שמואל ב, פרק י׳, פסוק ח׳

The battlefield layout formed a dangerous tactical trap for the Israelite army. The opposing forces split into two distinct fronts, forcing the attackers to face a coordinated double threat from both the local defenders and their hired mercenaries.

The local Ammonite soldiers positioned themselves directly at the entrance of their city gate to defend it [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their decision to remain pressed against the city walls stemmed from a sense of military weakness. Rather than risking direct combat in the open, they preferred to rely on the safety and protection of their fortress [מלבי״ם].

Meanwhile, the hired Aramean forces, which included troops from Zobah, Ish-tob, as well as Aram Rehob and the forces or king of Aram Maacah [רד״ק], prepared for battle in the open field, forming a completely separate front. There are different perspectives on why these forces were divided. One approach suggests that the mercenary armies simply camped at a significant distance from the Ammonite capital [מלבי״ם]. Another view explains that the Ammonites were deeply suspicious of their own hired help. Fearing that the foreign mercenaries might rebel and capture the city from within, the Ammonites insisted that the Arameans remain outside the walls [אברבנאל].

Regardless of the reason for the separation, the resulting formation posed a severe threat to the Israelites. As Joab and his soldiers advanced toward the city, they suddenly found themselves attacked from two directions simultaneously. They faced the Ammonite forces directly in front of them at the city gate, while the Aramean mercenaries threatened them from behind in the open field, effectively surrounding the Israelite army [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].