מלכים ב, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ה׳

A military alliance between the kings of Aram and Israel leads to a direct campaign against the capital of the Kingdom of Judah. The invading forces advance on Jerusalem and place the city under a strict siege [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Despite their aggressive efforts, the coalition ultimately fails to achieve its primary objective, as they lack the necessary strength to overcome the defenses and conquer the city [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This outcome seems to contradict the historical account found in the Book of Chronicles, which records that Aram and Israel dealt King Ahaz a devastating defeat. To resolve this, it is explained that Ahaz did indeed suffer massive losses, but these occurred during other stages of the war. Once the invading kings directed their focus toward Jerusalem itself, aiming to completely overthrow his rule, their campaign ended in failure [מלבי״ם, חומת אנך]. The attack on the capital actually unfolded in phases. Initially, each king attempted to assault Jerusalem independently, but neither succeeded. Even after they merged their armies into a single united front, the city remained unconquered [מלבי״ם].

The narrative deliberately keeps the account brief, omitting the severe military disasters Ahaz experienced earlier in the conflict. This choice is made out of respect for the royal lineage, specifically to protect the honor of Ahaz's father, Jotham, and his son, Hezekiah [חומת אנך].