BENADAD (Hebrew Ben-Hâdhad "Son of Hadad"; Septuagint ΥἹῸΣ ἈΔΈΡ). - Three kings of Aram-Damascus:
B. I, son of Tabrimmon, because of the large gifts he received, went over to helping Asa, king of Judah (910-870), against Baasha, king of Israel (908-885), his ally, whom he inflicted a severe defeat upon (I Kings 15:18-20; II Chron. 16:1-5).
B. II, son of the preceding. Defeated by Ahab (873-850) beneath the walls of Samaria, a year later he was harshly beaten near Aphek (east of the Sea of Galilee or in the plain of Jezreel) and taken prisoner. B. promised Ahab to restore to him the cities his father had taken from Omri (v.) and to grant the Israelite merchants transit through Damascus. They concluded peace, and B. regained his freedom (I Kings 20:1-34).
B., however, did not keep the promises he had made, so that, after three years, Ahab took up arms again, aided by Jehoshaphat, king of Judah (872-70-849), and fell at the siege of Ramoth-gilead (I Kings 22:1-40). For the years 854-846, the cuneiform inscriptions mention the king of Damascus Dadda'idri or Adad'idri (certainly identical with B. II) who, together with Ahanabu Sirilas (Ahab of Israel) and others, fought against the common enemy Shalmaneser II (959-825). This fact would explain Ahab's leniency toward B. and the three years of peace between Israel and Damascus. B. again besieged Samaria, under Jehoram (853-842), without being able to take it, however, because of divine intervention (II Kings 6:8-7:20). Shortly afterward, B. was smothered by Hazael, his officer, while he lay ill (II Kings 8:15).
B. III, son of Hazael, was beaten three times by Jehoash, king of Israel (798-783; II Kings 13:22-25).