HADADEZER, King of Zobah, which from south to north extended from Libanus 2 Sam. viii. 3.as far as the Orontes. When David went with a design to inlarge his dominions as far as the Euphrates, he defeated Hadadezer, took seven hundred horse and twenty thousand foot; hamstrung all the horses of Hadadezer’s chariots, and reserved so many only as were necessary for an hundred chariots of war. Hadad King of Damascus, coming to the assistance of Hadadezer, David defeated him likewise, and killed two and twenty thousand of his men. The arms of Hadadezer’s soldiers David took, and carried to Jerusalem; and brought away with him a prodigious quantity of brass, from the Cities of Betah and Berothai, which were in subjection to Hadadezer. These victories over Hadadezer procured David a visit from Toi, the King of Hamath, who was at war with Hadadezer, and sent great presents to David, as an acknowledgment for delivering him from this enemy. This happened in the year of the World 2960, before Jesus Christ 1040, before the Vulgar Æra 1044.
Seven years after, the King of the Ammonites being dead, David sent Ambassadors to Hanon his son, with compliments of condolance upon his father’s death. This young Prince, instead of acknowledging David’s civility, affronted his Ambassadors, and obliged him to declare war against him. Hanon, sensible that he was not strong enough to resist him, called the neighbouring Princes to his assistance, and in particular Hadadezer: he did not dare to declare openly against David, who had humbled him, and seven years before had made him tributary to him; but he sent privately into Mesopotamia, and there bought troops See our Comment upon 1 Chr. xix. 6, 16. and 2 Sam. x. 16.of the King of that Country, and gave them to the King of the Ammonites. These auxiliary forces, in all probability, did not come soon enough to ingage with Joab and Abishai, the Generals of David’s army, but came after the battle which was won by Joab.
As these succours were considerable, David thought fit to go in person with a large reinforcement in order to encounter him. The battle was fought beyond Jordan; Shobach, General of Hadadezer’s troops, who commanded those of Mesopotamia, was intirely defeated, and the Kings who had taken part with Hadadezer, fled, and no more ventured to send assistance to the Ammonites. They even submitted to David, and became tributary to him. David brought the metals, and richest of the spoils, which he had taken from Hadadezer, into the Tabernacle, and there consecrated them to God.