HELAM he’ ləm (חֵילָ֑ם). The place to which the Syrians under Hadadezer retreated and were defeated by David (2 Sam 10:16, 17), after Joab initially beat them before the city of the Ammonites. The location is uncertain, although Ezekiel 47:16 LXX, would indicate its location was N of Damascus toward Hamath. It is possibly identical with Alema (modern ’Alma), mentioned in 1 Maccabees 5:26 and the Egyp. Execration texts (c. 1850 b.c.), S of Damascus, in Hauran.