דברי הימים א, פרק י״ח, פסוק י׳

The fall of one kingdom often creates a diplomatic opportunity for another. Following David's military victory over Aram, the king of neighboring Hamath recognizes a sudden shift in the regional balance of power. Seizing the moment, King Tou of Hamath dispatches a diplomatic delegation to express his gratitude and establish peaceful relations. He sends his own son, Hadoram—who is referred to as Joram in the parallel account in the Book of Samuel [רלב״ג]—to act as his personal envoy to David [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary purpose of this mission is to formally greet David and congratulate him on his recent triumph.

The king of Hamath has a deeply personal reason to celebrate this outcome. Hadadezer, the defeated king of Zobah, was a bitter, long-standing enemy of Tou, and their neighboring kingdoms were constantly at war. In fact, at the exact moment David attacked and defeated Hadadezer, the king of Zobah was already on his way to launch a military campaign against Tou in Hamath [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. By defeating their shared enemy, David effectively saved the king of Hamath from an impending attack.

To show his profound appreciation, Tou does not settle for mere words of blessing. He sends his son with a tribute of highly valuable gifts made of gold, silver, and copper [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These presents consist of whatever precious items the king has immediately available at hand [מצודת דוד]. David's willingness to accept this delegation also highlights his broader political strategy. While he successfully establishes control over Aram, he does not seek to conquer the entire region, deliberately choosing to maintain peace and avoid war with Hamath [ביאור שטיינזלץ].