Reference: Ben-hadad
American
1. A king of Dama scene Syria, hired by Asa king of Judah to make war upon Baasha king of Israel, 1Ki 15:18-22. He ravaged a large part of Naphtali.
2. Son and successor of the preceding. In two successive years he raised large armies, and made war upon Ahab king of Israel. He was utterly routed by the aid of Jehovah, God of the hills and the plains also, 1Ki 20. Ahab spared him, contrary to the command of God and gave him conditions of peace. These do not seem to have been fulfilled, for three years after, Ahab renewed the war and was slain, 1Ki 22 After about nine years, Ben-hadad again invaded Israel, and the prophet Elisha was instrumental in frustrating his plans, 2Ki 6:8-23. But once more renewing the war, he laid siege to Samaria, and reduced it to extremities by famine. God sent a sudden panic upon his army by night, and they fled precipitately, 2Ki 6:17; 7:6; Pr 28:1. Shortly before his death, Ben-hadad, being sick, sent Hazael to ask the prophet Elisha, then at Damascus, what the issue would be. The prophet answered that the disease was not mortal, and yet he would surely die; a paradox which Hazael soon after solved by stifling his master in bed, 2Ki 8:7-15.
3. Son of the Hazael just named. His father had greatly afflicted and oppressed Israel; but he lost all that his father had gained, being thrice defeated by king Jehoash, 2Ki 13.
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Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasure of the house of the LORD, and all the treasure of the king's house and delivered it unto his servants, and sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion king of Syria that dwelt at Damascus, saying, "There is a bond between thee and me as was between thy father and mine. Therefore, I send thee both gold and silver for a gift, that thou go and break the covenant between thee and Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." read more. And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, Dan, Abel called Bethmaacah and all Chinnereth with all the land of Naphtali. And when Baasha heard that, he left building of Ramah and dwelt in Tirzah. Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah, that none should be excused. And they took the stones of Ramah and the timber wherewith Baasha had built, and king Asa built therewith Geba in Benjamin and Mizphah.
And the king of Syria fought against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, "In such a place and in such a place will I pitch." And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, "Beware thou go not by such a place, for there are the Syrians gone down." read more. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there more than once or twice. And the heart of the king of Syria was troubled therewith, that he sent for his servants and said to them, "Will ye not show me which of us telleth the king of Israel?" And one of his servants said, "Nay, my lord king: Elisha the prophet that is in Israel, he telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy sleeping chamber." Then he said, "Go and spy where he is that I may send and fetch him." And one told the king, saying, "See, he is in Dothan." And he sent thither horse and chariots and a great Host. And they came thither by night and compassed the town about. And when the servant of the men of God rose up early, and was gone out: Behold, there was an Host round about the town with horses and chariots. Then said his lad to him, "Alas master, what shall we do?" And he said, "Fear not, there are more with us than with them." And Elisha prayed and said, "LORD open the eyes of the young man," and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
And Elisha prayed and said, "LORD open the eyes of the young man," and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when the soldiers came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD and said, "Smite this people with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the desire of Elisha." read more. Then Elisha said unto them, "This is not the way, nor this is not the town: But follow me and I will bring you to the man ye seek." And he led them to Samaria. When they were come to Samaria, Elisha said, "LORD, open their eyes and let them see." And the LORD opened their eyes that they saw. And behold they were in the midst of Samaria. And then said the king of Israel unto Elisha when he saw them, "Shall I smite them? Shall I smite them, father?" And he said, "Smite them not. But smite them thou takest with thine own sword and with thine own bow. But set bread and water before them, and let them eat and drink, and go to their master." And he made great ordinance before them. And when they had eaten and drunk, sent them away, and they went to their master. And so the soldiers of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses, and the noise of a great Host. Insomuch that they said one to another, "See, the king of Israel hath hired against us, the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt, to come upon us."
After that, Elisha went to Damascus; Benhadad the king of Syria being sick. And one told the king, saying, "The man of God is come hither." Then said the king to Hazael, "Take a present with thee and go against the man of God and ask the LORD by him whether I shall recover of this my disease or no." read more. And Hazael went to meet him and took presents with him, even of all the good things of Damascus - as much as forty camels could bear - and came and presented himself before him and said, "Thy son Benhadad, king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying, 'Shall I recover of this my disease?'" And Elisha said to him, "Go and say to him, 'Thou shalt recover.' Howbeit, the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die." And the man of God began to look earnestly, insomuch that he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, "Why weepeth my lord?" And he answered, "For I know that thou shalt do evil unto the children of Israel: their strong cities thou shalt set on fire, and their young men thou shalt slay with the sword, and shalt dash out the brains of their sucking children: and all to tear their women with child." And Hazael said, "What is thy servant, which am but a dog, that I should do this great thing?" And Elisha said, "For the LORD hath showed me, that thou shalt be king of Syria." And so he departed from Elisha and came to his master, which said to him, "What said Elisha to thee?" And he said, "He told me that thou shouldest recover." And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.
The ungodly fleeth, no man chasing him; but the righteous standeth stiff as a lion.
Easton
the standing title of the Syrian kings, meaning "the son of Hadad." (See Hadadezer.)
(1.) The king of Syria whom Asa, king of Judah, employed to invade Israel (1Ki 15:18).
(2.) Son of the preceding, also king of Syria. He was long engaged in war against Israel. He was murdered probably by Hazael, by whom he was succeeded (2Ki 8:7-15), after a reign of some thirty years.
(3.) King of Damascus, and successor of his father Hazael on the throne of Syria (2Ki 13:3-4). His misfortunes in war are noticed by Amos (Am 1:4).
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Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasure of the house of the LORD, and all the treasure of the king's house and delivered it unto his servants, and sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion king of Syria that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
After that, Elisha went to Damascus; Benhadad the king of Syria being sick. And one told the king, saying, "The man of God is come hither." Then said the king to Hazael, "Take a present with thee and go against the man of God and ask the LORD by him whether I shall recover of this my disease or no." read more. And Hazael went to meet him and took presents with him, even of all the good things of Damascus - as much as forty camels could bear - and came and presented himself before him and said, "Thy son Benhadad, king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying, 'Shall I recover of this my disease?'" And Elisha said to him, "Go and say to him, 'Thou shalt recover.' Howbeit, the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die." And the man of God began to look earnestly, insomuch that he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, "Why weepeth my lord?" And he answered, "For I know that thou shalt do evil unto the children of Israel: their strong cities thou shalt set on fire, and their young men thou shalt slay with the sword, and shalt dash out the brains of their sucking children: and all to tear their women with child." And Hazael said, "What is thy servant, which am but a dog, that I should do this great thing?" And Elisha said, "For the LORD hath showed me, that thou shalt be king of Syria." And so he departed from Elisha and came to his master, which said to him, "What said Elisha to thee?" And he said, "He told me that thou shouldest recover." And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.
Wherefore, the LORD was angry with Israel, and delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael all their days. But Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD heard him. For he had seen the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them.
But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, the same shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
Fausets
("son" i.e. "worshipper" of Hadad"), the Syrian sun-god. A name common to three kings of Damascus. Hadad-ezer ("Hadad helps") is a similar Syrian name. David, having conquered him, put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; Rezon retook Damascus, and reigned there "an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon" (1Ki 11:23). Ben-Hadad I grandson of Rezon (probably), as king in Damascus, which had absorbed by that time the petty kingdoms around, helped Baasha against (See ASA king of Judah. But the latter, by a present of "all the silver and gold left in the treasures of the Lord's house and of the king's house," tempted Ben-Hadad to "break his league with Baasha" (1Ki 15:18-19). He therefore "smote Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-Maachah, Cinneroth, with all Naphtali" in the northern kingdom, namely, that of the ten tribes under Baasha, thus enabling Asa to take away the stones of Ramah, which Baasha had built to prevent any repairing from the northern to the southern kingdom, Judah.
Ben-Hadad II, son of Ben-Hadad I; 32 vassal kings accompanied him in his first siege of Samaria (1Ki 20:1) (See AHAB.) After Ahab's death, Moab having revolted from Ahaziah and Jehoram, successive kings of Israel (2Ki 1:1,6-7), Ben-Hadad took advantage of Israel's consequent weakness, and after having been baffled several times by Elisha besieged Samaria a second time so straitly that mothers gave their own sons to be eaten, a horror similar to what occurred in later times in Titus' siege of Jerusalem. A sudden panic, owing to a divinely sent noise, caused the Syrians to flee from their camp, and leave its rich contents to be spoiled, under the impression that Israel had hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings. The consequent plenty had been foretold by Elisha.
Shortly after Ben-Hadad fell sick, and sent Hazael with large presents to consult Elisha who was in Damascus (2Ki 8:7-15). The prophet replied, "Thou mayest certainly recover," i.e. the disease is not mortal; "howbeit the Lord hath showed me that he shall surely die." Hazael's latent cruelty and ambition were awakened by what ought to have awakened remorse, Elisha's tears at the horrors which the prophet foresaw he would perpetrate. His murder of Ben-Hadad with a wet cloth (the wetting solidifying the cloth, and making it impervious to air) was consonant to his subsequent bloodthirstiness. Hazael is evidently the subject of 2Ki 8:15; the introduction of his name at the end does not disprove this: it is introduced to emphasize Hazael's succession to the throne, in contrast to Ben-Hadad's decease. Many fancy the wet cloth was put on to cool the fevered face, and by Ben-Hadad himself, and that death naturally resulted from the sudden chill. (?) So ended with Ben-Hadad, after reigning about 30 years, the dynasty founded by Rezon.
Ben-Hadad III, Hazael's son and successor. Jehovah, moved by Jehoahaz' repentance of his previous wickedness, and by his beseeching prayers, and by the oppression suffered by his people from Hazael, "who had made them like the dust by threshing," gave Israel a savior from Ben-Hadad in Joash his son's days. Joash, visiting Elisha on his deathbed, by his direction shot arrows eastward, the pledge of the Lord's deliverance from Syria. But instead of smiting the ground repeatedly he only smote thrice from want of faith; so, instead of destroying the Syrians as he might have done, he only was to smite them thrice, which he did in Aphek (2Ki 13:14-19) in the Esdraelon plain, where Ahab had defeated Ben-Hadad I (1Ki 20:26); compare Am 1:3-4, which foretells Ben-Hadad's overthrow. Jeroboam II completed Israel's deliverance, according to Jonah's prophecy (2Ki 14:25).
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And God stirred up another adversary, one Rezon the son of Eliada, which fled from Hadadezer king of Zobah his master.
And God stirred up another adversary, one Rezon the son of Eliada, which fled from Hadadezer king of Zobah his master.
Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasure of the house of the LORD, and all the treasure of the king's house and delivered it unto his servants, and sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion king of Syria that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasure of the house of the LORD, and all the treasure of the king's house and delivered it unto his servants, and sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion king of Syria that dwelt at Damascus, saying, "There is a bond between thee and me as was between thy father and mine. Therefore, I send thee both gold and silver for a gift, that thou go and break the covenant between thee and Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."
"There is a bond between thee and me as was between thy father and mine. Therefore, I send thee both gold and silver for a gift, that thou go and break the covenant between thee and Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."
And Benhadad, king of Syria, gathered all his host together - and thirty two kings with him, with horse and chariot - and went up and besieged Samaria and warred against it.
And Benhadad, king of Syria, gathered all his host together - and thirty two kings with him, with horse and chariot - and went up and besieged Samaria and warred against it.
And as soon as the year was about, Benhadad numbered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to war with Israel.
And as soon as the year was about, Benhadad numbered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to war with Israel.
And the Moabites rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
And the Moabites rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
And they said unto him, "There came a man against us and said unto us, 'Go and turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD. Is it because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire through Beelzebub the god of Ekron? Therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.'"
And they said unto him, "There came a man against us and said unto us, 'Go and turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him: Thus sayeth the LORD. Is it because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire through Beelzebub the god of Ekron? Therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.'" And he said to them, "What manner a man was that which met you and told you these words?"
And he said to them, "What manner a man was that which met you and told you these words?"
After that, Elisha went to Damascus; Benhadad the king of Syria being sick. And one told the king, saying, "The man of God is come hither."
After that, Elisha went to Damascus; Benhadad the king of Syria being sick. And one told the king, saying, "The man of God is come hither." Then said the king to Hazael, "Take a present with thee and go against the man of God and ask the LORD by him whether I shall recover of this my disease or no."
Then said the king to Hazael, "Take a present with thee and go against the man of God and ask the LORD by him whether I shall recover of this my disease or no." And Hazael went to meet him and took presents with him, even of all the good things of Damascus - as much as forty camels could bear - and came and presented himself before him and said, "Thy son Benhadad, king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying, 'Shall I recover of this my disease?'"
And Hazael went to meet him and took presents with him, even of all the good things of Damascus - as much as forty camels could bear - and came and presented himself before him and said, "Thy son Benhadad, king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying, 'Shall I recover of this my disease?'" And Elisha said to him, "Go and say to him, 'Thou shalt recover.' Howbeit, the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die."
And Elisha said to him, "Go and say to him, 'Thou shalt recover.' Howbeit, the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die." And the man of God began to look earnestly, insomuch that he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.
And the man of God began to look earnestly, insomuch that he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, "Why weepeth my lord?" And he answered, "For I know that thou shalt do evil unto the children of Israel: their strong cities thou shalt set on fire, and their young men thou shalt slay with the sword, and shalt dash out the brains of their sucking children: and all to tear their women with child."
And Hazael said, "Why weepeth my lord?" And he answered, "For I know that thou shalt do evil unto the children of Israel: their strong cities thou shalt set on fire, and their young men thou shalt slay with the sword, and shalt dash out the brains of their sucking children: and all to tear their women with child." And Hazael said, "What is thy servant, which am but a dog, that I should do this great thing?" And Elisha said, "For the LORD hath showed me, that thou shalt be king of Syria."
And Hazael said, "What is thy servant, which am but a dog, that I should do this great thing?" And Elisha said, "For the LORD hath showed me, that thou shalt be king of Syria." And so he departed from Elisha and came to his master, which said to him, "What said Elisha to thee?" And he said, "He told me that thou shouldest recover."
And so he departed from Elisha and came to his master, which said to him, "What said Elisha to thee?" And he said, "He told me that thou shouldest recover." And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.
And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.
And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.
And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.
When Elisha was fallen sick of the sickness whereof he died, Joash king of Israel came to him and wept to him, and said, "O father, father! The chariot of Israel and the horsemen of the same!"
When Elisha was fallen sick of the sickness whereof he died, Joash king of Israel came to him and wept to him, and said, "O father, father! The chariot of Israel and the horsemen of the same!" And Elisha said unto him, "Bring bow and arrows." And he brought to him bow and arrows.
And Elisha said unto him, "Bring bow and arrows." And he brought to him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, "Put thine hand upon the bow, and when he had put his hand upon the bow, Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands."
And he said to the king of Israel, "Put thine hand upon the bow, and when he had put his hand upon the bow, Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands." Then he said, "Open a window eastward," and he opened. And Elisha said, "shoot," and he shot. And he said, "The arrow of salvation of the LORD; and the arrow of salvation against the Syrians: For thou shalt beat the Syrians in Aphek till thou have consumed them."
Then he said, "Open a window eastward," and he opened. And Elisha said, "shoot," and he shot. And he said, "The arrow of salvation of the LORD; and the arrow of salvation against the Syrians: For thou shalt beat the Syrians in Aphek till thou have consumed them." Then he said, "Take arrows," and he took. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Smite the ground," and he smote thrice and ceased.
Then he said, "Take arrows," and he took. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Smite the ground," and he smote thrice and ceased. And the man of God was angry with him and said, "Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times, and then thou hadst smitten the Syrians till thou hadst consumed them: where now thou shalt beat them but thrice."
And the man of God was angry with him and said, "Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times, and then thou hadst smitten the Syrians till thou hadst consumed them: where now thou shalt beat them but thrice."
He restored the coasts of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea, in the wild fields, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel which he spake through his servant Jonah the son of Amittai the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
He restored the coasts of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea, in the wild fields, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel which he spake through his servant Jonah the son of Amittai the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
"Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of Damascus, I will not spare her: because they have threshed Gilead with iron stales.
"Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of Damascus, I will not spare her: because they have threshed Gilead with iron stales. But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, the same shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, the same shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
Hastings
The name of three kings of Damascus in the 9th cent. b.c.
1. Benhadad I., the son of Tab-rimmon of Damascus. At the instance of Asa of Judah he intervened against Baasha of Israel, and took from him valuable territory on his northern border. For this service Benhadad received from Asa costly treasures from the Temple and royal palace (1Ki 15:17-20).
2. Benhadad II., son of the preceding, was an able general and statesman. He was at the head of a league of western princes who successfully opposed the attempts of Shalmaneser II. of Assyria to conquer southern Syria. At the battle of Karkar in b.c. 854 he had Ahab of Israel as one of his chief allies. In his time war with Israel was the rule, he being usually successful. But Ahab was more fortunate in the campaigns of 856 and 855, which were followed by a treaty of peace with concessions to Israel (1Ki 20). On the resumption of hostilities in the third year thereafter, Benhadad was victorious (1Ki 22). He was assassinated by the usurper Hazael about b.c. 843 (2Ki 8:15).
3. Benhadad III., son of Hazael, probably the same as the Man' of the Assyrian inscriptions. Under him Damascus lost his father's conquests in Palestine (2Ki 13:24 f.), and he also suffered heavily from the Assyrians.
J. F. McCurdy.
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And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, because that he would let none of Asa's people, king of Judah, go in or out. Then Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasure of the house of the LORD, and all the treasure of the king's house and delivered it unto his servants, and sent them to Benhadad the son of Tabrimmon the son of Hezion king of Syria that dwelt at Damascus, saying, read more. "There is a bond between thee and me as was between thy father and mine. Therefore, I send thee both gold and silver for a gift, that thou go and break the covenant between thee and Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me." And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, Dan, Abel called Bethmaacah and all Chinnereth with all the land of Naphtali.
And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.
And when Hazael king of Syria was dead, Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.