1 Kings 15:20

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 Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

1 Kings 15:20 Meaning and Commentary

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
He broke off his alliance with the king of Israel; and as he had a standing army, with proper officers, he sent them directly to take the cities of Israel:

and he smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth,
with all the land of Naphtali;
places which lay on the northern part of Israel, the nearest to Syria. Ijon some place in the tribe of Naphtali, others in Asher; it seems to be on the extreme border of the land northward, as Dan also was; hence the phrase from Dan to Beersheba, i.e. from north to south. Abelbethmaachah is the same with Abelmaim, ( 2 Chronicles 16:4 ) which perhaps is the same with that Abela, placed by Jerome

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 between Damascus and Paneas, supposed to be the Enhydra of Pliny {y}. Cinneroth is the same with Gennesaret, a fruitful country in Galilee, from which is a sea or lake of that name, mentioned in the New Testament, and was in the tribe of Naphtali, the land of which was seized upon at this time.

F24 De loc. Heb. fol. 83. K.
F25 Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19.

1 Kings 15:20 In-Context

18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who dwelt at Damascus, saying,

19 "There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father. Behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold. Come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me."

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 Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

21 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building Ramah and dwelt in Tirzah.

22 Then King Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted. And they took away the stones of Ramah and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had built; and King Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.