A vast military coalition gathers from the east, marching toward the kingdom of Judah with the intent of war. This sudden mobilization occurs years after prior events, emerging as an entirely separate and unconnected conflict [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. As the invading force forms, its composition presents a puzzle, as the army appears to include the people of Ammon alongside another group also identified as Ammonites.
The primary approach among commentators is that this second group is not Ammonite at all. Instead, they are Amalekites or the people of Edom who live in Mount Seir. Because the Edomites are subjects under the rule of Judah at this time, they cannot attack openly without being recognized as rebels. To solve this, they disguise themselves in Ammonite clothing and adopt their language to blend perfectly into the invading army [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת דוד, חומת אנך]. Their specific target is to breach the vineyards of Ein Gedi, an area situated near the original homeland of the Amalekites [רש"י]. This hidden identity explains why the inhabitants of Mount Seir are suddenly mentioned later in the conflict in place of this disguised group.
Other perspectives offer more literal explanations for this second faction. One view suggests they are a completely separate nation sharing the Ammonite name due to their geographical location, likely residing in estates bordering the main Ammonite kingdom [רד"ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another approach identifies them as the Meunites, a well-known neighboring nation living in a region called Maon. This understanding requires a slight shift in how the group's name is read and is considered the most accurate literal explanation of their identity [רד"ק, מצודת דוד, חומת אנך]. Finally, a unique approach bridges the literal reading with the region's geography. It proposes that the invaders are indeed actual Ammonites, but they represent specific factions that previously migrated to settle in the Mount Seir area. Because of this migration, they are identified later in the historical record as the inhabitants of that mountain [מלבי"ם].