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Benhadad

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Name of several Aramean kings who warred with Israel, notably during Ahab’s reign.

Detailed Definition
Benhadad embodies the recurring threat from Aram. In poetry, he represents cyclical conflict, the arrogance of kings, and the complex diplomacy of ancient warfare, often used to explore themes of pride, treaty-breaking, and divine sovereignty over nations.
Example
Example in poetry:
Benhadad—Syrian king who warred with Israel—appears in poetic irony: “Benhadad besieged Samaria, but famine turned his army to flight”; A poem on divine reversal: “The prophet said, ‘You will see Benhadad’s camp abandoned’—and it was”; In a lament for enemies: “Even Benhadad’s death brought no peace, only another war”; Historical verse: “Benhadad’s name means ‘son of Hadad,’ but his gods could not save him.”
Additional Notes
Benhadad refers to several Aramean kings (1 Kings 15–20) who warred with Israel, notably Ahab. Their conflicts illustrate the volatile politics of the Levant. The name means “son of Hadad” (a storm god), embedding divine patronage in royal identity. In poetry, Benhadad can represent cyclical violence, the futility of power, or the entanglement of divine names with human ambition.
Also Known As
son of Hadad Syrian monarch prophetic adversary
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