Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Midrash for I Kings 9:13

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מָ֚ה הֶעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥תָּה לִּ֖י אָחִ֑י וַיִּקְרָ֤א לָהֶם֙ אֶ֣רֶץ כָּב֔וּל עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ (פ)

And he said: ‘What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother?’ And they were called the land of Cabul, unto this day.

Sifrei Devarim

And when Israel prospers, the nations dissimulate, presenting themselves as "brothers." As Esav said to Jacob (Bereshith 33:9) "My brother, let there be yours what is yours." And thus did Chiram say to Solomon (I Kings 9:13) "What are these cities that you have given me, my brother?" (Devarim, Ibid.) "Lest they say: 'Our hand is exalted, etc.'" as in (Amos 6:13) "Behold, with our strength we have taken power for ourselves." (Devarim, Ibid. 28) "For it is a nation devoid of counsel":
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Sifrei Devarim

"And your foes will dissimulate to you" (in fear of you): When Israel was prospering, the Babylonians dissimulated to them, deporting themselves like brothers, as Esav spoke to Jacob (Bereshith 33:9) "My brother, let there be yours what is yours," and as Chiram to Solomon, (I Kings 9:13) "What are these cities that you have given me, my brother?"
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