Introduction:
Ben-hadad is a dynastic name attributed to several kings of Aram-Damascus, a kingdom located in present-day Syria. The name "Ben-hadad" means "son of Hadad," with Hadad being the storm and rain god worshiped in the region. The biblical narrative mentions multiple kings by this name, each playing significant roles in the history of Israel and Judah.

Ben-hadad I:
The first Ben-hadad mentioned in the Bible is likely the king who formed an alliance with Asa, the king of Judah, against Baasha, the king of Israel. In 1 Kings 15:18-20 , Asa sent silver and gold from the treasuries of the LORD's temple and the royal palace to Ben-hadad, asking him to break his treaty with Baasha. Ben-hadad agreed, attacking the northern cities of Israel, which forced Baasha to withdraw from his fortifications in Ramah.

Ben-hadad II:
The second Ben-hadad, often referred to as Ben-hadad II, is a prominent figure in the biblical accounts of the conflicts between Aram and Israel during the reign of Ahab, king of Israel. In 1 Kings 20, Ben-hadad besieged Samaria, demanding tribute and the surrender of Ahab's wives and children. Ahab initially agreed to the demands but resisted when Ben-hadad's demands became more severe. The LORD delivered Israel from Ben-hadad's hand, granting Ahab victory in two battles. Despite this, Ahab spared Ben-hadad's life, a decision that later led to prophetic condemnation (1 Kings 20:42).

Ben-hadad II also appears in the narrative involving the prophet Elisha. In 2 Kings 6:24-7:20, Ben-hadad besieged Samaria again, leading to a severe famine. Through Elisha's prophecy, the LORD miraculously provided for the city, causing the Aramean army to flee in panic.

Ben-hadad III:
The third Ben-hadad, son of Hazael, succeeded his father as king of Aram. During his reign, Israel, under King Jehoash, regained territories previously lost to Aram. This was in fulfillment of Elisha's prophecy to Jehoash, where he struck the ground with arrows, symbolizing victories over Aram (2 Kings 13:18-19). Ben-hadad III's reign marked a period of decline for Aram, as Israel regained its strength and territories.

Historical and Theological Significance:
The accounts of the Ben-hadads highlight the complex political and military interactions between Israel and its neighbors. These narratives demonstrate the sovereignty of God over nations and kings, as He uses these interactions to fulfill His purposes for Israel. The accounts of Ben-hadad also underscore the importance of obedience to God's commands, as seen in the consequences faced by Ahab for sparing Ben-hadad II.

Conclusion:
The Ben-hadads of Aram-Damascus serve as significant figures in the biblical history of Israel, illustrating the ongoing struggle for power and the divine orchestration of events. Through these accounts, the biblical text reveals the interplay between human actions and divine will, emphasizing the ultimate authority of God over the affairs of nations.Ben-Hadad

1. A king of Dama scene Syria, hired by Asa king of Judah to make war upon Baasha king of Israel, 1 Kings 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, 1 Kings 20:1-43. 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, 1 Kings 22:1-53 After about nine years, Ben-hadad again invaded Israel, and the prophet Elisha was instrumental in frustrating his plans, 2 Kings 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, 2 Kings 6:17 7:6 Proverbs 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, 2 Kings 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, 2 Kings 13:1-25.

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 (1 Kings 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 (2 Kings 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 (2 Kings 13:3, 4). His misfortunes in war are noticed by Amos (1:4).

1130. Ben-hadad -- "son of Hadad," 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 ...
/hebrew/1130.htm - 6k

How Hadad King of Damascus and of Syria, Made Two Expeditions ...
... 1. When the affairs of Ahab were thus, at that very time the son of Hadad, [Benhadad,]
who was king of the Syrians and of Damascus, got together an army out of ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 how hadad king.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... Nor does it seem to me otherwise but that Benhadad immediately recovered of his
disease, as the prophet foretold; and that Hazael, upon his being anointed to ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

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 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the story of hazael.htm

Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat; How Joram, his Namesake, King of ...
... And when Benhadad missed of the success of his lying in ambush, he was wroth with
his own servants, as if they had betrayed his ambushment to Joram; and he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 jehoram succeeds jehoshaphat.htm

The Nations of the North-East
... "Damask couches" were already famous, and Ahab sent a contingent of 10,000 men and
2000 chariots to the help of Ben-Hadad II. in his war against Assyria. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iv the nations of.htm

Concerning Jehoshaphat the King of Jerusalem and How Ahab Made an ...
... being in number about four hundred, and bid them inquire of God whether he would
grant him the victory, if he made an expedition against Benhadad, and enable ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 15 concerning jehoshaphat the.htm

The Kingdom of Samaria.
... These Syrians were appointed to bring punishment upon Samaria; but at first, two
great victories were vouchsafed to Ahab, because Benhadad, King of Syria ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson viii the kingdom of.htm

Absolute Surrender
... ABSOLUTE SURRENDER. "And Ben-hadad the king of ... What Ben Hadad asked was absolute
surrender; and what Ahab gave was what was asked of him"absolute surrender. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/absolute surrender/absolute surrender.htm

Meditations against Despair, or Doubting of God's Mercy.
... cxl.3.) Had Judas apprehended this word friend out of the mouth of Christ, as Benhadad
did the word brother from the mouth of Ahab, doubtless Judas should have ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations against despair or doubting.htm

Songs in the Night
... You remember Benhadad, when he was overcome and conquered, and Ahab was
after him. Some said to him, "We know that the kings of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 44 1898/songs in the night.htm

Benhadad (24 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BENHADAD. ...Benhadad seems to have become a general
designation for the kings of Syria (Amos 1:4 Jeremiah 49:27). ...
/b/benhadad.htm - 28k

Ben-hadad (27 Occurrences)
Ben-hadad. Benhadad, Ben-hadad. Ben-ha'dad . Easton's Bible Dictionary ... (ASV
BBE DBY JPS WBS YLT NAS NIV). Benhadad, Ben-hadad. Ben-ha'dad . Reference Bible
/b/ben-hadad.htm - 16k

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 ...
/b/ben-hadad's.htm - 7k

Ben-ha'dad (26 Occurrences)
... Ben-hadad, Ben-ha'dad. Ben-hadad's . ... 1 Kings 20:2 He sent messengers to Ahab
king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, "Thus says BenHadad, (See RSV) ...
/b/ben-ha'dad.htm - 14k

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 ...
/b/ben.htm - 20k

Hadad (38 Occurrences)
... whose name is found in Scripture in the names of Syrian kings, Benhadad, Hadadezer. ...
into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to BenHadad, the son ...
/h/hadad.htm - 21k

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 ...
/i/ijon.htm - 8k

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 ...
/r/rezon.htm - 9k

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 ...
/s/sama'ria.htm - 34k

Treaty (25 Occurrences)
... with Hiram, king of Tyre (1 Kings 5:15); Asa, to rid himself of the hostile approaches
of Baasha, king of Israel, entered into a league with Ben-hadad of Syria ...
/t/treaty.htm - 16k

Who was Ben-Hadad in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God is the God of the hills and valleys (1 Kings 20:28)? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Baasha in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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