Hadarezer

Hadadezer, king of Zobah, was defeated by King David in battle, and his allies, the Arameans, became subject to Israel.

Hadadezer was the king of Zobah, an Aramean kingdom, during the reign of King David of Israel. He is mentioned in 2Samuel 8, 10, and 1Chronicles 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.

Hadad is help; called also Hadarezer, Adod is his help, the king of Zobah. Hanun, the king of the Ammonites, hired among others the army of Hadadezer to assist him in his war against David. Joab, who was sent against this confederate host, found them in double battle array, the Ammonities toward their capital of Rabbah, and the Syrian mercenaries near Medeba. In the battle which was fought the Syrians were scattered, and the Ammonites in alarm fled into their capital. After this Hadadezer went north “to recover his border” (2 Sam. 8:3, A.V.); but rather, as the Revised Version renders, “to recover his dominion”, i.e., to recruit his forces. Then followed another battle with the Syrian army thus recruited, which resulted in its being totally routed at Helam (2 Sam. 10:17). Shobach, the leader of the Syrian army, died on the field of battle. The Syrians of Damascus, who had come to help Hadadezer, were also routed, and Damascus was made tributary to David. All the spoils taken in this war, “shields of gold” and “very much brass,” from which afterwards the “brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass” for the temple were made (1 Chr. 18:8), were brought to Jerusalem and dedicated to Jehovah. Thus the power of the Ammonites and the Syrians was finally broken, and David’s empire extended to the Euphrates (2 Sam. 10:15-19; 1 Chr. 19:15-19).