Original Word: הֲדַדְעֶזֶר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Hadad`ezer
Pronunciation: hah-dad-eh'-zer
Phonetic Spelling: (had-ad-eh'-zer)
KJV: Hadadezer
NASB: Hadadezer
Word Origin: [from H1908 (הֲדַד - Hadad) and H5828 (עֵזֶר - help)]

1. Hadad (is his) help
2. Hadadezer, a Syrian king

Hadadezer

From Hadad and ezer; Hadad (is his) help; Hadadezer, a Syrian king -- Hadadezer. Compare Hadar'ezer.

see HEBREW Hadad

see HEBREW ezer

see HEBREW Hadar'ezer

Word Origin
from Hadad and ezer
Definition
"Hadad is help(er)," an Aramean (Syrian) king
NASB Translation
Hadadezer (21).

הֲדַדְעֶ֫זֶר proper name, masculine Hadadezer (so Aramaic Inscription הדדעזר Eut^{SBAK 1885, 679} compare Bae^{Rel 67}; ᵐ5 throughout (erroneously) Ἀδρα(α)ζαρ; — Hadad is help(er), compare COT 1 k 1 Kings 20:1 & Phoenician אשמנעזר); king of צוֺבָה (q. v.), son of רְחֹב, defeated by David 2 Samuel 8:3,5,10,12; הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר 2 Samuel 8:7; 2 Samuel 8:8; 2 Samuel 8:9; 2 Samuel 8:10 (= הֲדַרְעֶזֶר q. v. 2 Samuel 10:16 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 10:19; 1 Chronicles 18:3,5,7,8,10 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 19:16,19, all erroneous, see inscription above, & compare Bae^l.c. Dr on 2 Samuel 8:3; 2 Samuel 10:16); also 1 Kings 11:23.

Identity and Historical Setting

Hadadezer, son of Rehob, was the powerful Aramean king of Zobah, an expansive Aramean-Syrian kingdom that stretched north of Damascus toward the Euphrates. His reign coincided with the consolidation of David’s kingdom (tenth century B.C.). Chronicles preserves the alternate spelling “Hadarezer,” yet both describe the same monarch who sought to extend Aramean influence over strategic trade routes linking Mesopotamia with the Levant.

Political Ambition and the First Clash with David (2 Samuel 8; 1 Chronicles 18)

Intent on “restor[ing] his control at the Euphrates River” (2 Samuel 8:3), Hadadezer moved northward, only to be met and decisively defeated by David. Scripture records the seizure of “one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers” (2 Samuel 8:4) and the installation of Israelite garrisons throughout Aramean territory (2 Samuel 8:6; 1 Chronicles 18:6). The Chronicler notes even larger cavalry losses (1 Chronicles 18:4), reflecting the scale of the conflict. The LORD’s hand is emphasized: “The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:6).

International Ramifications and Sacred Spoils

Hadadezer’s defeat reverberated across the region. Toi (Tou) king of Hamath, long a rival of Zobah, sent envoys and gifts to David (2 Samuel 8:9-10). The bronze shields seized from Hadadezer’s officers (2 Samuel 8:7; 1 Chronicles 18:7) and the vast quantities of bronze taken from his cities—Betah and Berothai (Sam.), Tibhath and Cun (Chron.)—were later fashioned by Solomon into the great bronze Sea, the pillars, and various temple vessels (1 Kings 7:13-47; 1 Chronicles 18:8). Thus spoils from Hadadezer’s war chest became instruments for Israel’s worship, converting symbols of pagan power into tools for covenant service.

The Ammonite-Aramean Coalition (2 Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 19)

Years later, Hadadezer supplied troops to aid the Ammonites against Israel. When Joab routed the hired Arameans (2 Samuel 10:13-14), Hadadezer regrouped forces “from beyond the River” under Shobach/Shophach (2 Samuel 10:16; 1 Chronicles 19:16). David personally led Israel in the climactic engagement at Helam: “He slew seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen” (2 Samuel 10:18). Their commander fell, and “the Arameans feared to help the Ammonites any more” (2 Samuel 10:19).

Collapse of Power and Final Submission

After Helam, Aramean city-states hastened to make peace and became tributary to Israel (2 Samuel 10:19; 1 Chronicles 19:19). Hadadezer’s earlier ambition—control of the Euphrates corridor—was reversed; David now policed those routes, fulfilling the promise of territory “from the River of Egypt as far as the great river, the Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18; cf. 2 Samuel 8:3).

Theological Significance

1. Covenant Faithfulness: The narratives underscore that David’s ascendancy was not mere military prowess but covenant realization. Every victory is explicitly attributed to divine enablement.
2. Consecrated Spoils: Plunder from a pagan king became holy vessels, prefiguring the Messiah’s redemptive transformation of former enemies into worshipers.
3. Typology of Universal Reign: David’s subjugation of Hadadezer anticipates the Messianic King who will rule the nations with justice, establishing peace where rebellion once raged (Psalm 2; Isaiah 9:6-7).

Practical Lessons for the Believer

• God overrules human ambition; He “brings the counsel of the nations to nothing” (Psalm 33:10).
• Victories granted by the LORD are to be dedicated to His service, not personal aggrandizement.
• Opposition to God’s kingdom ultimately yields to the greater King, encouraging confidence in gospel advance amid worldly powers.

Hadadezer thus stands as a vivid reminder that earthly dominions rise and fall under the sovereign hand of God, while His redemptive purposes march steadily forward from David to the Son of David, Jesus Christ.

בַּהֲדַדְעֶ֙זֶר֙ בהדדעזר הֲדַדְעֶ֔זֶר הֲדַדְעֶ֖זֶר הֲדַדְעֶ֗זֶר הֲדַדְעֶ֥זֶר הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר הֲדַדְעָֽזֶר׃ הדדעזר הדדעזר׃ לַהֲדַדְעֶ֖זֶר להדדעזר ba·hă·ḏaḏ·‘e·zer bahăḏaḏ‘ezer bahadadEzer hă·ḏaḏ·‘ā·zer hă·ḏaḏ·‘e·zer hăḏaḏ‘āzer hăḏaḏ‘ezer hadadAzer hadadEzer la·hă·ḏaḏ·‘e·zer lahăḏaḏ‘ezer lahadadEzerInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts