Rezon, the son of Eliadah— When David made war against Hadadezer, Rezon, one of his generals, escaped from the field of battle with the troops under his command; and, having lived for a little while by plunder and robbery, at length seized on Damascus, and reigned there. But his reign was not long, for David took Damascus as well as the other parts of Syria, and left it in subjection to his son Solomon; till God was pleased to suffer this Rezon to recover Damascus, and there re-establish himself; whence, uniting in league with Hadad, he greatly disturbed the latter part of Solomon's reign. Houbigant translates the 25th verse, he therefore, while Solomon lived, was perpetually an adversary to Israel; while in the mean time Hadad vexed and laid Israel waste, for he reigned in Edom.
REFLECTIONS.—Peace and plenty had for a time, with uninterrupted streams, flowed in upon the pious Solomon: but when he exchanged his wisdom for folly, and his piety for profaneness, then the current of his mercies was stayed, and God began to afflict him. Sin and suffering usually go linked together.
God stirred up adversaries against him, foreign and domestic, to avenge his quarrel, and to be a scourge for his sins. Note; The instruments that God uses, often mean only their own ambition, but he directs them to fulfil his purposes, and makes them subservient to his glory.
1. Hadad, the Edomite. At the beginning of Solomon's reign, he longed to return to his native country, which Pharaoh, though with great reluctance, granted; there he seems to have continued in secret, engaging the people in his favour, till now Solomon's sin gave him an opportunity to declare himself, and, though the mischief he did is not mentioned, he became, it is plain, a very troublesome neighbour. Note; (1.) The weakest instruments in God's hands can soon grow strong enough to be our bitter scourge. (2.) Like Hadad, the believer, though enjoying every thing on earth that his heart can wish, yet sighs for home, and saith, O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I flee away to my eternal rest, in the bosom of Jesus!
2. Rezon was another enemy. Now towards the end of Solomon's reign, when his wickedness made him weak, seizing Damascus, he fixed there the seat of his kingdom. The remembrance of his former sufferings sharpened his resentment: he abhorred Solomon and Israel, and, in concert with Hadad, continued to harass and disturb them. Note; When God resolves to chastise, he will not want a rod.