Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 4:9

"Ben-deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan;" — 1 Kings 4:9 (ASV)

The second division included the territory in the maritime plain to the north-west of Judah. This territory was assigned to Dan, but in all the earlier history, it was held by the Philistines, with perhaps a few exceptions. The cities Shaalbim, Elon, and Beth-shemesh, or Ir-shemesh, are noted in Joshua 19:41–43. Makaz is not mentioned elsewhere.

The name Elon here has the addition of beth-hanan (“the house of Hanan”). In 1 Chronicles 8:23, there is a Hanan among the chief men of Benjamin; and in 1 Chronicles 1:43, a Hanan among David’s mighty men. The only one of these cities known in history is Beth-shemesh, the first resting-place of the Ark (1 Samuel 6:12–21) when it was restored by the Philistines.