Samaria, the capital of the kingdom of Israel, and the rival of
Jerusalem, sustained several memorable sieges. Adad, King of Syria,
entered into Palestine in the reign of Achab, and encamped before the
walls of Samaria. He soon reduced the city to the last extremity. Adad,
reckoning upon the certainty of conquering the states of Achab, offered
that king peace upon the conditions of his giving up his treasures,
his wives, and his children. Achab, being without resource, consented
to his demands; but on the morrow, Adad having added propositions
still more hard, the king resolved to defend himself to the last.
At the moment Adad thought victory within his grasp, the footmen of
the Prince of Israel advanced, attacked his vanguard, killed many of
them, and pursued the rest to the camp. Achab with his troops fell
upon the infidels, put them to flight, and enriched himself with their
spoils.--A.C. 907.