1 Kings 11:22
ESV
But Pharaoh said to him, "What have you lacked with me that you are now seeking to go to your own country?" And he said to him, "Only let me depart."
NIV
"What have you lacked here that you want to go back to your own country?" Pharaoh asked. "Nothing," Hadad replied, "but do let me go!"
NASB
However, Pharaoh said to him, 'But what have you lacked with me that you are here, requesting to go to your own country?' And he answered, 'Nothing; nevertheless you must let me go.'
CSB
But Pharaoh asked him, "What do you lack here with me for you to want to go back to your own country?" "Nothing," he replied, "but please let me leave."
NLT
Why?' Pharaoh asked him. 'What do you lack here that makes you want to go home?' 'Nothing,' he replied. 'But even so, please let me return home.'
KJV
Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.
NKJV
Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me, that suddenly you seek to go to your own country?” So he answered, “Nothing, but do let me go anyway.”
What does 1 Kings 11:22 mean?
When Hadad was a young boy, Pharaoh took him in. Hadad's father's servants had escaped with him while David, Joab, and Abishai slaughtered the Edomite military. Hadad grows up in Pharaoh's court, marries Pharaoh's sister-in-law, and raises his son with Pharaoh's family (1 Kings 11:15–20).When Hadad hears that David and Joab are dead, he decides it's time to return home (1 Kings 11:21). Pharaoh resists: his reasoning isn't given, but the text does inspire suggestions.
Hadad is apparently a loyal courtier. His son is in Pharaoh's family. Both ties are valuable to a royal who may face court intrigue. In addition, Pharaoh has a good relationship with the current king of Israel: Solomon. Solomon is married to an Egyptian princess (1 Kings 3:1). The two men have made each other extraordinarily rich: Pharaoh by providing war horses and chariots and Solomon by acting as the middleman between Egypt and the armies to the north (1 Kings 10:26–29).
Despite Saul's (1 Samuel 14:47) and David's (2 Samuel 8:13–14) battles, the Edomites don't cause too much trouble for the Israelites. Israel maintains dominance and exacts tribute for a long time. Jehoshaphat will battle them occasionally (2 Chronicles 20). They'll finally gain independence in the time of Jehoram (2 Kings 8:20–22). A few short decades later, Edom will find themselves paying tribute to Assyria. Obadiah will declare God's judgment on Edom for enslaving and selling Israelites (Obadiah 1:10–11).
Hundreds of years later, the part-Edomite Herod the Great will rule over the Jews. His descendants Antipas, Agrippa I, and Agrippa II will follow him. Today, the Edomites are no longer a definable people.
