Hadadezer

Hadadezer (meaning Hadad is help or beauty of assistance), also called Hadarezer, was king of Zobah, an Aramaean state in the region north and northeast of Damascus. He was the most powerful Syrian ruler of his era and the dominant adversary David faced in his northern campaigns. David defeated Hadadezer twice: first when Hadadezer was attempting to extend his border to the Euphrates (2 Sam. 8:3–8), and again when Hadadezer gathered a large coalition to support the Ammonites against David (2 Sam. 10:15–19).

After the second defeat, the Aramaean vassals of Hadadezer made peace with Israel and became subject to David (2 Sam. 10:19). The spoil from these victories—shields of gold, and vast quantities of brass—was dedicated to the Lord and later used in Solomon's temple construction (1 Chr. 18:8). Hadadezer's defeats marked a critical expansion of Israelite power throughout greater Syria.