BENADAD (Hebr. Ben-Hâdhad, “son of Hadad”; Septuagint υἱὸς Ἀδέρ). — Three kings of Aram-Damascus:
B. I, son of Tabremon, in return for substantial gifts received, went over to assist Asa, king of Judah (910–870), against Baasa, king of Israel (908–885), his ally, upon whom he inflicted a severe defeat (I Reg. 15, 18–20; II Par. 16, 1–5).
B. II, son of the preceding. Defeated by Achab (873–850) beneath the walls of Samaria, a year later he was severely beaten near Aphee (east of Lake Tiberias or in the plain of Esdrelon) and taken prisoner. B. promised Achab to restore to him the cities which AMORI (v.) and to grant passage through Damascus to Israelite merchants. They concluded peace, and B. regained his freedom (I Reg. 20, 1–34).
B., however, did not keep the promises he had made; thus, after three years, Achab took up arms again, assisted by Iosafat, king of Judah (872–70–849), and fell during the siege of Ramoth of Galaad (I Reg. 22, 1–40). For the years 854–846, cuneiform inscriptions mention the king of Damascus Dadda'idri or Adad'idri (certainly identical with B. II), who, together with Ahanabu Sirilas (Achab of Israel) and others, fought against the common enemy Salmanassar II (959–825). This fact would explain Achab’s leniency toward B. and the three years of peace between Israel and Damascus. B. again besieged Samaria, under Ioram (853–842), but was unable to take it because of divine intervention (II Reg. 6, 8–7, 20). Shortly afterward, B. was suffocated by Hazel, his officer, while he lay ill (II Reg. 8, 15).
B. III, son of Hazel, was defeated three times by Ioas, king of Israel (798–783; II Reg. 13, 22–25).