מלכים א, פרק י״א, פסוק י״ח

A fleeing royal finds unexpected refuge and elevation in a foreign empire. Hadad the Edomite's escape journey takes a significant turn as he makes his way to Egypt, transforming from a desperate fugitive into a respected nobleman.

The escape route begins as the fugitives leave Edom, possibly pausing temporarily in Midian [רד״ק] before navigating through the desert regions toward Paran [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Upon reaching Paran, they gather additional men to join their journey to the Egyptian king. This gathering serves several strategic purposes. To ensure Hadad is viewed as a person of high importance, they build a large, impressive entourage [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג]. Furthermore, the men of Paran are familiar with Hadad's royal lineage and can personally testify to his noble status before Pharaoh [רד״ק, רלב״ג]. It is also possible that these men are simply fellow refugees who decide to join the escaping group [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The strategy succeeds. Upon arriving in Egypt, Hadad's impressive appearance and the testimonies of his entourage yield remarkable results. Pharaoh grants the exiled royal a generous reception, providing him with three major benefits. First, he is given a permanent residence [מצודת דוד]. Second, Pharaoh commands his servants to supply Hadad with a fixed daily food allowance, funded directly by the state treasury [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Finally, Pharaoh grants him land, which is understood as a private estate [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Some commentators note that this grant actually includes entire cities, placing Hadad in a position of power as a ruling official [רד״ק, רלב״ג]. Through this royal welcome, the fleeing exile is successfully established as a powerful minister and estate owner within the Egyptian empire.