שמואל ב, פרק י״א, פסוק כ״ג

The battlefield report delivered to David explains exactly how the Israelite soldiers ended up dangerously close to the enemy wall and suffered casualties. The clash began when the fighters from the besieged city made a bold move, leaving their defenses to engage the Israelites in the open field. During the initial phase of the fighting, the enemy forces actually gained the upper hand and managed to push back the Israelite army.

However, the momentum soon shifted. The Israelite soldiers transitioned into an aggressive offensive, successfully overpowering the enemy forces. They drove the opposing fighters backward and relentlessly pursued them all the way to the city gates [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This sudden success ultimately led to their vulnerability. Caught up in the heat of victory and the intense pursuit of the retreating enemy, the Israelite troops were carried away by the moment. They advanced toward the entrance of the city far closer than was militarily sound, recklessly exposing themselves to severe danger [מלבי״ם].