A king's true power is measured not only by the battles he fights but by the victories he achieves without ever drawing a sword. The sheer weight of a mighty ruler's reputation can project his authority far beyond his physical borders. His fame as a legendary warrior and commander is so overwhelming that it inspires terror and subdues foreign nations before a single clash occurs. These distant peoples do not face the king in person. They know him only through rumors, the spread of his fame, or the arrival of his messengers [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד, המאירי].
The primary approach among commentators is that this remote influence results in complete obedience; foreign nations readily accept the king's authority, submitting to his commands from afar and serving him. Conversely, other scholars suggest that the reaction is one of mass gathering. Just as people flock together at the call of a herald, these nations rally at the mere mention of the king's name [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, המאירי]. On a broader scale, this dynamic mirrors a future era when nations will arrive to serve Israel simply because of the reports they hear, much like the Queen of Sheba traveling to meet King Solomon [אלשיך].
Driven by absolute dread of the king's unshakeable position, these enemies surrender completely, but their submission is laced with deceit. Commentators offer varying perspectives on the nature of this falsehood. Some view it as pure flattery, where foreigners speak lies and pretend to love the king merely to win his favor [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. Others explain that the enemies will deny their own history. Those who previously fought against the king will falsely claim they never opposed him [רד״ק], or they will suddenly disavow their past boasts of bravery [אבן עזרא]. Another perspective sees this deceit as an act of camouflage. In a desperate bid for survival, hostile nations will disguise themselves as distant, peace-seeking peoples, echoing the deception of the Gibeonites during the time of Joshua [אלשיך]. Finally, this falsehood can manifest as deep betrayal, where foreign nations abandon their own faith to honor the king [המאירי], or turn their backs on their former allies to appease him [רד״ק].