1 Kings 11:14-25

1 Kings 11:14-25

[14] And the LORD  stirred up  an adversary  unto Solomon,  Hadad  the Edomite:  he was of the king's  seed  in Edom.  [15] For it came to pass, when David  was in Edom,  and Joab  the captain  of the host  was gone up  to bury  the slain,  after he had smitten  every male  in Edom;  [16] (For six  months  did Joab  remain  there with all Israel,  until he had cut off  every male  in Edom:)  [17] fled,  Edomites  of his father's  servants  with him, to go  into Egypt;  Hadad  being yet a little  child.  [18] And they arose  out of Midian,  and came  to Paran:  and they took  men  with them out of Paran,  and they came  to Egypt,  unto Pharaoh  king  of Egypt;  which gave  him an house,  and appointed  him victuals,  and gave  him land.  [19] And Hadad  found  great  favour  in the sight  of Pharaoh,  so that he gave  him to wife  the sister  of his own wife,  the sister  of Tahpenes  the queen.  [20] And the sister  of Tahpenes  bare  him Genubath  his son,  whom Tahpenes  weaned  in  Pharaoh's  house:  and Genubath  was in Pharaoh's  household  among  the sons  of Pharaoh.  [21] And when Hadad  heard  in Egypt  that David  slept  with his fathers,  and that Joab  the captain  of the host  was dead,  Hadad  said  to Pharaoh,  Let me depart,  to mine own country.  [22] Then Pharaoh  said  unto him, But what hast thou lacked  with me, that, behold, thou seekest  to thine own country?  And he answered,  Nothing: howbeit let me go  [23] And God  stirred him up  another adversary,  Rezon  the son  of Eliadah,  which fled  from his lord  Hadadezer  king  of Zobah:  [24] And he gathered  unto him, and became captain  over a band,  when David  slew  to Damascus,  and dwelt  therein, and reigned  in Damascus.  [25] And he was an adversary  to Israel  all the days  of Solomon,  beside the mischief  that Hadad  did: and he abhorred  Israel,  and reigned  over Syria. 

What does 1 Kings 11:14-25 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Hadad hated Solomon because of Joab"s severe treatment of the Edomites. He may have been a relation of Solomon"s by marriage. Pharaoh Siamun, of dynasty21 , apparently gave his daughter to Solomon in marriage and his sister-in-law to Hadad ( 1 Kings 11:19).
"The result of Hadad"s opposition was not only that it lost Solomon the full control of a satellite neighbor, but it cut off his southern route for trade. If he maintained his shipping out of Ezion-geber at all, it was probably on a greatly reduced scale, and it is even possible that it stopped entirely before his death." [1]
Rezon also had reason to oppose Solomon ( 1 Kings 11:23-25). The Lord raised up both these men to bring judgment on Solomon ( 1 Kings 11:14).
"The result of Rezon"s opposition was that it cut off all contact with the satellite countries of the north. Damascus was the key to control over Zobah, Hamath, and the fortified city of Tadmor. With full control gone in Damascus, there was no possibility of maintaining supervision in these other areas." [2]
Kings of Aram in1KingsKingsDatesReferencesRezon (Hezion)ca940-915 B.C. 1 Kings 11:23; 1 Kings 11:25; 1 Kings 15:18Tabrimmonca915-900 B.C. 1 Kings 15:18Ben-Hadad Ica900-860 B.C. 1 Kings 15:18; 1 Kings 15:20Ben-Hadad IIca860-841 B.C. 1 Kings 20; 2 Kings 6:24; 2 Kings 8:7; 2 Kings 8:9; 2 Kings 8:14