Ben-hadad

About Ben-hadad

Ben-hadad I was the king of Aram (Syria) during the reigns of Asa, king of Judah, and Baasha, king of Israel. He is first mentioned in 1Ki.15.18-20 and 2Ch.16.2-4, where Asa sends him a gift of silver and gold from the temple treasuries to persuade him to break his treaty with Baasha and attack Israel. Ben-hadad I agrees and conquers several cities in northern Israel, forcing Baasha to abandon his fortification project at Ramah. Later, in 1Kings 20, Ben-hadad I leads a coalition of thirty-two kings against Ahab, king of Israel. Despite his initial confidence, Ben-hadad I is defeated twice by Ahab, who is guided by prophetic advice. After his second defeat, Ben-hadad I humbles himself before Ahab, who spares his life and makes a treaty with him. The prophet condemns Ahab for this decision, as Ben-hadad I was to be destroyed. Jer.49.27 mentions the "wall of Damascus," likely referring to Ben-hadad's capital city, in a prophecy of judgment against Aram. Ben-hadad I's reign was marked by his military campaigns against Israel and his diplomatic interactions with Judah, shaping the political landscape of the region.

Description from STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0, lightly reformatted. This is background reference material, not Scripture and not a FaithGraph editorial claim.