2 Samuel 10:16

“And Hadarezer sent, etc.] The same with Hadadezer, (<100803>2 Samuel 8:3), who was at the head of this confederacy, and to whom the rest of the kings of Syria were servants, (<101019>2 Samuel 10:19); and brought out the Syrians that [were] beyond the river; the river Phrat or Euphrates, as the Targum; so the Arabic version and Josephus f168, who says, that he hired them: and they came to Helam; which, according to the same writer, was king of the Syrians beyond Euphrates; but it seems to be the name of a place, where was the general rendezvous of the Syrian army. Junius conjectures that it is the same with the Alamatha of Ptolemy f169, which he places with the Trachonite Arabs near the…”

“THE SYRIANS DEFEATED. (Sa2 10:15-19) Hadarezer sent and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river--This prince had enjoyed a breathing time after his defeat (Sa2 8:3). But alarmed at the increasing power and greatness of David, as well as being an ally of the Ammonites, he levied a vast army not only in Syria, but in Mesopotamia, to invade the Hebrew kingdom. Shobach, his general, in pursuance of this design, had marched his troops as far as Kelam, a border town of eastern Manasseh, when David, crossing the Jordan by forced marches, suddenly surprised, defeated, and dispersed them. As a result of this great and decisive victory, all the petty kingdoms of Syria submitted and became…”

“Helam - The place is unknown. Some prefer the translation of the Latin Vulgate: “their host came.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“10:16 Hadadezer: See study note on 10:1. • Helam is unknown. • Apparently David had extended his empire as far north as the Euphrates River (see also study note on 8:3).”

“Hadarezer: Sa2 8:3-8; Ch1 18:3, Ch1 18:5 the river: i.e. Euphrates Shobach: or, Shophach, Ch1 19:16 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 10:17”