1 Chronicles 18:3

Hadarezer. — Samuel, “Hadadezer” (Hadad is help), which is correct. Hadad was a Syrian god, identical with Dadda (Rimmon), worshipped from the Euphrates to Edom and North Arabia. Comp. the royal names Benhadad and Abdadad (i.e., servant of Hadad, like Obadiah, servant of Iahu), which last occurs on Syrian coins, and the Notes on 2 Kings 5:18; 1 Chronicles 1:46. Samuel adds. “son of Rehob.”

Zobah unto Hamath. — Rather, Zobah towards Hamath. The word (Hămáthâh; not in Samuel) defines the position of Zobah. (Comp. 2 Samuel 8:8; Ezekiel 47:16.) The town of Zobah lay somewhere near Emesa (Horns), and not far from the present Yabrûd, north-east of Damascus. (The Assyrian monarch Assurbanipal mentions the towns of Yabrudu and Cubiti — i.e., Zobah — in his Annals.) Its kings are spoken of in 1 Samuel 14:47. Hadadezer appears to have brought the whole country under a single sceptre.

Hamath. — See 1 Chronicles 13:5, and 2 Chronicles 8:4. The town lay in the valley of the Upper Orontes, west of Zobah, and north of Hermon and Damascus.

As he (Hadadezer) went. — The occasion intended appears to be that whereof the particulars are given at 1 Chronicles 19:16.

To stablish his dominion. — Heb., to set up his hand — i.e., “his power.” Samuel has a different word, to recover his power, or repeat his attack.

The river Euphrates. — The Hebrew text of Samuel has “the river.” Our text explains.