Three years passed without war: During this time, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III, who ruled from 858 to 824 BC, repeatedly pushed westward, leading to the Battle of Qarqar in 853 BC. Shalmaneser's records say he fought against both Hadadezer (also known as Ben-hadad) and Ahab at this battle. When the Assyrian king was temporarily stopped, old hostilities between Aram and Israel reignited.