Who is Hadadezer in the Bible?

King of Edom who succeeded Baal-hanan. 1 Chr. 1:50-51. Called HADAR in Gen.

36:39. Apparently 'Hadad' was a title of the kings of Edom rather than a name.

Son of Rehob, Syrian king of Zobah. He was defeated by David with great loss, and driven across the Euphrates. David took much spoil and the shields of gold he dedicated to the Lord. Hadadezer was also again totally defeated by David. 2 Sam. 8:3-12; 1 Kings 11:23. Called HADAREZER in 2 Sam. 10:16, 19; 1 Chr. 18:3-10; 1 Chr. 19:16-19.

Hadad-ezer (in other places Hadarezer) is a worthy king of Zobah. The variation slight as it is in Hebrew (the lack of a mere shoulder to a "d" makes it "r,"), I cannot but believe to be designed. Hadar means "glory, honor," and is the more common form; but Hadad is "shouting, noise": vox et praeterea nihil, — sound, and nothing else. This kind of satire is often found in the changes in Hebrew names. Hadarezer means "glory is help," the first word being perhaps the name of their sun-deity, while certainly there has been always abundant idolatry of this kind among men. He is the son of Rehob, "enlargement," and has a plentiful following, and gold shields upon his servants; but his gold is this time no defense: it is sanctified to the Lord, with much brass from his towns Betah, "security," and Berothai, "my hewings."

Captain of the Syrian hosts of Hadarezer. Killed by David. 2 Sam. 10:16, 18. Called SHOPHACH in 1 Chr. 19:16, 18.

However, Syria was still not willing to admit total defeat. Hadadezer, the Syrian king of Zobah, of whom we have read in Chapter 8:3-8 as being soundly defeated by David, was evidently thirsting for revenge and mustered a larger army, enlisting Syrians from east of the Euphrates River to supplement his own large company (v.16).

Place situate between the Jordan and the Euphrates, where David defeated the Syrians under Hadarezer. 2 Sam. 10:16-17. Possibly the Alamatha of Ptolemy, near Nicephorium.

David had reached the zenith of his power and glory. He had brought the ark of God into Jerusalem. He had subdued, too, the nations round about him, and had given a substantial proof of it by dedicating to the Lord the silver and gold taken from those whom he had conquered, viz., Syria, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, Amalek, Edom, and Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah; whilst Hiram of Tyre, and Toi, king of Hamath, courted his alliance, and the latter gave him gifts. Humanly speaking, there was nothing lacking to David. From Edom to the Euphrates he ruled supreme; none could withstand him.

The Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, but only to be defeated also by David, who killed 22,000 of them (v.5), and put garrisons in their country, subduing them and putting them under tribute (v.6). This again was a more complete victory than Saul had ever accomplished. The reason is simple and clear. The Lord was with David in all his wars.

Next we are told of David's defeating the king of Zobah, which was in northern Syria (v.3), as he (David) went to establish his authority in the area of the Euphrates River. David evidently desired to extend his kingdom as far as God had decreed Israel's boundaries will be eventually (Gen.15:18). Syria is a picture of the materialistic principle that absorbs all the blessings God gives and takes the credit for them as though they had originated them. Its name means exalted.

David captured from them 1000 chariots, 700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. What he did with the soldiers we are not told, but he hamstrung all the horses except sufficient for use in 100 chariots. Of course, the hamstrung horses could not again be used for war.

Likewise the Syrians of Damascus who had come to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, were conquered by David's power and “became servants to David, and brought gifts” (vv. 3-6).

City of Hadadezer, from which David took much brass. 2 Sam. 8:8: cf. 1 Chr. 18:8. See TIBHATH.