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BEN-HADAD.—The name of three kings of Damascus in the 9th cent. b.c.
1. Benhadad I., the son of Tab-rimmon of Damascus. At the instance of Asa of Judah he intervened against Baasha of Israel, and took from him valuable territory on his northern border. For this service Benhadad received from Asa costly treasures from the Temple and royal palace (1Ki_15:17-20).
2. Benhadad II., son of the preceding, was an able general and statesman. He was at the head of a league of western princes who successfully opposed the attempts of Shalmaneser II. of Assyria to conquer southern Syria. At the battle of Karkar in b.c. 854 he had Ahab of Israel as one of his chief allies. In his time war with Israel was the rule, he being usually successful. But Ahab was more fortunate in the campaigns of 856 and 855, which were followed by a treaty of peace with concessions to Israel (1Ki_20:1-43). On the resumption of hostilities in the third year thereafter, Benhadad was victorious (1Ki_22:1-53). He was assassinated by the usurper Hazael about b.c. 843 (2Ki_8:15).
3. Benhadad III., son of Hazael, probably the same as the Man’ of the Assyrian inscriptions. Under him Damascus lost his father’s conquests in Palestine (2Ki_13:24 f.), and he also suffered heavily from the Assyrians.
J. F. McCurdy.