### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Hădadʻezer**, represented by `{{H1909}}`, identifies a specific **Syrian king**. The name means "Hadad (is his) help" and appears **9 times** across **8 unique verses**. In the biblical record, he is primarily documented as a significant military adversary of King David during the expansion of his kingdom.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, Hadadezer is the **king** `{{H4428}}` of **Zobah** `{{H6678}}` and the son of **Rehob** `{{H7340}}` ([[2 Samuel 8:3]], [[2 Samuel 8:12]]). His main appearance is in the context of his defeat by King **David** `{{H1732}}`. David **smote** `{{H5221}}` Hadadezer when the Syrian king attempted to recover his border at the **river** `{{H5104}}` Euphrates [[2 Samuel 8:3]]. When the **Syrians** `{{H758}}` of **Damascus** `{{H1834}}` came to **succour** `{{H5826}}` Hadadezer, David's forces slew twenty-two **thousand** `{{H505}}` of their **men** `{{H376}}` [[2 Samuel 8:5]]. David captured great wealth from Hadadezer, including **shields** `{{H7982}}` of **gold** `{{H2091}}` from his **servants** `{{H5650}}` and an exceeding amount of **brass** `{{H5178}}` from his cities [[2 Samuel 8:7-8]]. Later, a man named **Rezon** `{{H7331}}` who had fled from his **lord** `{{H113}}` Hadadezer became another **adversary** `{{H7854}}` to Israel [[1 Kings 11:23]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words and names are crucial to understanding the context of Hadadezer's story:
* `{{H1732}}` **Dâvid** (David): The central protagonist in the narrative, who fought against and **smote** `{{H5221}}` Hadadezer, establishing his own military dominance ([[2 Samuel 8:3]], [[2 Samuel 8:9]]).
* `{{H4428}}` **melek** (a king): This title defines the status of both Hadadezer, **king** of Zobah, and his primary opponents, **king** David and **king** Toi ([[2 Samuel 8:3]], [[2 Samuel 8:9]]).
* `{{H6678}}` **Tsôwbâʼ** (Zobah): This Syrian region was the seat of Hadadezer's power, identifying his kingdom's location ([[1 Kings 11:23]], [[2 Samuel 8:5]]).
* `{{H8583}}` **Tôʻûw** (Toi): As **king** of Hamath, **Toi** was an enemy of Hadadezer and sent his son to **bless** `{{H1288}}` David after Hadadezer's defeat, illustrating the shift in regional power [[2 Samuel 8:9-10]].
* `{{H758}}` **ʼĂrâm** (Syria, Syrians): This identifies the nationality of Hadadezer and his allies who came from Damascus to aid him in battle against David [[2 Samuel 8:5]].
### Theological Significance
The accounts of Hadadezer serve to illustrate several key themes in the narrative of David's reign:
* **Expansion of David's Kingdom:** The conflict with Hadadezer was initiated when the Syrian king sought to **recover** `{{H7725}}` his border, but it resulted in David's forces decisively defeating him and his allies, thereby securing the region ([[2 Samuel 8:3]], [[2 Samuel 8:5]]).
* **Enrichment of Israel:** David's victory over Hadadezer brought significant wealth into his kingdom. He **took** `{{H3947}}` the **spoil** `{{H7998}}` of Hadadezer, including **vessels** `{{H3627}}` of silver, gold, and brass, and brought the captured **shields** `{{H7982}}` of gold to **Jerusalem** `{{H3389}}` ([[2 Samuel 8:7]], [[2 Samuel 8:10]], [[2 Samuel 8:12]]).
* **Divine Favor on David:** The repeated and overwhelming victories of David against the large **host** `{{H2428}}` of Hadadezer demonstrate military and strategic success, presented as a result of divine support for David's rule [[2 Samuel 8:9-10]].
* **Regional Adversaries:** Hadadezer represents one of several regional powers, including **Moab** `{{H4124}}`, **Ammon** `{{H5983}}`, and the **Philistines** `{{H6430}}`, that David subdued [[2 Samuel 8:12]]. The legacy of his defeat continued when one of his former subjects, Rezon, later rose as an **adversary** `{{H7854}}` to Israel [[1 Kings 11:23]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1909}}` **Hădadʻezer** is not merely a name but represents a significant political and military force that challenged King David. The narrative of his defeat is a cornerstone of the account of David's reign, marking a key moment in the consolidation of his kingdom's power, the acquisition of wealth for Israel, and the realignment of alliances in the region. His story serves as a testament to the military strength and success that characterized David's rule.
TRV