And Benhadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
hearkened
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
his armies [heb] which were his
1 Kings 15:20 So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
Dan
Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
Judges 18:28,29 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein…
Judges 20:1 Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.
1 Kings 15:20 So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
the store cities
2 Kings 8:6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.
2 Kings 17:12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
1 Kings 9:19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel
The involvement of Aram's military commanders indicates a formal military campaign. This action demonstrates the strategic importance of alliances and the use of military force to achieve political objectives. The cities targeted were significant for their strategic locations and resources, which would weaken Israel's position.
conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim
Ijon, Dan, and Abel-maim were located in the northern part of Israel, in the region of Naphtali. These cities were crucial for controlling trade routes and military movements. Dan, in particular, was a significant city, being the northernmost point of ancient Israel, often mentioned in the phrase "from Dan to Beersheba" to describe the entire land of Israel (Judges 20:1). The conquest of these cities by Ben-hadad's forces would have been a severe blow to Israel's territorial integrity and economic stability.
and all the store cities of Naphtali
Store cities were fortified locations used to store provisions and supplies, essential for sustaining a kingdom's economy and military. Naphtali, being a fertile region, was vital for agriculture and trade. The loss of these cities would have crippled Israel's ability to sustain its population and military efforts. This event underscores the vulnerability of Israel due to internal strife and external threats, highlighting the consequences of Asa's decision to rely on human alliances rather than divine support.
King Asa of Judah emptied the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and his own palace to persuade the Aramean king, Ben-hadad, to abandon his alliance with Israel’s King Baasha (2 Chronicles 16:2–3; cf. 1 Kings 15:18–19).
• Scripture highlights that Ben-hadad “listened,” underscoring how worldly diplomacy seemed to succeed.
• Yet 2 Chronicles 16:7–9 will reveal God’s displeasure, reminding us that trusting human alliances rather than the LORD invites rebuke (Psalm 118:8–9; Isaiah 31:1).
Ben-hadad’s immediate military response verifies the weight a pagan ruler placed on Judah’s silver and gold.
• Asa’s treasure purchased soldiers, but at the cost of spiritual compromise (Jeremiah 17:5).
• God had repeatedly proven sufficient for Judah’s security (2 Chronicles 14:11–13), making Asa’s reliance on Aram unnecessary.
Targeting northern Israel rather than Judah’s territory vindicated Asa’s political aim: force Baasha to withdraw from fortifying Ramah (2 Chronicles 16:1).
• The tactic worked—Baasha retreated (v. 5)—yet success in human terms did not equal divine approval (Proverbs 14:12).
• The episode illustrates how one believer’s compromise can draw unbelievers into aggression against fellow covenant people (Galatians 5:15).
These northern strongholds sat along vital trade and military routes.
• Ijon and Dan (Genesis 14:14; Judges 18:27) guarded Israel’s northern frontier.
• Abel-maim (also called Abel-beth-maacah, 2 Samuel 20:14–15) bore strategic importance near Lebanon.
• Their fall signaled to Baasha—and to Asa—that Aram could cripple Israel swiftly.
Store cities held provisions and weapons (1 Kings 9:19). By seizing them, Ben-hadad:
• Cut Israel’s supply lines, forcing Baasha’s withdrawal from Ramah.
• Demonstrated the fleeting nature of national security based on alliances rather than obedience to God (Deuteronomy 28:47–52).
2 Chronicles 16:4 records a tactical victory that masked a spiritual defeat. Asa’s wealth bought Ben-hadad’s ear, unleashing Aramean forces on Israel’s northern towns and compelling Baasha to abandon his blockade. Outwardly, Judah gained relief; inwardly, Asa forfeited the blessing that had accompanied earlier reliance on the LORD. The passage cautions believers to measure success by faithfulness, not by expedient results, remembering that “the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
(4) Abel-maim.--Kings, "Abel - beth - maachah" (comp. 2Samuel 20:14-15, and 2Kings 15:29). This city is nowhere else called Abel-maim, which is, per haps, an early mistake. The Syriac reads Abel-beth- maachah.And all the store-cities (misk?noth, 2Chronicles 8:4).--Literally, And all the stores (magazines) of the cities of Naphtali. Kings: "And all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali." Cinneroth is mentioned (Joshua 19:35) as a town of Naphtali, and the Sea of Galilee was called the Sea of Cinneroth (Joshua 12:3). Probably the fertile district west of the lake was also called Cinneroth, and this was the country which Benhadad's army laid waste. The present reading of Chronicles may be either a mere textual corruption, or a paraphrase of that of Kings. Some critics assume its originality, which is less likely. We prefer to regard it as a paraphrase or explanation. . . .
Verse 4. - Benhadad was apparently not very long in making up either his mind or his method. The bribe that tempted him, drawn from "the treasures" described, well replenished (2 Chronicles 15:18; and parallel, 1 Kings 15:15), was probably large. His method was to create a diversion in favour of his new ally, by "smiting" certain picked and highly important cities of Israel, mostly in northern Galilee, by name "Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtalli." Ijon. In Naphtali, mentioned only now, in the parallel, and when a second time taken (2 Kings 15:29) by Tiglath-Pileser. Dan. The colonizing of this city is given in Judges 18:1, 2, 29-31; it was originally called Laish, and became the northern landmark of the whole country, as in the expression, "from Dan even to Beersheba" (Judges 17:29; 20:1). Abel-maim. This place was situate at the foot of the Lebanon; in the parallel (1 Kings 15:20) it is called Abel-beth-maachah. It is again mentioned as attacked by Tiglath-Pileser, who wrested it from Pekah (2 Kings 15:29). In 2 Samuel 20:18, 14, 15 it is called Abel by itself, but in the last two of these verses Beth-maachah is mentioned in close connection with it. After this name the parallel gives also "all Cinneroth" (Septuagint, "all the land of Cinnereth"). The name is the original of the New Testament Gennesaret. It was a city (Joshua 19:35) that gave its name to the sea and western region of the lake, sometimes called so (Numbers 34:11; Joshua 11:2; Joshua 12:3). If there were a little more external evidence of it, we should incline to the opinion of Movers, that the "all Cinneroth" of the parallel is the כָּל־מִּסְכְּנות ("all the store-cities") of our present verse. But at present we may take it that the two records supplement one another. All the store-cities of Naphtali (see 2 Chronicles 32:28; 2 Chronicles 8:6 and its parallel, 1 Kings 9:19).