דברי הימים ב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ד׳

King Asa's diplomatic efforts prove highly effective as Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, accepts his proposal and launches a swift offensive against the northern border cities of the kingdom of Israel [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The execution of this military strike is understood in two distinct ways. One approach suggests that Ben-Hadad dispatched several fresh battalions from his own army directly into Israelite territory [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective reveals a more strategic maneuver, arguing that deploying new troops was entirely unnecessary. Aramean military forces were already stationed in the region, originally serving as an auxiliary support unit for Baasha, the king of Israel. Consequently, Ben-Hadad simply sent his senior commanders to the front lines with orders for the troops already on the ground to turn against their former ally and attack Baasha [מלבי״ם].

The ensuing assault devastated several key locations. The Aramean forces struck cities such as Ijon and Abel-maim, a location identified as the city of Abel-beth-maacah mentioned in the Book of Kings [מצודת ציון]. Beyond targeting these specific population centers, the invading armies also severely damaged the store-cities of Naphtali, crippling the vital warehouses and treasuries of the kingdom [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].