And it came to pass at the return of the year
In the spring, or autumn, as some think, (See Gill on 2 Samuel 11:1)
that Benhadad numbered the Syrians;
took a muster of his army, to see if he had got the number he had before:
and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel;
not that in Judah, ( Joshua 15:53 ) , rather that in Asher, ( Joshua 19:30 ) , but it seems to be that which Adrichomius F12 places in Issachar, near to the famous camp of Esdraelon, or valley of Jezreel, where it is probable the king of Syria intended to have fought; the battle; and some travellers, as he observes, say F13, the ruins of that city are still shown in that great camp or plain, not far from Gilboa, to the east of Mount Carmel, and five miles from Tabor; according to Bunting F14, it was fourteen miles from Samaria; but it may be Aphaca near Mount Lebanon, and the river Adonis F15, is meant.