Hadad

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A name often recurring in the Syrian and Edomite dynasties, meaning the sun; so applied as the official title to the king, as supreme on earth as the sun is in the sky. It appears in Ben-hadad, son, i.e. worshipper, of Hadad; Hadad-ezer, helped by Hadad. It appears as Hadar. (See Hadar .) ( Genesis 25:15; compare  1 Chronicles 1:30;  1 Chronicles 1:50). Nicolaus of Damascus (Fragm. 31), friend of Augustus Caesar (Josephus, Ant. 7:5, sec. 2), confirms  2 Samuel 8:3 as to David's defeating Hadadezer or Hadarezer, king of Zobah, "when he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates"; Nicolaus says, "a certain Hadad, a native Syrian, had great power, ruling over Damascus and all Syria except. Phoenicia (this accords with  2 Samuel 8:5, 'the Syrians of Damascus came to support Hadadezer,' being his vassals); he contended against David king of Judea in many battles; in the last, which was by the Euphrates, he suffered defeat (making his third defeat:  2 Samuel 8:3;  2 Samuel 8:5;  2 Samuel 10:18), showing himself a prince of the greatest prowess."

1. Son of Ishmael ( Genesis 25:15). The Attaei, Attene, Chateni, on W. of Persian gulf, seem his descendants (Ptol. 6:7, section 15; Plin. 6:32). Hadad, a mountain belonging to TEMA on the borders of the Syrian desert N. of el-Medeenah, corresponds to the dwelling of this tribe.

2. King of Edom; conquered Midian on the field of Moab ( Genesis 36:35); Avith was his capital. (See Avith .)

3. King of Edom (Pan was his capital:  Genesis 36:39); probably living when Moses wrote, for Moses does not record his death as he does that of his predecessors; last of the kings. In the later written  1 Chronicles 1:50 Hadad's death is recorded. The dukes that follow were not successors, but hereditary sheikhs who chose one emir or king to preside. Hadad's death does not therefore, as Smith's Bible Dictionary supposes, mark a change to the dukedom. (See Edom .) "Hadad could hardly have been living after the times of the kings of Israel, to which period those who consider  Genesis 36:31-48 an interpolation would assign the genealogy" (Speaker's Commentary).

4. Of the royal house of Edom ( 1 Kings 11:14, etc.). In childhood escaped the massacre of every Edomite male by Joab, and fled into Egypt. Pharaoh gave him house, victuals, and land, and his wife Tahpenes the queen's sister in marriage, who bore him Genubath. At David's death, in spite of Pharaoh's entreaties he left Egypt for his own country. The Septuagint read Edom for Aram (Syria),  1 Kings 11:25, thus making Hadad succeed in his attempt to regain rule over Edom, from whence he harassed Israel; but the Septuagint omits all as to Rezon, so that its authority is worth little here. Josephus (Ant. 8:7, section 6) reads as KJV; Hadad thus having failed to recover Edom joined Rezon in assailing Israel and received from him a portion of Syria; "he reigned over Syria" refers to Rezon, and is a repetition of verse 24.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

HADAD. 1. The name of a Semitic divinity (also written Adad, and Dadda for Adâda), the equivalent of Rimmon (wh. see) among the Aramæans of Damascus and apparently worshipped by all the Aramæan peoples, as well as among both South-Arabian and North-Arabian tribes, and also among the Assyrians. In Assyria and Babylonia, however, his cult, combined with that of Rammân, was apparently not native, but introduced from the Aram¿ans of the west. Hadad, like Rimmon (Rammân), was the god of the air and of thunder and lightning. The word seems to be derived from Arabic hadda , ‘to smite, crush.’ The name of this deity is not found alone in the Bible, but appears in several compounds, Benhadad, Bildad , and those which follow this article. It is possible, also, that Adrammelech of   2 Kings 19:37 and   Isaiah 37:38 should be read Adadmelech , ‘Adad is king.’

2. The eighth son of Ishmael,   1 Chronicles 1:30 , and also   Genesis 25:15 according to RV [Note: Revised Version.] and the best readings. 3. The fourth of the eight ancient kings of Edom, Gen 36:35; cf.   1 Chronicles 1:46 .   1 Chronicles 1:4 . The eighth of the kings of Edom in the same list as the last-named,   1 Chronicles 1:50 (in   Genesis 36:39 miswritten Hadar) . 5. The son of a king of Edom in the 10th cent. b.c. (  1 Kings 11:14 ff.). He escaped the massacre of Edomites perpetrated by Joab, David’s general, and fled (according to the received reading) to Egypt, whose king befriended him, and gave him his sister-in-law as his wife. After the death of David he returned to Edom, and his efforts seem to have rescued Edom from the yoke of king Solomon. It is probable that in   1 Kings 11:17 ff. instead of Mitsraim (Egypt) Mitsri should be read in the Hebrew as the name of a region west of Edom, which in the old MSS was several times confounded with the word for Egypt. The reference to Pharaoh (  1 Kings 11:18 ff.) would then have been a later addition.

J. F. M’Curdy.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ha'dad. (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 of Hadar .  Genesis 25:15;  Genesis 36:39 compared with  1 Chronicles 1:30;  1 Chronicles 1:50.

1. Son of Ishmael.  Genesis 25:15;  1 Chronicles 1:30.

2. A king of Edom, who gained an important victory over the Midianites, on the field of Moab.  Genesis 36:35;  1 Chronicles 1:46.

3. Also a king of Edom, with Pau for his capital.  1 Chronicles 1:50.

4. A member of the royal house of 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.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

son of the king of East Edom, was carried into Egypt by his father's servants, when Joab, general of David's troops, extirpated the males of Edom. Hadad was then a child. The king of Egypt gave him a house, lands, and every necessary subsistence, and married him to the sister of Tahpenes, his queen. By her he had a son, named Genubath, whom Queen Tahpenes educated in Pharaoh's house with the king's children. Hadad being informed that David was dead, and that Joab was killed, desired leave to return into his own country. Pharaoh wished to detain him, but at last permitted his return to Edom. Here he began to raise disturbances against Solomon; but the Scripture does not mention particulars. Josephus says, that Hadad did not return to Edom till long after the death of David, when Solomon's affairs began to decline, by reason of his impieties. He also observes, that, not being able to engage the Edomites to revolt, because of the strong garrisons which Solomon had placed there, Hadad got together such people as were willing, and carried them to Razon, then in rebellion against Hadadezer, king of Syria. Razon received Hadad with joy, and assisted him in conquering part of Syria, where he reigned, and from whence he insulted Solomon's territories.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Bedad and king of Edom.  Genesis 36:35,36;  1 Chronicles 1:46,47 .

2. An Edomite of the royal family. When a child he was carried into Egypt: Pharaoh eventually gave him his sister-in-law as wife. On the death of David he returned to his own country, and, being stirred up by God, was an enemy and did mischief to Solomon.   1 Kings 11:14-22 .

3. Son of Ishmael.   1 Chronicles 1:30 . Called HADAR in  Genesis 25:15 .

4. King of Edom who succeeded Baal-hanan.   1 Chronicles 1:50,51 . Called HADAR in Gen.

36:39. Apparently 'Hadad' was a title of the kings of Edom rather than a name.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Hadad'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/h/hadad.html. 1897.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Hadad ( Hâ'D Ăd ), Clamor, a Syrian deity, The Sun. 1. One of the kings who reigned in Edom; his capital city was Avith. He defeated the Midianites in the field of Moab.  Genesis 36:35;  1 Chronicles 1:46. 2. Another later king of Edom, the last enumerated in the early genealogies.  1 Chronicles 1:50-51. In  Genesis 36:39 he is called Hadar. In  1 Chronicles 1:51, a later record, his death is noted. 3. An Edomite of the royal family.  1 Kings 11:14-25.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. An Idumean prince, who defeated the Midianites in the plains of Moab,  Genesis 36:35   1 Chronicles 1:16 .

2. A second prince of Edom, mentioned in  1 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 11:14-22   2 Chronicles 8:17 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 36:35Ugarit

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

See Pagan Gods And Goddesses

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

a name which occurs with considerable confusion of form in the Heb. The proper orthography seems to be הֲדִד , Hadad (according to Gesenius from an Arab. root signifying to break forth into shouts; but Furst makes it = שִׁדִּי , A Mighty), which appears in  Genesis 36:35-36;  1 Chronicles 1:46-47;  1 Chronicles 1:50-51 (in all which passages it is rendered by the Sept. Ἀδάδ , and Vulg. Adad), and in  1 Kings 11:14-25 (where the Sept. has Ἀδάρ ,Vulg. Adad). The other forms are חֲדִד , Chadad ( 1 Chronicles 1:30; Sept. Χοδάδ Vulg. Hadad), הֲדִר , Hadar (Genesis 26:39; Sept. Ἀράδ , Vulg. Adar, Engl. "Hadar"), חֲדִר , Chadar ( Genesis 25:15; Sept Χοδάν , Vulg. and Engl. Hadar), and אֲדִד , Adad'( 1 Kings 11:17; Sept. Ἀδάρ ,Vulg. Adad). It was the name of a Syrian idol, and was thence transferred to the king, as the highest of earthly authorities, in the forms Hadad, Ben-hadad ("worshipper of Hadad"), and Hadad-ezer ("assisted by Hadad," Gesenius, Thesaur. p. 218). The title appears to have been an official one, like Pharaoh; and perhaps it ‘ is so used by Nicolaus Damascenus, as quoted by Josephus (Ant. 7:5, 2), in reference to the Syrian king who aided Hadadezer ( 2 Samuel 8:5). Josephus appears to have used the name in the same sense, where he substitutes it for Benhadad (Ant. 9, 8, 7, compared with  2 Kings 13:24). (See Hadad-Rimmon).

1. ADAD (See Adad) (q.v.) is the indigenous name of the chief deity of the Syrians, the Sun, according to Macrobius (Saturnal. 1, 23). Moreover, Pliny (Hist. Nat. 37, 11, 71), speaking of remarkable stones named after parts of the body, mentions some called "Adadunephros, ejusdem oculus ac digitus dei;" and adds, "et hic colitur a Syris." He is also called ῎Αδωδος Βασιλεὺς Θεῶν by Philo Byblius (in Eusebii Praepar. Evan. i, 10). The passage of Hesychius which Harduin adduces in his note to Pliny concerning the worship of this god by the Phrygians, Jablonski declares to be inadmissible (De Linzq. Lycaonica, p. 64).

This Syrian deity claims some notice here, because his name is most probably an element in the names of the Syrian kings Benhadad and Hadadezer. Moreover, several of the older commentators have endeavored to find this deity in  Isaiah 66:17; either by altering the text there to suit the Name given by Macrobius, or by adapting the name he gives to his Interpretation and to the reading of the Hebrew, so as to male that extract bear testimony to a god Achad (q.v.). Michaelis has argued at some length against both these views; and the modern commentators, such as Gesenius, Hitzig, Bottcher (in Proben Altest. Schrifterkldr.), and Ewald, do not admit the name of any deity in that passage.

2. HADAIR (See Hadair) (q.v.), one of the sons of Ishmael ( Genesis 25:15;  1 Chronicles 1:30). His descendants probably occupied the western coast of the Persian Gulf, where the names Attaei (Ptol. 6:7, § 15), Attene, and Chateni (Plin. 6:32) bear affinity to the original name. (See Arabia).

3. HADAD, king of Edom, the son of Bedad, and successor of Husham: he established his court at Avith, and defeated the Midianites in the intervening territory of Moab ( Genesis 36:35;  1 Chronicles 1:46). This is the only one of the ancient kings of Edom whose exploits are recorded by Moses. B.C. ante 1618. (See Avith).

4. HADAD, another king of Edom, successor of BaalHanon: he established his palace at Pal, and his wife's name was Mehetebel ( 1 Chronicles 1:50). He is called HADAR in  Genesis 36:39. From the fact that with him the list of these Edomitish kings closes, it may be conjectured (Turner's Companion To Genesis, p. 326) that he lived about the time of the Exode, and in that case he may be the identical king of Edom who refused a passage to the Israelites ( Numbers 20:14). B.C. prob. 1619; certainly ante 1093. (See Pa).

5. ADAD, a king of Syria, who reigned in Damascus at the time that David attacked end defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, whom he marched to assist, and in whose defeat he shared. B.C. cir..1040. This fact is recorded in  2 Samuel 8:5, but the name of the king is not given. It is supplied, however, by Josephus (Ant. 7, 5, 2), who reports, after Nicolas of Damascus, that he carried succors to Hadadezer as far as the Euphrates, where David defeated them both; and adds other particulars respecting his fame.

6. HADAD, a young prince of the royal race of Edom, who, when his country was conquered by David, contrived, in the heat of the massacre committed by Joab, to escape with some of his father's servants, or, rather, was carried off by them into the land of Midian. B.C. cir. 1040. Thence Hadad went into the desert of Paran ("Midian,"  2 Samuel 8:18), and eventually proceeded to Egypt ( 1 Kings 11:14 sq.; in  1 Kings 11:17 the name is given in the mutilated form אֲדִד ). He was there most favorably received by the king, who assigned him an estate and establishment suited to his rank, and even gave him in marriage the sister of his own consort, by whom he had a son, who was brought up in the palace with the sons of Pharaoh. Hadad remained in Egypt till after the death of David and Joab, when, although dissuaded by Pharaoh, he returned to his own country in the hope of recovering his father's throne ( 1 Kings 11:21-22). B.C. cir. 1012. The Scripture does not record the result of this attempt further than by mentioning him as one of the troublers of Solomon's reign, which implies some measure of success (see Kitto's Daily Bible Illust. ad loc.). After relating these facts the text goes on to mention another enemy of Solomon, named Rezin, and then adds ( 1 Kings 11:25) that this was "besides the mischief that Hadad did; and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria."

Our version seems to make this apply to Rezin; but the Sept. refers it to Hadad, reading אדום , Ediom, instead of ארם , Aram or Syria, and the sense would certainly be improved by this reading, inasmuch as it supplies an apparent omission; for without it we only know that Hadad left Egypt for Edom, and not how he succeeded there, or how he was able to trouble Solomon. The history of Hadad is certainly very obscure. Adopting the Sept. reading, some conclude that Pharaoh used his interest with Solomon to allow Hadad to reign as a tributary prince, and that he ultimately asserted his independence. Josephus, however, seems to have read the Hebrew as our version does, "Syria," not "Edom." He says (Ant. 8:7, 6) that Hadad, on his arrival in Edom, found the territory too strongly garrisoned by Solomon's troops to afford any hope of success. He therefore proceeded with a party of adherents to Syria, where he was well received by Rezin, then at the head of a band of robbers, and with his assistance seized upon a part of Syria and reigned there. If this be correct, it must have been a different part of Syria from that in which Rezin himself reigned, for it is certain, from  1 Kings 11:24, that he (Rezin) did reign in Damascus. Carrieres supposes that Hadad reigned in Syria after the death of Rezin; and it might reconcile apparent discrepancies to suppose that two kingdoms were established (there were more previously), both of which, after the death of Rezin, were consolidated under Hadad. That Hadad was really king of Syria seems to be rather corroborated by the fact that every subsequent king of Syria is, in the Scripture, called Ben-Hadad; "son of Hadad," and in Josephus simply Hadad, which seems to denote that the founder of the dynasty was called by this name., We may observe that, whether we read Aram or Edom, it must be understood as applying to Hadad, not to Rezin (Pictorial Bible, on  2 Kings 11:14). — Kitto. The identity of name suggests a common origin between the Edomitish and Syrian dynasties. Josephus, in the outset of his account, appears to call this Hadad by the name of Ader. In any case, however, the preceding must be regarded as distinct persons from each other (see Hengstenberg, Pentateuch, 2, 288), the last probably being the son, or, rather, grandson of No. 5. (See Syria).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hā´dad  :

(1) ( חדד , ḥădhadh , "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 passage  1 Chronicles 1:30; the Revised Version (British and American) reads "Hadad" in both places).

(2) חדד , hădhadh ): A king of Edom, son of Bedad (  Genesis 36:35 ,  Genesis 36:36 parallel   1 Chronicles 1:46 ,  1 Chronicles 1:47 ), "who smote Midian in the field of Moab," and whose "city was Avith."

(3) Another king of Edom, written "Hadar" in  Genesis 36:39 by a copyist's mistake, but "Hadad" in the parallel passage   1 Chronicles 1:50 ,  1 Chronicles 1:51 . 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 ,  1 Kings 11:25 ).

(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 in  Zechariah 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."

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ha´dad (sharp) is equivalent to Adad, the name of the chief deity of the Syrians [ADAD], and borne, with or without additions, as a proper name, or more probably as a title, like 'Pharaoh' in Egypt, by several of the kings of Southern Syria.

Hadad, 1

Hadad, king of Edom, who defeated the Midianites in the intervening territory of Moab . This is the only one of the ancient kings of Edom whose exploits are recorded by Moses. Another king of Edom of the same name is mentioned in .

Hadad, 2

Hadad, king of Syria, who reigned in Damascus at the time that David attacked and defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, whom he marched to assist, and shared in his defeat. This fact is recorded in , but the name of the king is not given. It is supplied, however, by Josephus, who reports, after Nicolas of Damascus, that he carried succors to Hadadezer as far as the Euphrates, where David defeated them both.

Hadad, 3

Hadad, a young prince of the royal race of Edom, who, when his country was conquered by David, contrived, in the heat of the massacre committed by Joab, to escape with some of his father's servants, or rather was carried off by them into the land of Midian. Thence Hadad went into the desert of Paran, and eventually proceeded to Egypt. He was there most favorably received by the king, who assigned him an estate and establishment suited to his rank, and even gave him in marriage the sister of his own consort, by whom he had a son, who was brought up in the palace with the sons of Pharaoh. Hadad remained in Egypt till after the death of David and Joab, when he returned to his own country in the hope of recovering his father's throne . The Scripture does not record the result of this attempt further than by mentioning him as one of the troublers of Solomon's reign, which implies some measure of success.