ADONIRAM Cad-o-nrraml, (Heb. ad-o nee-rawnt',1ord of height,i.e.,high lord,' Kings iv :6).
1. This name is exhibited in the contracted form of Adoram in 2 Sam. xx :24 ; I Kings xii :18, and of Hadoram in 2 Chron. x :t8 (B. C. 930).
2. Adoniram, or Hadoram, son of Toi, king of Hamad), who was sent by his father to con gratulate David on his victory over their common enemy, Hadarezer, king of Syria (t Chron. xviii: to). This prince is called Joram in 2 Sam. yin :to.
3. A person of this name is mentioned as re ceiver-general of the imposts in the reigns of David, Solomon and Rehoboam. Commentators have been much at a loss to determine whether the office was held by one person for so long a period, or by two or three persons of the same name. It appears very unlikely that even two persons of the same name should successively bear the same office, in an age when no example occurs of the father's name being given to his son. We find also that not more than forty-seven years elapse between the first and last mention of the Adon iram who was over the tribute ; and as this, al though a long term of service, is not too long for one life, and as the person who held the office in the beginning of Rehoboam's reign had served in it long enough to make himself odious to the people, it appears on the whole most probable that one and the same person is intended through out. Only one incident is recorded in connection
with this person. When the ten tribes seceded from the house of David and made Jeroboam king, Rehoboam sent Adoniram among them, for the purpose, we may presume, of collecting the usual imposts, which had become very heavy. Perhaps he had been rigid in his invidious office under Solomon ; at all events, the collector of the im posts which had occasioned the revolt was not the person whose presence was the most likely to soothe the exasperated passions of the people. They rose upon him, and stoned him till he died. Rchoboam, who was not far off, took warning by his fate, and, mounting his chariot, returned with all speed to Jerusalem (1 Kings xii :18).