Helam

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

HELAM . The Aramæans from beyond the river, whom Hadarezer summoned to his aid, came to Helam (  2 Samuel 10:16 ) and were there met and defeated by David (  2 Samuel 10:17 f.). So far as the form of the word is concerned, hçlâm in   2 Samuel 10:16 might mean ‘their army.’ There can, however, be little doubt that the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] , Pesh. and Targ. are right in taking it as a proper name. Upon the ground of the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] some introduce Helam also in   Ezekiel 47:16 . In this case it must have lain on the border between Damascus and Hamath.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

He'lam. (Stronghold). A place east of the Jordan, but west of the Euphrates, at which the Syrians were collected by Hadarezer, and where David met and defeated them.  2 Samuel 10:16-17.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Place situate between the Jordan and the Euphrates, where David defeated the Syrians under Hadarezer.  2 Samuel 10:16,17 . Possibly the Alamatha of Ptolemy, near Nicephorium.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Ezekiel 47:16  1 Maccabees 5:26  2 Samuel 10:15-19

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

E. of Jordan and W. of Euphrates, where Hadarezer and the Syrians were defeated by David ( 2 Samuel 10:16-17).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 10:16

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Cheylam7', חֵילָם , Place Of Abundance,  2 Samuel 10:16; but in  2 Samuel 10:17, Chelanm', חֵאלָם [with He ‘ directive," חֵאלָמָה , Josephus Χαλαμά ], for which the margin prefers חֵלאָם ; Sept. Αἰλάμ , Vulgate Helamn), a place "beyond the river" (i.e. either east of the Jordan or west of the Euphrates, although Josephus, Ant. 7: 6, 3, understands it to mean east of the Euphrates), where David gained a victory over the combined forces of the Syrians under Hadadezer. apparently between Damascus and the country of the Ammonites. Ewald (Is'. Gesch. 2, 620) compares the Alanmatha ( Ἀλάμαθα ) of Ptolemy (5, 15, 25), on the west bank of the Euphrates, near Nicephoritm. (See David).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hē´lam ( חילם , ḥēlām ,   2 Samuel 10:16 f; in   2 Samuel 16:17 with the he of locale  ; Septuagint Ἁιλάμ , Hailám ): A place near which David is said to have defeated the Aramean world under Hadarezer ( 2 Samuel 10:16 ). Its site is unknown. Cornill and others introduce it into the text of  Ezekiel 47:16 (from the Septuagint Ἡλιάμ , Hḗliám ). This would place it between the territories of Damascus and Hamath, which is not unreasonable. Some scholars identify it with Aleppo, which seems too far north.