1 Kings 11:22

11:22 Pharaoh said to him, “What do you lack here that makes you want to go to your homeland?” ¹  Hadad replied, ²  “Nothing, but please give me permission to leave.” ³ 

1 Kings 20:14

20:14 Ahab asked, “By whom will this be accomplished?” ⁴  He answered, “This is what the Lord says, ‘By the servants of the district governors.’” Ahab ⁵  asked, “Who will launch the attack?” He answered, “You will.”

¹ tn Heb “Indeed what do you lack with me, that now you are seeking to go to your land?”

² tn Heb “and he said.”

³ sn So Hadad asked Pharaoh… This lengthy description of Hadad’s exile in Egypt explains why Hadad wanted to oppose Solomon and supports the author’s thesis that his hostility to Solomon found its ultimate source in divine providence. Though Hadad enjoyed a comfortable life in Egypt, when the Lord raised him up (apparently stirring up his desire for vengeance) he decided to leave the comforts of Egypt and return to Edom.

⁴ tn The words “will this be accomplished” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Ahab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.