Lexical Summary
Ben-hadad: Ben-hadad
Original Word:בֶּן־הֲדַד
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Ben-Hadad
Pronunciation:ben-hah-DAD
Phonetic Spelling:(ben-had-ad')
KJV: Ben-hadad
NASB:Ben-hadad
Word Origin:[fromH1121 (בֵּן - sons) andH1908 (הֲדַד - Hadad)]
1. son of Hadad
2. Ben-Hadad, the name of several Syrian kings
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ben-hadad
Fromben andHadad; son of Hadad; Ben-Hadad, the name of several Syrian kings -- Ben-hadad.
see HEBREWben
see HEBREWHadad
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
ben and
HadadDefinition"son of Hadad," the name of several Aramean (Syrian) kings
NASB TranslationBen-hadad (25).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(apparently
son of (god) Hadad = Aramaic
,
PS compare Bae
Rel 68; also Babylonian
Bin-addu-natan etc., Pinches
PB Feb. 1883, 71; Assyrian
Bir-Dadda COT
1 Kings 20:1 Hpt
Hebraica 1885, 224, but compare , & Dl
ZK, ii, 1885, 161 f.; see also Schr
KG 375 ff, 538 f.) name for king of Aram
Jeremiah 49:27; in particular; —
1 Kings 15:18,20 2Chronicles 16:2,4.
(compare1 Kings 20:34) AssyrianDad-idri COT (Bir-idri Dl1 with)1 Kings 20:1,3,5,9,10,16,17,20,26,30,32,33 (twice in verse);2 Kings 6:24;2 Kings 8:7;2 Kings 8:9.
2 Kings 13:3,24,25 compareAmos 1:4. — see .
Topical Lexicon
Etymology and Regal Title“Ben-hadad” means “son of Hadad,” Hadad being the prominent Northwest-Semitic storm-god. In Syria this throne-name functioned like “Pharaoh” in Egypt, borne successively by Aramean kings ruling from Damascus.
Historical Background
During the ninth and eighth centuries BC three distinct kings of Aram-Damascus carried the name:
1. Ben-hadad I, contemporary with King Asa of Judah and Baasha of Israel (circa 900 BC).
2. Ben-hadad II, contemporary with Ahab, Jehoram, and Jehoshaphat (circa 875–842 BC).
3. Ben-hadad III, son of Hazael, contemporary with Jehoahaz and Jehoash of Israel (circa 796–780 BC).
The twenty-five occurrences listed span all three reigns and display God’s sovereign dealings with Israel, Judah, and the surrounding nations.
Ben-hadad I: Ally Turned Instrument of Judgment
First mentioned in1 Kings 15:18-20 and the parallel2 Chronicles 16:2-4, Ben-hadad I accepted silver and gold from King Asa to break a treaty with Baasha of Israel. Asa hoped to end Baasha’s fortification of Ramah:
“Then Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel… and when Baasha heard of it, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.” (1 Kings 15:20)
The tactic succeeded militarily, yet the prophet Hanani rebuked Asa for relying on a pagan king instead of the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:7-9). Ben-hadad I thus illustrates how God may use foreign power both to discipline His people and to expose misplaced trust.
Ben-hadad II: Arrogance Before the Living God
The largest cluster of references (1 Kings 20;2 Kings 6–8) concerns Ben-hadad II. His account unfolds in three movements:
1. Siege and Humiliation at Samaria (1 Kings 20)
• He besieged Samaria, boasting, “Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.” (1 Kings 20:3)
• Twice the Lord delivered Israel through Ahab: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because Aram has said, “The LORD is a god of the hills but not a god of the valleys,” I will deliver all this vast army into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’” (1 Kings 20:28)
• When defeat came, Ben-hadad sued for mercy. Ahab released him on treaty terms (1 Kings 20:32-34), and a prophet condemned Ahab for sparing the man God had devoted to destruction (1 Kings 20:42).
2. Renewed Hostilities and Miraculous Deliverance (2 Kings 6–7)
• Years later Ben-hadad II massed his entire army and “besieged Samaria, causing a great famine.” (2 Kings 6:24-25)
• Elisha foretold sudden deliverance, and the Lord routed the Arameans without an Israelite sword being lifted (2 Kings 7:6-7). The king who once boasted in chariots was powerless against the word of God.
3. Illness and Assassination (2 Kings 8:7-15)
• As Ben-hadad lay sick, he sent Hazael to inquire of Elisha: “Shall I recover from this illness?” Elisha answered, “Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that he will surely die.” (2 Kings 8:10)
• Hazael smothered his master and seized the throne, fulfilling1 Kings 19:15 which had named Hazael as God’s next instrument of judgment. Ben-hadad II’s death evidences God’s foreknowledge and the certainty of prophetic word.
Ben-hadad III: Oppressor Turned Target of Grace
Hazael’s son succeeded him (2 Kings 13:24-25). Scripture records two episodes:
1. Covenant Discipline (2 Kings 13:3)
“The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of Hazael king of Aram and into the hands of Ben-hadad son of Hazael all their days.”
2. Partial Restoration (2 Kings 13:5, 23-25)
• In response to Jehoahaz’s supplication, “the LORD provided Israel a deliverer” (2 Kings 13:5). Through the prophetic ministry of Elisha, Jehoash later recaptured the cities Ben-hadad III had taken. God’s compassion outweighed Israel’s chronic unfaithfulness.
Prophetic Oracles Concerning Ben-hadad
Jeremiah and Amos look beyond the narrative to declare God’s final verdict on Aram:
• “I will kindle a fire in the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.” (Jeremiah 49:27)
• “I will send fire upon the house of Hazael to consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.” (Amos 1:4)
These prophecies, likely delivered after the name disappeared from the throne, treat “Ben-hadad” as a dynastic symbol of Aramean might. Their fulfillment under Assyrian conquest underscores the Lord’s rule over history.
Theological Themes
1. Sovereignty of God over Nations: Pagan kings serve divine purposes, whether to chastise covenant people (2 Kings 13:3) or to magnify God’s glory through their defeat (1 Kings 20:28).
2. Reliability of Prophetic Word: From Ahab’s victory predictions to Elisha’s forecast of Ben-hadad II’s death, every oracle stands fulfilled.
3. Danger of Trusting Human Alliances: Asa’s bargain with Ben-hadad I succeeded tactically but drew divine censure (2 Chronicles 16:7-9).
4. Grace Amid Judgment: Even while permitting Ben-hadad III to oppress Israel, “the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and turned to them” (2 Kings 13:23).
Practical Ministry Insights
• Political or military strength never absolves a nation—or a congregation—from accountability to God.
• Leaders who, like Asa or Ahab, compromise righteousness for expedience reap spiritual loss.
• God’s deliverance often arrives in ways that leave no doubt of His hand, encouraging believers to rest in His promises rather than in human schemes.
• Persistent prayer, as modeled by Jehoahaz, can still move God’s heart even after long rebellion, offering hope for wayward individuals and churches.
Summary
Ben-hadad, recurring throne-name of Aram-Damascus, threads through Old Testament history as foil, scourge, and eventual target of divine judgment. His account affirms that the Most High “rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He wishes” (cf.Daniel 4:32), and that His covenant mercy shines brightest against the backdrop of human pride and political intrigue.
Forms and Transliterations
הֲ֠דַד הֲדַ֔ד הֲדַ֖ד הֲדַ֗ד הֲדַ֛ד הֲדַ֜ד הֲדַ֣ד הֲדַ֤ד הֲדַ֥ד הֲדַד֙ הֲדַד֩ הֲדָֽד׃ הדד הדד׃ hă·ḏaḏ hă·ḏāḏ Hadad hăḏaḏ hăḏāḏ
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