Helam
“Place of abundance or stronghold”
Summary
Helam was a place east of the Jordan (and possibly west of the Euphrates) where David decisively defeated the Syrians under Hadadezer.
☩David's Victory
After the Ammonites hired Syrian mercenaries and suffered defeat, Hadadezer summoned additional Syrian forces from beyond the Euphrates and assembled them at Helam. David personally led his army across the Jordan and won a crushing victory, killing Shobach the Syrian general and subjugating the Syrian kingdoms. This battle ended Syrian intervention on behalf of Ammon.
☩Location
The phrase "beyond the river" could mean either east of the Jordan or west of the Euphrates, depending on the writer's perspective. Josephus understood it to mean east of the Euphrates. Ewald suggested identification with Alamatha mentioned by Ptolemy, on the west bank of the Euphrates near Nicephorium. The name may mean "place of abundance" or "stronghold."
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Helam," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Helam," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Helam," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Helam," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).