God raised up an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah. He gathered men to himself, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them of Zobah. They went to Damascus, and lived there, and reigned in Damascus. He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, in addition to the mischief of Hadad. He abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
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1 Kings 11:23-25 sits inside this longer paragraph.
God raised up an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah. He gathered men to himself, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them of Zobah. They went to Damascus, and lived there, and reigned in Damascus. He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, in addition to the mischief of Hadad. He abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king. This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of his father David’s city. The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he put him in charge of all the labor of the house of Joseph. At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the way. Now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and the two of them were alone in the field. Ahijah took the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces. He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces; for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you (but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel); because that they have forsaken me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon. They have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my ordinances, as David his father did.
Parallel Translations
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God raised up an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah.
He gathered men to himself, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them of Zobah. They went to Damascus, and lived there, and reigned in Damascus.
He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, in addition to the mischief of Hadad. He abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
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And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.
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.
Show all 3 translations
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And God raised up another adversary unto him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah.
And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a troop, when David slew them of Zobah; and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.
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 Aram.
Cross-references (27)
- 2 Samuel 8:3 (v23) David struck also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.
- 1 Kings 11:14 (v23) Yahweh raised up an adversary to Solomon: Hadad the Edomite. He was one of the king’s offspring in Edom.
- 2 Samuel 10:8 (vv23–24) The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate. The Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of…
- 2 Samuel 10:18 (v24) The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach…
- Genesis 14:15 (v24) He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of…
Show all 26 cross-references
- Genesis 34:30 (v25) Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the…
- Deuteronomy 23:7 (v25) You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.
- 2 Samuel 10:15-18 (v23) When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. Hadadezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who…
- 2 Samuel 16:11 (v23) David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite,…
- 2 Samuel 16:21 (v25) Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are…
- 1 Kings 5:4 (v25) But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side. There is no enemy and no evil occurrence.
- 1 Kings 19:15 (v24) Yahweh said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
- 1 Kings 20:34 (v24) Ben Hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore. You shall make streets for yourself in Damascus,…
- 1 Chronicles 18:3-9 (v23) David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates. David took from him one…
- 1 Chronicles 19:6 (v23) When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of…
- 1 Chronicles 19:16-19 (v23) When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers, and called out the Syrians who were beyond the River, with…
- 2 Chronicles 15:2 (v25) and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if…
- Ezra 1:1 (v23) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit…
- Psalms 60:1 (v23) God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again.
- Psalms 106:40 (v25) Therefore Yahweh burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.
- Isaiah 13:17 (v23) Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who will not value silver, and as for gold, they will not delight in it.
- Isaiah 37:26 (v23) “ ‘Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it in ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, that it should be yours…
- Isaiah 45:5 (v23) I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me,
- Ezekiel 38:16 (v23) You will come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land. It will happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against…
- Zechariah 11:8 (v25) I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.
- Acts 9:2 (v24) and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might…
26 distinct cross-references across this passage (27 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv23–24 When David had discomfited Hadadezer and his army.
When David had discomfited Hadadezer and his army.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv23–25 1Ki 11:23 And God stirred him up [another] adversary,…
1Ki 11:23 And God stirred him up [another] adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:
Ver. 23. And God stirred him up, &c.] See on 1Ki 11:14.
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Which fled from his lord Hadadezer.] Whom David had beaten. {2Sa 10:18; 2Sa 8:3-4} False friends will be the causes, but not companions of calamity.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv23–25 When David had defeated him: see 2Sa 10:10, &c.
When David had defeated him: see 2Sa 10:10, &c.
Zobah; a part of Syria between Damascus and Euphrates; of which see 1Sa 14:47; 2Ch 8:3; Psa 60:1.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv23–25 And he gathered men unto him,.... Perhaps some of…
And he gathered men unto him,.... Perhaps some of the scattered forces of his master:
and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah; some that escaped enlisted under this man, and lived by plunder the remainder of David's reign, and so in the reign of Solomon unto his old age, when his heart was turned away from God to idols, by his wives:
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and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus; Rezon and his men went thither, not in David's time, for he put a garrison there, Sa2 8:6 but towards the close of Solomon's days, and when Hadad set up in Edom, which gave him the hint to do the same at Damascus, of which he became king, and was the founder of that kingdom; after him there was a long race of kings there.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv23–25 Who fled - When David had defeated him. Zobah…
Who fled - When David had defeated him. Zobah - A part of Syria, between Damascus and Euphrates.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv23–24 Verse 23. Rezon the son of Eliadah] Thus God…
Verse 23. Rezon the son of Eliadah] Thus God fulfilled his threatening by the prophet Nathan: If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; 2Sa 7:14.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv23, 25 1Ki 11:23-24. Which fled from his lord Hadadezer —…
1Ki 11:23-24. Which fled from his lord Hadadezer — When David had defeated him. King of Zobah — A part of Syria, between Damascus and Euphrates. And he gathered men unto him — Some of those that fled when David defeated Hadadezer, 2Sa 10:18. And became captain over a band — Who listed themselves under him as their commander, with others, who readily joined them, and lived by robbery, as many Arabians did. And they went to Damascus — And took it while Solomon was wallowing in luxury: David had put a garrison into Damascus, and brought the people under tribute, 2Sa 8:5-6; and so they probably continued during his life, and were subject to Solomon after his death, till that prince, doting upon strange women, minded not the defence of his conquests. This Rezon took advantage of, and invaded and got possession of Damascus, and reigned there, as Hadad did in Edom.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv23–24 Rezon - Possibly the same as the Hezion of…
Rezon - Possibly the same as the Hezion of 1Ki 15:18; but probably one who interrupted the royal line of the Damascene Hadads, which was restored after his death. We may arrange the Damascus-kings of this period as follows:
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Hadadezer (or Hadad I), about 1040 B.C. (conquered by David).
Rezon (usurper) was contemporary with Solomon.
Hezion (Hadad II) was contemporary with Rehoboam.
Tabrimon (Hadad III) was contemporary with Abijam.
Ben-hadad (Hadad IV) was contemporary with Asa.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv23–25 Razon. He must have been now about 94 years…
Razon. He must have been now about 94 years old; unless this was the son of Aderezer’s general. (Salien) (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv23–25 23. Rezon — What office or position under Hadadezer…
23. Rezon — What office or position under Hadadezer he held, to what particular part of his dominions he belonged, or what instigated his revolt from his lord, does not clearly appear. Possibly he belonged to that “border at the river Euphrates,” which revolted from the king of Zobah while he went to assist the Ammonites. See 2Sa_8:3; 2Sa_10:6, and notes there.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv23–25 23–25. Another adversary raised up against Solomon (Not in…
23–25. Another adversary raised up against Solomon (Not in Chronicles)
23. And God stirred him up another adversary] R.V. raised up, as in 1Ki_11:14. There it is said ‘the Lord (i.e. Jehovah)’ raised up the adversary; here it is ‘God (Elohim)’ who does it. There are some who see in this variation an indication of two different sources for the text, the earlier using ‘Elohim,’ the later ‘Jehovah.’ Such an interchange might well be found in a text written even in the days of Solomon, much more so, at the date when this narrative was set down, and is much too slender a thread of evidence to hang so serious a judgement upon.
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Rezon the son of Eliadah] The latter name should be written Eliada (as R.V.). There is nothing more known with certainty about this Rezon. The events to which allusion is made in this verse are related 2Sa_8:3-8. There Hadadezer is called ‘the son of Rehob.’ He was thoroughly defeated by David, who thereupon put garrisons in Syria of Damascus. It cannot therefore have been immediately after the overthrow of Hadadezer that Rezon and his party established themselves in Damascus. For a time, at all events (2Sa_8:6), ‘the Syrians became servants to David and brought gifts.’ Rezon most likely escaped when his master was defeated, and waited till a convenient opportunity offered, and then tried, as here narrated, to establish himself as king over Syria. Henceforth for centuries Syria was the determined foe of Israel. In a later chapter (1Ki_15:18) Benhadad, a subsequent king of Syria, in Asa’s time, is described as a grandson of Hezion. The name Hezion חזיון is not very unlike Rezon רזון in the characters of the original. Hence some have conjectured that they are the same person. But there seems no sufficient foundation for the opinion.
fled from his lord] This flight may have taken place before David’s attack on Hadadezer, though what has been said in the previous note seems more probable.
king of Zobah] This kingdom is mentioned in the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon, but then is heard of no more. It comprised the country east of Cœle-Syria, and extended northward and eastward towards the Euphrates. See 1Sa_14:47; 2Sa_8:3; 2Sa_23:36; 1Ch_18:3; 1Ch_19:6; 2Ch_8:3.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv23–25 (23) Rezon the son of Eliadah.—The name Rezon, which…
(23) Rezon the son of Eliadah.—The name Rezon, which is not unlike the “Rezin” of 2 Kings 16, appears to signify “prince,” and might naturally mark the founder of a new power. In 1Ki_20:18 we read of a Hezion, king of Damascus, who would belong to this generation, and may be identical with Rezon. The tradition quoted by Josephus (Ant. vii. 5, 2) from Nicolaus of Damascus, that for ten generations from the days of David, all the kings of Syria bore the name of Hadad, probably means only that the title Hadad was the official title of the monarchy.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv23–25 And God stirred him up another adversary almost identical…
And God stirred him up another adversary almost identical with ver. 14, Rezon the son of Eliadah Often identified with the Hezion of 1Ki_15:18, but on insufficient grounds. Whether he was a usurper, who had dethroned Hadad (see Jos., Ant., 6:5. 2), or an officer of Hadadezer"s, who escaped either before or after the battle of, 2Sa_8:3-5, is uncertain. The following words agree equally well with either supposition which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah .
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v23 Rezon ... Eliada ... Hadadezer
Rezon ... Eliada ... Hadadezer
These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)
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Zobah ... Damascus ... Aram
These are the name of locations. (See: How to Translate Names)
when David defeated
Here "David" refers to David and his army. AT: "when David's army overcame" (See: Synecdoche)
all the days of Solomon
"during the time that Solomon was alive" or "all the days of Solomon's life"
Rezon abhorred Israel
"Rezon hated Israel very much"
translationWords
God
raise
adversary
Solomon
lord
king
Damascus
life
Israel
trouble
reign
Aram
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v23 11:23-25 Solomon’s second adversary was Rezon, an Aramean who…
11:23-25 Solomon’s second adversary was Rezon, an Aramean who had served under King Hadadezer of Aram-zobah. When David had defeated Hadadezer (2 Sam 8:3-7), Rezon escaped, gained a group of followers, and went to Damascus. He maintained himself there when Solomon campaigned in Hamath-zobah (2 Chr 8:3-4) and eventually became king of Damascus. Like Hadad, Rezon remained a bitter enemy of Israel and was troublesome to Solomon.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.