Hadadezer הֲדַרְעֶ֫זֶר
King of Zobah, defeated by David.
Who is Hadadezer in the Bible?
Hadadezer was the king of Zobah, an Aramean kingdom in Syria during the reign of King David, and is mentioned primarily in 2 Samuel 8 and 10. He attempted to expand his territory along the Euphrates River but was defeated by David in a series of military campaigns, losing numerous chariots, horsemen, soldiers, and treasures including gold shields that David brought to Jerusalem (2Sa.8.3-7). When the Arameans of Damascus came to support Hadadezer, David defeated them as well, making them vassals of Israel (2Sa.8.5-6). Later, Hadadezer sent his army to assist the Ammonites in their conflict with Israel, but again faced defeat at the hands of David and his commander Joab (2Sa.10.16). Hadadezer's defeat was significant to Israel's rise as a regional power under David, as it eliminated a major rival and extended Israelite dominance over the surrounding kingdoms.
Biography
Hadadezer was the king of Zobah, an Aramean kingdom, during the reign of King David of Israel. He is mentioned in 2 Samuel 8, 10, and 1 Chronicles 18, 19. Hadadezer went to restore his control along the Euphrates River, but David defeated him, capturing many of his chariots, horsemen, and foot soldiers (2Sa.8.3-4, 1 Chronicles 2Sa.18.3-4). David also took gold shields from Hadadezer's officers and brought them to Jerusalem (2Sa.8.7, 1 Chronicles 2Sa.18.7). When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, David defeated them as well, and they became subject to Israel (2Sa.8.5-6, 1 Chronicles 2Sa.18.5-6). Later, when David's messengers were mistreated by the Ammonites, Hadadezer sent his army to help the Ammonites fight against Israel (2Sa.10.16, 1 Chronicles 2Sa.19.16). However, Joab and Abishai, David's commanders, defeated the Arameans and the Ammonites. After this defeat, Hadadezer's allies made peace with Israel and became subject to them (2Sa.10.19, 1 Chronicles 2Sa.19.19). The biblical account portrays Hadadezer as a powerful king who posed a significant threat to Israel, but was ultimately defeated by David and his army.
Family
In Scripture
3 biblical books2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 8:3
"David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River."
- 2 Samuel 8:5
"When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men."
- 2 Samuel 8:7
"And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem."
- 2 Samuel 8:8
"And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze."
- 2 Samuel 8:9
"When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,"
1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 11:23
"And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah,"
1 Chronicles 5 verses
- 1 Chronicles 18:3
"As far as Hamath, David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, who had marched out to establish his dominion along the Euphrates River."
- 1 Chronicles 18:5
"When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men."
- 1 Chronicles 18:7
"And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem."
- 1 Chronicles 18:8
"And from Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and various bronze articles."
- 1 Chronicles 18:9
"When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | הֲדַרְעֶ֫זֶר | Hadadezer , a Syrian king |
| Spelled | Hebrew | הֲדַדְעֶ֫זֶר | — |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain) Hadadezer
sRef="Bible:1Chr.18.1-1Chr.18.17">1Ch 18): Mentioned in connection with David's wars of conquest (2Sa 8:3 ff; 2Sa 10:1-19; 1Ch 18:3); was king of Zobah in Syria. The exact position and size of this Syrian principality are uncertain, but it seems to have extended in David's time southward toward Ammon and eastward to the Euphrates. When the Ammonites had put themselves in the wrong with David by the insult done to his ambassadors (2Sa 10:1-5) they summoned to their aid against the incensed king of Israel the Syrians of various adjoining principalities, among them the Syrians of Zobah under Hadadezer, the son of Rehob. The strategy of Joab, who set the force under command of Abishai his brother in array against the Ammonites, and himself attacked the Syrian allies, won for Israel a decisive victory. Not content with this result, Hadadezer gathered together another Syrian force, summoning this time also "the Syrians that were beyond the River" (2Sa 10:16), with Shobach the captain of his host at their head. On this occasion David himself took command of the Israelite forces and again defeated them near Helam, Shobach being left dead on the field. Hadadezer and his Syrian vassals, finding resistance hopeless, "made peace with Israel and served them" (2Sa 10:19). For the name Hadador Hadarezer, see BENHADAD.
Literature
Winckler, Geschichte Israels, I, 137 ff; McCurdy, HPM, 204; Maspero, The Struggle of the Nations, 731.
T. Nicol.
ha-dad-rim'-on, had-ad-rim'-on (hadhadh rimmon): A name which occurs, along with Megiddon, in Zec 12:11. It was long thought that this was a place in the plain of Megiddo, and