Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 9:12

"And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not." — 1 Kings 9:12 (ASV)

The cities are said to have been in “the land of Galilee.” The name Galilee, properly signifying a “circle” or “ring” of territory, is used twice in the Book of Joshua for a region around Kedesh-Naphtali (Joshua 20:7; Joshua 21:32), lying to the northwest of the Lake of Gennesareth, and extending to the Waters of Merom. (See also 2 Kings 15:29.) The western portion of this territory would lie near the frontiers of Tyre, and so would have suited well the purpose of both Hiram and Solomon. The discontent of Hiram probably referred to the condition of the cities (which later had to be rebuilt), not to their geographical position.