1 Kings 11:23

Another adversary raised up against Solomon (Not in Chronicles)

23. And God stirred him upanother adversary R.V. raised up, as in 1 Kings 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.

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 2 Samuel 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 (2 Samuel 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 (1 Kings 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; 2 Samuel 8:3; 2 Samuel 23:36; 1Ch 18:3; 1 Chronicles 19:6; 2 Chronicles 8:3.