מלכים א, פרק י״א, פסוק כ״א

Deep-seated hatred can drive a person to abandon a life of luxury and honor. Despite holding a prestigious position in Egypt, enjoying a close relationship with Pharaoh, and raising his son alongside Egyptian royalty, Hadad the Edomite is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of revenge [אברבנאל]. His chance finally arrives with the news that Israel's king and army commander—the very men who had previously devastated Edom—have passed away. Hadad assumes that Israel's military dominance has died along with them. He views the young Solomon, who lacks battle experience, as an easy target. However, because Solomon is married to Pharaoh's daughter, Hadad cannot launch an attack from within Egypt. Instead, he must request permission to return to his homeland to gather forces for war [מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

The historical record draws a gentle contrast between the passing of the king and his commander, likening David's death to sleep while stating plainly that Joab died. The primary approach among commentators explains this difference in two ways. First, David passed away naturally in his bed, while Joab was violently killed. Second, David left behind a worthy son to take his place, which Joab did not [רש״י, רד״ק]. A deeper conceptual view suggests that when a person dies, their soul typically stops developing spiritually. Yet, if they leave behind a child who follows the Torah and commandments, the parent shares in those good deeds, allowing their soul to remain vibrant. Therefore, a person who raises a righteous successor is not considered completely dead, but merely asleep [חומת אנך]. On a simpler level, the description is just a natural way of noting David's passing [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Despite Hadad's eagerness to return home and wage war, his plans are not immediately successful. Commentators agree that as long as Solomon walked in the ways of God, Hadad was completely powerless to raise a rebellion or harm the Israelites. It is only in Solomon's old age, when he sins and his wives begin to worship other gods, that Hadad finally manages to become a true adversary. This delayed conflict resolves a historical contradiction, as other accounts state that the Israelites lived in complete security throughout Solomon's reign. That absolute peace lasted for the vast majority of his life, only shattering near the end when his spiritual devotion faded [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג, רד״ק].