Benhadad I
- Dates
- 936–870 BC
Name means "son of the god of Hadad." He is the son of Tabrimmon and an ally of Baasha, king of Israel. In a struggle between Judah and Israel, Asa induces him to make an alliance against Israel.
In detail
Ben—hadad, name means "son of (the god) Hadad." Ben—hadad I, son of Tabrimmon, grandson of Hezion (1 Ki 15:18), and great—grandson of Rezon (ch 11:23). He reigned from c. 900 to c. 870 b.c. He was an ally of Baasha, king of Israel, but in the struggle between Judah and Israel he was induced by Asa, king of Judah, to break off his alliance and attack Israel (1 Ki 15:16—21 2 Chr 16:1—5). He induced Omri to admit Aramaean business firms to Samaria (see 1 Ki 20:34).
Bible passages
- 1 Kings 15:16-21
16 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 17 And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Ben–hadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, …
Text of the King James Version.