“While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David rested with his ancestors and that Joab the commander of the army was also dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.” – 1 Kings 11:21
Alrighty, so when we last left off, we were discussing Hadad the Edomite.
Recall that this homie was only a young boy when he survived King David’s military campaign against Edom.
David’s battle against Edom changed everything.
During that campaign, Joab and the Israelite forces killed every male in Edom.
Well, almost every male.
Hadad’s father’s servants escaped with him to Egypt.
That’s a key point right there.
Hadad’s survival meant that at least one member of Edom’s royal family had escaped David’s slaughter.
The Lord would later use him as an adversary whom He would raise up against King Solomon.
When Hadad arrived in Egypt with his father’s servants, he was welcomed with open arms into the Egyptian royal household.
That’s another key point.
Hadad didn’t merely find temporary refuge in Egypt.
Pharaoh gave him a house, provided for his needs, and even gave him Queen Tahpenes’ sister in marriage.
Hadad’s son Genubath was raised in the Pharaoh’s household alongside the royal princes.
In other words, Hadad became closely connected to the Egyptian royal family.
This is significant because the homie was no longer simply a displaced Edomite prince.
He had acquired powerful connections in Egypt.
When Hadad received the news that both David and Joab had died, he saw his chance to return and settle the score.
Now, notice something interesting about this timing.
Hadad waited until BOTH David and Joab were dead before requesting permission to return.
These were the very men responsible for slaughtering his people.
So, apparently Hadad had been waiting for the opportunity to return without facing the same military opposition.
We’re told that Pharaoh tried to persuade him to stay, but Hadad insisted on going home.
We shouldn’t read too much into that.
There’s no way the Pharaoh would’ve refused Hadad.
This was just an oriental kabuki dance going on, common in eastern cultures.
Let’s switch over to the takeaway.
There’s an interesting pattern here I want you to notice.
Hadad’s story is almost a mirror image of Israel’s own experience in Egypt.
Think about it.
Hadad escapes to Egypt.
He finds protection under Pharaoh.
He establishes a family there.
Then he returns to his homeland.
The parallels with Moses are striking, don’t you think?
The irony is that Solomon, Israel’s king, now finds himself facing an adversary whose personal history is rooted in David’s earlier military destruction of Edom.
That’s an important distinction.
Solomon inherited David’s kingdom.
But he also inherited the consequences of David’s military campaigns.
It’s rare for Scripture to go into such detail about someone’s personal circumstances.
But here we can see why the author places Hadad’s story immediately after God’s announcement that Solomon’s kingdom would be divided.
It was to show just how deeply Hadad resented what David had done to his family and fellow Edomites, and how determined he was to avenge their crushing defeat.
But there’s a much bigger pattern here that we see repeated throughout Scripture.
The goyim repeatedly join forces with those who oppose Israel.
And this pattern doesn’t end with Hadad.
In fact, the Book of Revelation tells us that a time is coming when the nations of the world will gather together against Israel.
And it ain’t gonna be pretty.
For them, I mean.
Not Israel.
Alrighty, let’s call this a wrap.
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