שמואל ב, פרק כ״ב, פסוק מ״א

Absolute victory in warfare is achieved not just through human effort, but through divine intervention. God is the one who causes adversaries to turn their backs and flee the battlefield [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון]. This divine assistance is particularly evident in the kindness God showed David during his internal struggles within Israel. Throughout the bitter civil conflicts against the followers of Ish-bosheth, the army of Absalom, and Sheba the son of Bichri, David’s foes were consistently forced to retreat and run from him [אברבנאל].

The triumph, however, does not end with a simple retreat. Even as the opposing forces run for their lives, David overtakes them, ensuring their complete eradication so that the military threat is permanently removed [מצודת ציון, מצודת דוד].

When reflecting on the different types of adversaries faced in these struggles, the primary approach among commentators is that the varying descriptions of the foes are simply poetic repetition, emphasizing that all adversaries fled and were defeated. However, another perspective draws a sharp contrast between two distinct kinds of rivals. On one hand are the open enemies who declare their hostility on the battlefield; for these, it is often sufficient that they are broken and forced to flee. On the other hand are the hidden haters—deceitful individuals who masquerade as friends while secretly plotting harm. Because these hidden foes are intimately aware of David's secrets, they pose a far greater and more insidious danger. Consequently, they cannot merely be chased away; they require absolute and uncompromising destruction to ensure lasting safety [אהבת יהונתן].