Topical Encyclopedia
Overview:Hadad is a name associated with several figures and entities in the Bible, primarily found in the Old Testament. The name is of Semitic origin and is often linked to a storm and fertility god worshiped in ancient Aram and surrounding regions. In the biblical context, Hadad is most notably associated with Edomite royalty and adversaries of Israel.
1. Hadad the Edomite King:Hadad is first mentioned as a king of Edom, a region south of the Dead Sea, which was often in conflict with Israel. In
Genesis 36:31-39, Hadad is listed among the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king. The passage provides a genealogy and historical context for Edom's leadership, highlighting Hadad's role in the region's early governance.
2. Hadad the Adversary of Solomon:Another significant figure named Hadad is an Edomite prince who becomes an adversary to King Solomon. After Joab, the commander of David's army, killed every male in Edom, Hadad fled to Egypt as a child. He found favor with Pharaoh, who provided him refuge and later gave him a wife from the royal family (
1 Kings 11:14-22). Upon hearing of David's death and Joab's demise, Hadad returned to Edom and became a thorn in Solomon's side, fulfilling God's word to raise adversaries against Solomon due to his idolatry (
1 Kings 11:23-25).
3. Hadad as a Deity:In the broader ancient Near Eastern context, Hadad is also the name of a storm and rain god, often equated with Baal. This deity was worshiped by various Semitic peoples, including the Arameans and Canaanites. The worship of Hadad/Baal was a recurring issue for Israel, as it often led to idolatry and apostasy, drawing the Israelites away from the worship of Yahweh.
4. Hadad in Genealogies:The name Hadad appears in various genealogical records, emphasizing its commonality and significance in the region. In
1 Chronicles 1:46-50, Hadad is again mentioned in the context of Edomite kings, reinforcing the historical and political importance of this name in Edom's lineage.
Biblical Significance:The figures named Hadad in the Bible serve as reminders of the complex relationships between Israel and its neighbors. The adversarial role of Hadad the Edomite prince against Solomon illustrates the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God, as foreign adversaries were often used as instruments of divine judgment. The presence of Hadad as a deity highlights the persistent challenge of idolatry faced by the Israelites, as they were tempted to adopt the religious practices of surrounding nations.
Key Bible Verses:·
Genesis 36:31-39 : "These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah. When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place. When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place. When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, reigned in his place; the name of his city was Avith."
·
1 Kings 11:14-25 : "Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom. Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom. For Joab and all Israel had stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom. But Hadad fled to Egypt with some Edomites who had served his father, while Hadad was still a boy."
Cultural and Historical Context:Understanding Hadad's role in the Bible requires a grasp of the geopolitical and religious landscape of the ancient Near East. Edom's strategic location and its frequent conflicts with Israel are crucial to the narrative. Additionally, the syncretism and religious tensions between the worship of Yahweh and local deities like Hadad/Baal provide insight into the spiritual struggles of the Israelites.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Hadadjoy; noise; clamor
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Hadad(mighty), originally the indigenous appellation of the sun among the Syrians, and thence transferred to the king as the highest of earthly authorities. The title appears to have been an official one, like Pharaoh. It is found occasionally in the altered form Hadar. (Genesis 25:15;36:39) compared with 1Chr 1:30,50
- Son of Ishmael. (Genesis 25:15;1 Chronicles 1:30)
- A king of Edom who gained an important victory over the Midianites on the field of Moab. (Genesis 36:35;1 Chronicles 1:46)
- Also a king of Edom, with Pau for his capital. (1 Chronicles 1:50)
- A member of the royal house Or Edom. (1 Kings 11:14) ff. In his childhood he escaped the massacre under Joab, and fled with a band of followers into Egypt. Pharaoh, the predecessor of Solomon's father-in-law, treated him kindly, and gave him his sister-in-law in marriage. After David's death Hadad resolved to attempt the recovery of his dominion. He left Egypt and returned to his own country.
ATS Bible Dictionary
Hadad1. An Idumean prince, who defeated the Midianites in the plains of Moab,Genesis 36:351 Chronicles 1:16.
2. A second prince of Edom, mentioned in1 Chronicles 1:51.
3. Another Edomite of the royal family, who fled to Egypt while young, upon David's conquest of Edom,2 Samuel 8:14; was well received, and married the queen's sister. After the death of David and Joab, he returned to Edom and made an ineffectual effort to throw off the yoke of Solomon,1 Kings 11:14-222 Chronicles 8:17.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Adod, brave (?), the name of a Syrian god.
(1.) An Edomite king who defeated the Midianites (Genesis 36:35;1 Chronicles 1:46).
(2.) Another Edomite king (1 Chronicles 1:50, 51), called also Hadar (Genesis 36:39;1 Chronicles 1:51).
(3.) One of "the king's seed in Edom." He fled into Egypt, where he married the sister of Pharaoh's wife (1 Kings 11:14-22). He became one of Solomon's adversaries.
Hadad, sharp, (a different name in Hebrew from the preceding), one of the sons of Ishmael (1 Chronicles 1:30). Called also Hadar (Genesis 25:15).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
HADADha'-dad:
(1) (chadhadh, "sharpness"): One of the twelve sons of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15, where the King James Version, following a mistake in Hebrew text, has "Hadar"; but "Hadad" is found in parallel passage1 Chronicles 1:30; the Revised Version (British and American) reads "Hadad" in both places).
(2) (hadhadh): A king of Edom, son of Bedad (Genesis 36:35, 36 parallel1 Chronicles 1:46, 47), "who smote Midian in the field of Moab," and whose "city was Avith."
(3) Another king of Edom, written "Hadar" inGenesis 36:39 by a copyist's mistake, but "Hadad" in the parallel passage1 Chronicles 1:50, 51. His city was Pau or Palestine.
(4) A member of the royal family of Edom in David's time, who as a child escaped Joab's slaughter of the Edomites, and fled to Egypt. On David's death he returned to Edom, where he made trouble for Solomon by stirring up the Edomites against the rule of Israel (1 Kings 11:14-22, 25).
(5) The supreme god of Syria, whose name is found in Scripture in the names of Syrian kings, Benhadad, Hadadezer. The god Hadad (= perhaps, "maker of loud noise") is mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions, and called on the monolith of Shalmaneser "the god of Aleppo." In the Assyrian inscriptions he is identified with the air-god Rammon or Rimmon. The union of the two names inZechariah 12:11 suggests this identity, though the reference is uncertain, some regarding Hadadrimmon as the name of a place, others as the name of the god-"Hadad (is) Rimmon." The name "Hadad" is found in various other forms: Adad, Dadu, and Dadda. See A. H. Sayce in HDB under the word "Hadad."
George Rice Hovey
Strong's Hebrew
1130. Ben-hadad -- "son ofHadad," the name of several Aramean...Ben-
hadad. 1129, 1130. Ben-
hadad. 1131 . "son of
Hadad," the name of
several Aramean (Syrian) kings. Transliteration: Ben-
hadad...1908.Hadad -- three Edomites
... 1907, 1908.Hadad. 1909 . three Edomites. Transliteration:Hadad Phonetic
Spelling: (had-ad') Short Definition:Hadad. Word Origin...
111. Adad --Hadad
... 110, 111. Adad. 112 .Hadad. Transliteration: Adad Phonetic Spelling: (ad-ad')
Short Definition:Hadad. Word Origin probably an orth. var. forHadad, qv.Hadad...
1909. Hadadezer -- "Hadad is help(er)," an Aramean (Syrian) king
... Hadadezer. 1910 . "Hadad is help(er)," an Aramean (Syrian) king. Transliteration:
Hadadezer Phonetic Spelling: (had-ad-eh'-zer) Short Definition: Hadadezer....
1910. Hadadrimmon -- probably a heathen god
... Hadadrimmon. Word Origin fromHadad and Rimmon Definition probably a heathen
god NASB Word Usage Hadadrimmon (1).Hadad-rimmon. FromHadad...
2301. Chadad -- a son of Ishmael
... 2300, 2301. Chadad. 2302 . a son of Ishmael. Transliteration: Chadad
Phonetic Spelling: (khad-ad') Short Definition:Hadad....Hadad....
1928. Hadarezer -- Hadarezer
... Hadarezer From Hadar and ezer; Hadar (ieHadad,Hadad) is his help; Hadarezer (ie
Hadadezer,Hadad'ezer), a Syrian king -- Hadarezer.... see HEBREWHadad....
2582. Chenadad -- a Levite
... Word Origin probably from chen andHadad Definition a Levite NASB Word Usage Henadad
(4). Henadad.... see HEBREW chen. see HEBREWHadad. 2581, 2582....
Library
HowHadad King of Damascus and of Syria, Made Two Expeditions...
... From The Death Of David To The Death Of Ahab. CHAPTER 14. HowHadad King Of Damascus
And Of Syria, Made Two Expeditions Against Ahab And Was Beaten....
How David Brought under the Philistines, and the Moabites, and the...
... 2. Now whenHadad, king of Damascus and of Syria, heard that David fought against
Hadadezer, who was his friend, he came to his assistance with a powerful army...
The Nations of the North-East
... name. The gods are all Semitic"Hadad the Sun-god and Shahr the Moon-god,
the Baal of Harran, and Rekeb-el, "the Chariot of God."....
'More than Conquerors through Him'
... had apparently started into prominence under its king Hadar- ezer, as he is called
in this chapter, which is obviously a clerical error forHadad-ezer, as in 2...
The Story of Hazael
... and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels'
burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of...
How Solomon Grew Rich, and Fell Desperately in Love with Women and...
... captain of David's host, laid waste the land of Edom, and destroyed all that were
men grown, and able to bear arms, for six months' time, thisHadad fled away...
A Discourse which was in the Presence of Antoninus C??sar
... The Syrians worshipped Athi, a Hadibite, who sent the daughter of Belat, a person
skilled in medicine, and she healed Simi, the daughter ofHadad king of Syria...
Absolute Surrender
... ABSOLUTE SURRENDER. "And Ben-hadad the king of... What BenHadad asked was absolute
surrender; and what Ahab gave was what was asked of him"absolute surrender....
Chapter xxxvi
... And Husham died and there ruled in his steadHadad, the son of Bedad, the man who
smote Midian in the field of Moab, and the name of his city was Avith....
The Nations of the South-East
... Reuben was enabled to pasture his flocks in peace in its valleys, and it is probable
that it was not tillHadad, the King of Edom, "smote Midian in the plain...
Thesaurus
Hadad (38 Occurrences)... He became one of Solomon's adversaries.
Hadad, sharp, (a different name in Hebrew
from the preceding), one of the sons of Ishmael (1 Chronicles 1:30).
...HADAD.
...Ben-hadad (27 Occurrences)
Ben-hadad. Benhadad, Ben-hadad. Ben-ha'dad . Easton's Bible Dictionary The
standing title of the Syrian kings, meaning "the son ofHadad." (see HADADEZER.)...
Hadad-rimmon (1 Occurrence)
Hadad-rimmon. Hadadrimmon,Hadad-rimmon. Hadadrim'mon . Easton's Bible Dictionary...
W. Ewing. Multi-Version ConcordanceHadad-rimmon (1 Occurrence)....
Ben-hadad's (2 Occurrences)
Ben-hadad's. Ben-ha'dad, Ben-hadad's. Benhail . Multi-Version
Concordance Ben-hadad's (2 Occurrences). 1 Kings 20:9...
Ben-ha'dad (26 Occurrences)
Ben-ha'dad. Ben-hadad, Ben-ha'dad. Ben-hadad's . Multi-Version Concordance
Ben-ha'dad (26 Occurrences). 1 Kings 15:18 Then Asa took...
Rezon (3 Occurrences)
... The name appears to be given as chezyon; Hazein (1 Kings 15:18; see HEZION), where
he is the father of Tabrimmon, whose son Ben-hadad I is known through his...
Ben (40 Occurrences)
... of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them
into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to BenHadad, the son...
Nebuchadrezzar (31 Occurrences)
... name in the Hebrew and the Aramaic of the Scriptures is a not uncommon one in the
Semitic languages, as in Burnaburiyash and Burraburiyash, Ben-hadad and Bar...
Ijon (3 Occurrences)
... A ruin, a city of Naphtali, captured by Ben-hadad of Syria at the instance of Asa
(1 Kings 15:20), and afterwards by Tiglath-pileser of Assyria (2 Kings 15:29...
Sama'ria (102 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 20:1 And Ben-hadad the king of Aram gathered all his host together; and
there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots; and he went...
Resources
Who was Ben-Hadad in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that God is the God of the hills and valleys (1 Kings 20:28)? | GotQuestions.orgWho was King Baasha in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
