מלכים א, פרק כ׳, פסוק י״ט

A tactical exit from the city marks a dramatic turning point in the battle, as a small vanguard leads the entire army out to face the enemy. The primary approach among commentators is to identify exactly who dared to step onto the battlefield first. The force was made up of two distinct groups. Leading the charge were the young men of the provincial commanders. Right behind them followed the main army, consisting of seven thousand fighters specifically assigned to back up the young men.

As the Aramean soldiers approached the young men—either to capture them or to see if they were coming in peace—each Israelite fighter suddenly struck the enemy soldier standing right in front of him. This unexpected attack threw the enemy ranks into complete chaos, causing the Arameans and their king, Ben-Hadad, to flee [אברבנאל, מלבי״ם].

A striking detail in this event is the absence of the Israelite king, Ahab, during the initial clash. He did not join the first wave of soldiers leaving Samaria because he was too afraid to leave the safety of the city. It was only after the tide turned, when the enemy was already running away, that the king finally gathered his courage, stepped out of the city, and joined the chase [אברבנאל, מלבי״ם].