Toi תֹּ֫עִי, תֹּעוּ
King of Hamath who sent his son to David
Who is Toi in the Bible?
Toi, also known as Tou, was the king of Hamath, a city-state in present-day Syria, who appears in 2 Samuel 8:9-10. After David defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, Toi sent his son Joram to congratulate David and present him with gifts of silver, gold, and bronze. Toi's gesture was motivated by his own conflict with Hadadezer, since the two kings had been at war with each other, making David's victory advantageous to Toi as well. By honoring David with gifts, Toi sought to establish diplomatic relations with the rising power of Israel and secure an ally against their common enemy. This encounter illustrates David's growing military reputation and his ability to forge strategic alliances with neighboring rulers.
Biography
Toi, also referred to as Tou, was the king of Hamath, a city-state located in present-day Syria (2Sa.8.9-10; 1Ch.18.9-10). After David defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, Toi sent his son Joram (called Hadoram in 1 Chronicles) to congratulate David and bring gifts of silver, gold, and bronze. Toi's gesture was motivated by his own conflict with Hadadezer, as Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. By sending his son to honor David, Toi sought to establish friendly relations with the rising power of Israel and secure an ally against their common enemy. The gifts brought by Joram were dedicated by David to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had captured from various nations. This episode demonstrates David's growing reputation as a military leader and the diplomatic relationships he established with neighboring kingdoms.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Samuel 2 verses
- 2 Samuel 8:9
"When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,"
- 2 Samuel 8:10
"he sent his son Joram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze,"
1 Chronicles 2 verses
- 1 Chronicles 18:9
"When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,"
- 1 Chronicles 18:10
"he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze,"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | תֹּ֫עִי, תֹּעוּ |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | תֹּ֫עִי, תֹּעוּ |
Toi
n" are virtually synonymous words and in the King James Version are used with little or no