Rezon the Syrian

Rezon the Syrian was an enemy of King Solomon mentioned in 1 Kings. He was son of Eliada, and had previously deserted Hadadezer king of Zobah, presumably when the men of Damascus came to Hadadezer's aid. After Hadadezer's death Rezon became king in Damascus and, like Hadad the Edomite harried Israel's borders.^[1] Archaeology has not confirmed his identity.^[2] One solution, popular in the late 19th century was identification of Rezon as the throne name of Hezion, the grandfather of Ben-Hadad I, who was a contemporary of Asa (1 Kings 15:18)^[3]

References

1. 1 Kings 11:23 God also raised up as an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master Hadadezer king of Zobah. 24 And he gathered men about him and became leader of a marauding band, after the killing by David. And they went to Damascus and lived there and made him king in Damascus. 25 He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon, doing harm as Hadad did. And he loathed Israel and reigned over Syria.
2. The New Unger's Bible Dictionary Merrill F. Unger, Roland Kenneth Harrison, R. K. Harrison - 2006 "The succession of Syrian kings who reigned at Damascus and elevated the city-state to the height of its power. ... Damascus has been corroborated by archaeological evidence, but the identity of Rezon who seized Damascus during Solomon's reign and apparently ruled there (11:23-25) is still unsolved."
3. Wayne Thomas Pitard Ancient Damascus: A Historical Study of the Syrian City-State 1987 p102 "Although the correct name of the first king of Damascus has been settled by the new extra-biblical evidence, the problem of the identity of Rezon, who seized Damascus during Solomon's administration and apparently ruled there, ..."