Illustration created for this project.
Ben-Hadad
A king of Aram (Syria) who warred repeatedly with Israel in the days of Ahab and Elisha.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Life, role & deeds
BibleA king (and throne-name) of Aram-Damascus who warred with Israel and besieged Samaria, later smothered by Hazael.
1 Kings 20; 2 Kings 6:24; 8:7–15
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Hazael
Unknown authorUnknown author — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
ArchaeologyThe Melqart Stele from near Aleppo, dedicated by 'Bar-Hadad king of Aram', preserves the royal name outside the Bible.
Melqart (Bir-Hadad) Stele, Aramaic votive inscription found 1939 at Bredsh (Breidj) near Aleppo, now in the National Museum of Aleppo; ed. M. Dunand, 'Stèle araméenne dédiée à Melqart', Bulletin du Musée de Beyrouth 3 (1939); royal-name reading discussed by F. M. Cross, 'The Stele Dedicated to Melcarth by Ben-Hadad of Damascus', BASOR 205 (1972)
Where in scripture
1 KingsIn their own words — 4 recorded sayings
“Now when this answer was given to Ben-hadad, he was drinking with the kings in the tents, and he said to his men, Take up your positions. So they put themselves in position for attacking the town.” — 1 Kings 20:12
“And he said, If they have come out for peace, take them living, and if they have come out for war, take them living.” — 1 Kings 20:18
“And Ben-hadad said to him, The towns my father took from your father I will give back; and you may make streets for yourself in Damascus as my father did in Samaria. And as for me, at the price of this agreement you will let me go. So he made an agreement with him and let him go.” — 1 Kings 20:34
“Now the king of Aram had given orders to the thirty-two captains of his war-carriages, saying, Make no attack on small or great, but only on the king of Israel.” — 1 Kings 22:31
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Places in their life
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg — CC BY 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)