1Ki 9:13 | NET2full | STEP | Hiram asked , “ Why did you give me these towns , my friend ?” He called that area the region of Cabul , a name which it has retained to this day .

‏ 1 Kings 9:13

13 Hiram asked, ^{▼▼tn Heb “and he said.”} “Why did you give me these towns, my friend?” ^{▼▼tn Heb “my brother.” Kings allied through a parity treaty would sometimes address each other as “my brother.” See 1 Kgs 20:32-33.} He called that area the region of Cabul, a name which it has retained to this day. ^{▼▼tn Heb “he called them the land of Cabul to this day.” The significance of the name is unclear, though it appears to be disparaging. The name may be derived from a root, attested in Akkadian and Arabic, meaning “bound” or “restricted.” Some propose a wordplay, pointing out that the name “Cabul” sounds like a Hebrew phrase meaning, “like not,” or “as good as nothing.”}