At any rate the last named people felt themselves threatened by the growing power on or near their borders, and, convinced that they would soon be attacked, prepared for resistance by entering into a close league with their neighbors.

The king of Damascus, who was the great Ben-hadad, Tsakhulena, king of Hamath, Ahab, king of Israel, the kings of the southern Hittites, those of the Phoenician cities on the coast, and others, formed an alliance, and, uniting their forces, went out boldly to meet Shalnaneser, offering him battle.

Despite, however, of this confidence, or perhaps in consequence of it, the allies suffered a defeat.

Twenty thousand men fell in the battle.

Many chariots and much of the material of war were captured by the Assyrians.