שופטים, פרק כ׳, פסוק מ׳

At the climax of the battle, the tide suddenly turns, and the trap set by the Israelites finally closes on the tribe of Benjamin. While the Israelites stage a fake retreat to draw their enemies out, the men of Benjamin eagerly chase after them. At the same time, the Israelite ambush force finishes its attack on the city and sets it on fire, creating a prearranged and highly visible signal [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. A massive pillar of smoke begins to rise from the city to clearly mark the success of the ambush [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת ציון].

The Israelites immediately notice the agreed-upon signal. When the men of Benjamin look behind them, they are met with a shocking sight: the smoke of the burning city rising into the sky [מצודת דוד]. The massive cloud of smoke reveals that the entire city is burning all at once [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This exact moment of looking back marks the beginning of Benjamin's downfall. In an instant, they grasp the severe reality of their situation as they face two simultaneous threats. Their home is entirely engulfed in flames, and the Israelite army, which just moments ago seemed to be running away, suddenly turns around to launch a fierce counterattack. Realizing that disaster has surrounded them on all sides, the men of Benjamin are struck with absolute panic [מלבי״ם].