שופטים, פרק כ׳, פסוק מ״א

The tide of battle abruptly turns as a carefully laid psychological and tactical trap springs shut on the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelite fighters, who had previously appeared to retreat, suddenly wheel around to face their pursuers and launch a direct assault [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

In that instant, the men of Benjamin grasp the truth: the earlier Israelite withdrawal was a strategic deception. Seeing the Israelite army turn back to fight, combined with the sudden realization that their own city has been set ablaze behind them, exposes the full scale of the ambush [מצודת דוד]. Sheer panic takes hold of the Benjaminite forces. They recognize that absolute disaster is upon them, as they are now completely trapped and surrounded from both directions [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].