1 Kings 9:11

now Hiram the king … had furnished, &c. We read of the supply of timber in 1 Kings 5:10, but the gold mentioned here does not appear in the earlier narrative. From 1 Kings 9:14 below we learn that the amount was -six score talents." Taking the value of a talent of gold at £6000 this sum would be worth £720,000. Josephus (Ant.viii. 5, 3) says Hiram had contributed much gold and still more silver.

Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee These would most likely be in the extreme northern border of Galilee and so not remote from Hiram's frontier. But they would be inland cities and no doubt, to a maritime people like the Tyrians, some territory along the seaboard would have been more acceptable. Josephus specially notes that the cities were not far from Tyre. The region in which they were situate was that called (Isaiah 9:1) -Galilee of the nations" to indicate that the inhabitants were yet in heathendom. This might be a reason why Solomon chose them for his present to the Tyrian king.