We notice the most important wars, sieges and battles of this period, indicated upon the map of the Division of Solomon's Empire, by flags.
1. The battle of Zemaraim, near Bethel, fought between Jeroboam and Abijah, the second king of Judah, B.C. 917, and resulting in the defeat of Israel, and the ruin of Jeroboam's plans of ambition. (2 Chron. 13.)
2. The battle of Mareshah, in Judah, on the border of the mountain region, in which King Asa defeated Zerah, the Ethiopian king of Egypt, and an immense host, B.C. 900. (2 Chron. 14.)
3. The siege of Samaria, by Ben-hadad, king of Syria, in the reign of Ahab, who was able to repel the invaders. (1 Kings 20.) We notice, that from this time, for a century, the principal wars of Israel are with Syria.
4. The victory at Aphek, won by Ahab over Ben-hadad and the Syrians. Ahab, however, allowed the fruits of the victory to be lost, when he might have made it decisive in its results. (1 Kings 20:26-43.)
5. The battle of Ramoth-gilead, in which the Syrians, under Ben-hadad, were victorious over allied Israel and Judah, and Ahab was slain. (1 Kings 22.)
6. The slaughter of the allied Moabites, Ammonites and Edomites, at Berachah, "the valley of blessing," in the reign of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. (2 Chron. 20.)
7. The war of Israel, Judah and Edom, against the Moabites, in which a great battle took place at Kir-haraseth, in the land of Moab, when the king of Moab offered his own son as a sacrifice in presence of the contending armies. (2 Kings 3.) This was during the reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah, and of Jehoram in Israel.
8. A second siege of Samaria, by the Syrians, under Ben-hadad, in the reign of Jehoram; and a miraculous deliverance. (2 Kings 6, 7.)