Hadad

14Then the LORD brought an enemy against Solomon. He was Hadad from Edom. He came from the royal family of Edom.

And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.

NoteThe King James calls Hadad an "adversary." That means an enemy who fights against you. Edom was a land just south of Israel.

15Long before this, David had fought in Edom. Joab, the leader of David's army, went to bury the dead. He had killed every male in Edom.

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;

NoteDavid was Solomon's father and king before him. A war with Edom had happened many years earlier.

16Joab and all Israel stayed there six months. He stayed until every male in Edom was killed.

(For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

17But Hadad ran away to Egypt. Some of his father's servants from Edom went with him. Hadad was only a little boy then.

That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.

18They set out from Midian and came to Paran. They took some men from Paran with them. Then they went to Egypt, to Pharaoh the king. He gave Hadad a house, food, and land.

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.

NoteMidian and Paran were dry desert lands south of Israel. Travelers crossed them on the way to Egypt.

19Pharaoh liked Hadad very much. He let Hadad marry the sister of Queen Tahpenes, Pharaoh's own wife.

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.

NoteThe King James says Hadad "found great favour" with Pharaoh. That means the king was pleased with him and was kind to him.

20Tahpenes' sister had a son named Genubath. Tahpenes raised him in Pharaoh's palace. Genubath lived there with Pharaoh's own sons.

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.

NoteThe King James says Tahpenes "weaned" the boy. Weaning is when a small child stops drinking milk. So she cared for him until he was big enough to eat food.

21In Egypt, Hadad heard that David had died. He heard that Joab, the army leader, had died too. So Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me go home to my own country."

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, that I may go to mine own country.

NoteThe King James says David "slept with his fathers." That is a gentle way of saying he died. He was buried in the same place as his family.

22Pharaoh asked, "What have you needed here with me? Why do you want to go home?" Hadad said, "Nothing. But please let me go anyway."

Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.

23God brought another enemy against Solomon too. He was Rezon son of Eliada. He had run away from his master, Hadadezer the king of Zobah.

And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

NoteZobah was a small kingdom north of Israel. A master was the man Rezon had to work for.

24Rezon gathered men and led a fighting band. This happened when David beat the men of Zobah. Rezon's men went to Damascus, lived there, and ruled it.

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.

NoteA band was a group of fighting men who followed one leader. Damascus was a big city far north of Israel.

25Rezon fought Israel the whole time Solomon was king. Hadad caused trouble as well. Rezon hated Israel and ruled over Syria.

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.

NoteSyria was the land north of Israel. Damascus was its main city.