?” : This is the core of the verse. He’s asking a question: “You’ve given me… what cities? Which ones are these?” The word "cities" is key here – it doesn't mean just any cities; it refers to specific, powerful, and strategically important locations. “And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.” : This is where it gets a little more complex and interesting. Solomon then designates these lands as “the land of Cabul” – which is a remote and mysterious region in Central Asia (modern-day Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan). He gives them a name, implying they hold significant importance. What does this mean? It’s about immense wealth and power: The verse speaks to Solomon's incredible wealth and the vastness of his kingdom. He’s essentially saying that he has control over a huge portion of the world. A divine mandate: The phrase "gift from God" suggests this land is blessed and held by God, possibly as a reward for Solomon's wisdom and leadership. It’s about future expansion: This verse sets the stage for further biblical stories involving Solomon and his kingdom expanding across the world. In short, it describes a massive land grant from God to Solomon, which he designates as the “land of Cabul” – a place of great importance and potential. --- Do you want me to: Explain another Bible verse? Discuss the significance of this particular passage in the context of the Old Testament?