Hushai presents Absalom with an alternative military strategy, painting a picture of a massive, absolute, and unavoidable assault on David and his men. Rather than a targeted nighttime assassination, this plan calls for gathering an army so vast that it will flood the entire region, leaving David with no chance of escape. Because of the sheer size of this force, the soldiers will scatter in every direction, guaranteeing that they will find David no matter where he tries to hide [מצודת דוד]. The strategy calls for the troops to physically encamp all around him [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
To illustrate this envelopment, the plan relies on the imagery of dew falling on the ground. The primary approach among commentators is that this highlights the spatial spread of the troops. Just as dew blankets the earth without leaving a single bare patch, the army will surround David from every conceivable angle [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. This natural imagery also points to the manner of the attack. Dew settles silently, suggesting a total defeat that happens quietly and efficiently, without chaotic uproar [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, the imagery of dew hints at the specific timing of the strike. Instead of risking the uncertainty of a night ambush, the forces will attack in the clear morning light when the dew falls, acting with absolute certainty about David's location [מלבי״ם].
The ultimate goal of this strategy is the complete destruction or capture of the entire camp, ensuring that not a single man remains [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This stands in sharp contrast to Ahithophel's earlier advice, which focused on striking only the king. The necessity to target everyone stems from the fear that David might disguise himself as a common soldier. Therefore, the only way to guarantee his death is to leave no survivors [מצודת דוד]. Furthermore, eliminating or capturing the entire force ensures that David is entirely cut off, preventing any possibility of him retreating to a fortified city to find shelter [מלבי״ם].