8:3 Hadadezer. This name appears to be a compound of “Hadad,” the Syrian storm-god or Baal, and “ezer,” meaning ‘‘help.” Though defeated by David, Hadadezer later assists the Ammonites in their opposition to David (10:15–19).

Zobah. Already during Saul’s reign there had been conflict between Israel and the “kings of Zobah” (1 Sam. 14:47), a Syrian region north of Israel.