דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״ח, פסוק י״ח

A military crisis unfolded in the Kingdom of Judah as neighboring forces crossed its borders to claim new land. A massive Philistine invasion led to a widespread conquest of territory. Rather than simply raiding and retreating, the invading forces ultimately settled in the places they captured [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The attackers specifically targeted the lowland valleys and the southern cities of the kingdom [מצודת דוד]. This choice of location was not a random military strategy but a matter of geographic convenience. These specific regions of Judah were situated directly across from the Philistines' own coastal territories, making them the most natural and accessible areas to invade [רש״י].

As the conquest progressed, the Philistines took control of several major, central cities. Along with these regional hubs, they also seized the smaller surrounding settlements and villages that were attached to and dependent on each large city [ביאור שטיינזלץ].