Bible Figure
Ben-Hadad I
King of Aram Damascus (First Book of Kings)
Ben-Hadad I was a king of Aram-Damascus whom Asa of Judah hired to break his treaty with Baasha of Israel.
Biography
When Baasha fortified Ramah to restrict Judah, Asa took silver and gold from the Temple and palace treasuries and sent them to Ben-Hadad in Damascus, asking him to break his alliance with Baasha. Ben-Hadad accepted and attacked northern Israelite cities, forcing Baasha to abandon Ramah. Chronicles records that the seer Hanani later rebuked Asa for relying on the king of Aram rather than on the Lord. The name Ben-Hadad was borne by more than one Aramean ruler, so individual episodes require chronological care.
Biblical Significance
Ben-Hadad I is important to the regional politics of the divided monarchy and to the biblical contrast between political alliance and reliance on God.