1 Kings 11:24

24 He gathered men to him, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them [of Tzovah]: and they went to Dammesek, and lived therein, and reigned in Dammesek.

1 Kings 11:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 11:24

And he gathered men unto him
Perhaps some of the scattered forces of his master:

and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah;
some that escaped enlisted under this man, and lived by plunder the remainder of David's reign, and so in the reign of Solomon unto his old age, when his heart was turned away from God to idols, by his wives:

and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus;
Rezon and his men went thither, not in David's time, for he put a garrison there, ( 2 Samuel 8:6 ) but towards the close of Solomon's days, and when Hadad set up in Edom, which gave him the hint to do the same at Damascus, of which he became king, and was the founder of that kingdom; after him there was a long race of kings there.

1 Kings 11:24 In-Context

22 Then Par`oh said to him, But what have you lacked with me, that behold, you seek to go to your own country? He answered, Nothing: however only let me depart.

23 God raised up [another] adversary to him, Rezon the son of Elyada, who had fled from his lord Hadad`ezer king of Tzovah.

24 He gathered men to him, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them [of Tzovah]: and they went to Dammesek, and lived therein, and reigned in Dammesek.

25 He was an adversary to Yisra'el all the days of Shlomo, besides the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Yisra'el, and reigned over Aram.

26 Yarov`am the son of Nevat, an Efratite of Tzeredata, a servant of Shlomo, whose mother's name was Tzeru`ah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king.