2 Samuel 17:9

Behold, he is hid now in some pit or in some other place, either in a natural stronghold or in a fortified position; and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, if Absalom's advance guard should be thrown back by a sudden attack on the part of David, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. The mere report of a surprise attack on the part of David would be exaggerated into a defeat of Absalom's entire force.