Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 11:14-25

"And Jehovah raised up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king`s seed in Edom. For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, and had smitten every male in Edom (for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom); that Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father`s servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child. And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran; and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land. And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh`s house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh`s house among the sons of Pharaoh. And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country. Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit only let me depart. And God raised up [another] adversary unto him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah. And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a troop, when David slew them [of Zobah]: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus. And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria." — 1 Kings 11:14-25 (ASV)

The events recorded in this section belong, at least in part, to the early years of the reign of Solomon, when the deaths of the warlike David and Joab, and the accession of a mere youth of avowedly peaceful character, may have naturally encouraged insurrection against the dominion of Israel.

These events are, no doubt, referred to here in connection with the prophecy just recorded and the account of Jeroboam’s earlier career that it suggests.

But it is implied in the case of Hadad, as it is expressly declared in the case of Rezon, that their resistance continued throughout Solomon’s reign. Therefore, they were not crushed, even in the days of his greatness, although then probably reduced to practical insignificance. They seem to have become formidable again during his declining years.