שמואל ב, פרק ב׳, פסוק ט״ו

The confrontation between David's supporters and Saul's loyalists reached a boiling point, culminating in a calculated, representative duel. What might have begun as a simple game or an exhibition match quickly escalated. The tense atmosphere caused tempers to flare, turning a display of skill into a violent clash [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The two opposing camps initially stood on opposite sides of a pool of water [מצודת דוד]. To engage in the contest, the men of Benjamin and the servants of Ish-bosheth, who had arrived from Mahanaim with Abner, crossed the water toward the men of Judah so that everyone stood on the same side [אברבנאל]. This physical movement across the pool reveals that the men of Benjamin were the aggressors who initiated the quarrel [מלבי״ם].

The selection of exactly twelve fighters was a highly deliberate choice. The twelve men fighting for Ish-bosheth represented the entirety of the tribes under his rule, with one combatant standing in for each tribe. Consequently, exactly twelve men from David's camp were required to step forward and meet the challenge [מלבי״ם].

Even though these fighters represented Ish-bosheth's broader kingdom, they were specifically identified with the tribe of Benjamin. This highlights the central role Benjamin played in the conflict. The men of Benjamin were the driving force behind Ish-bosheth, escorting him with the express purpose of crowning him king [רד״ק]. Because they acted as the leading tribe over all the others under Ish-bosheth's rule [מלבי״ם], all twelve of the chosen fighters were drawn exclusively from the tribe of Benjamin [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל].