Bible Dictionary
Hadad
Hadad was the name of several biblical figures, including Ishmael’s son, two Edomite kings, and an Edomite royal adversary of Solomon. Hadad was also the name of a Syrian deity associated with storm and royal power.
Definition
Hadad is the name of several biblical persons and also of a Syrian deity. Biblical bearers of the name include an Ishmaelite son, two Edomite kings, and an Edomite royal descendant who opposed Solomon. The name is associated with sharpness, bravery, or divine power in the supplied material.
Biblical Usage
Hadad appears in genealogies, the lists of Edomite kings, and the account of an Edomite adversary who returned from Egypt against Solomon. The divine name occurs in names such as Benhadad and Hadadezer.
Historical Background
Hadad was regarded as the supreme god of Syria and is identified in Assyrian inscriptions with the air-god Rimmon or Rammon. The name also appears in forms such as Adad, Dadu, and Dadda.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Adod, brave(?), the name of a Syrian god. (1.) An Edomite king who defeated the Midianites (Gen. 36:35; 1 Chr. 1:46). (2.) Another Edomite king (1 Chr. 1:50, 51), called also Hadar (Gen. 36:39; 1 Chr. 1:51). (3.) One of “the king’s seed in Edom.” He fled into Egypt, where he married the sister of Pharaoh’s wife (1 Kings 11:14-22). He became one of Solomon’s adversaries. Hadad, sharp, (a different name in Hebrew from the preceding), one of the sons of Ishmael (1 Chr. 1:30). Called also Hadar (Gen. 25:15).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(mighty), originally the indigenous appellation of the sun among the Syrians, and thence transferred to the king as the highest of earthly authorities. The title appears to have been an official one, like Pharaoh. It is found occasionally in the altered form Hadar. (Genesis 25:15; 36:39) compared with 1Chr 1:30,50
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ha'-dad:</p><p>(1) (chadhadh, "sharpness"): One of the twelve sons of Ishmael (Ge 25:15, where the King James Version, following a mistake in Hebrew text, has "Hadar"; but "Hadad" is found in parallel passage 1Ch 1:30; the Revised Version (British and American) reads "Hadad" in both places).</p><p>(2) (hadhadh): A king of Edom, son of Bedad (Ge 36:35,36 parallel 1Ch 1:46,47), "who smote Midian in the field of Moab," and whose "city was Avith."</p><p>(3) Another king of Edom, written "Hadar" in Ge 36:39 by a copyist's mistake, but "Hadad" in the parallel passage 1Ch 1:50,51. His city was Pau or Palestine.</p><p>(4) A member of the royal family of Edom in David's time, who as a child escaped Joab's slaughter of the Edomites, and fled to Egypt. On David's death he returned to Edom, where he made trouble for Solomon by stirring up the Edomites against the rule of Israel (1Ki 11:14-22,25).</p><p>(5) The supreme god of Syria, whose name is found in Scripture in the names of Syrian kings, Benhadad, Hadadezer. The god Hadad (= perhaps, "maker of loud noise") is mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions, and called on the monolith of Shalmaneser "the god of Aleppo." In the Assyrian inscriptions he is identified with the air-god Rammon or Rimmon. The union of the two names in Zec 12:11 suggests this identity, though the reference is uncertain, some regarding Hadadrimmon as the name of a place, others as the name of the god--"Hadad (is) Rimmon." The name "Hadad" is found in various other forms: Adad, Dadu, and Dadda. See A. H. Sayce in HDB under the word "Hadad."</p><p>George Rice Hovey</p>