Hadadezer was the king of Zobah, an Aramean kingdom north of Israel. He was a powerful enemy of King David but was defeated in several battles. David's victories over Hadadezer helped establish Israel's dominance over much of the region.
David defeated Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer went to restore his power at the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers.
4David captured from him seventeen hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all the chariot horses, but he left enough for a hundred chariots.
4David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all the chariot horses, but kept a hundred chariots for himself.
6Then David stationed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became his servants and brought him tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
6He stationed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became his subjects and paid him tribute. So the LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
David took the golden shields that Hadadezer's servants carried and brought them to Jerusalem. He also took a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer's cities.
8From Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon later used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the bronze vessels.
When King Toi of Hamat heard that David had defeated all of Hadadezer's army, he sent his son to David with gifts of gold, silver, and bronze to congratulate him.
10he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze.
10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, silver, and bronze.
11King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all the nations—from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites.
Hadadezer sent messengers and mobilized the Arameans from beyond the Euphrates. Shobach, Hadadezer's commander, led them, but David gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan to meet them.
16Hadadezer sent messengers and brought out the Arameans from beyond the River, and they came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army leading them.
17When David was told of it, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Arameans drew up their lines to meet David and fought against him.
16When the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer's army at their head.
17When David was told of it, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced against them, and drew up his lines to meet them. David formed his battle line against the Arameans, and they fought against him.
David defeated the Arameans at Helam. Shobach, Hadadezer's commander, was killed in battle. All the kings who were subject to Hadadezer made peace with Israel and became their subjects.
18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their horsemen. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there.
19When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.
18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army.
19When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. And the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.