Shobach

Shobach is the commander of Hadarezer's Syrian forces, killed in battle against David. The Chronicler's parallel records his name as Shophach.

Captain of Hadarezer's host

After the initial defeat of the Ammonite-Syrian coalition, Hadarezer reinforces his army from beyond the Euphrates and places it under Shobach's command: "And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head" (2 Sam 10:16). David engages and routs them at Helam, and Shobach himself falls in the action: "And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their host, so that he died there" (2 Sam 10:18).

Called Shophach

The Chronicler's account of the same campaign uses the variant spelling Shophach for the same man. The muster from across the River is described in matching terms: "And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head" (1 Chr 19:16). His death is again recorded with the rout: "And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians [the men of] seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host" (1 Chr 19:18).