Parallel
2 Samuel 17:9
World English Bible British Edition · Berean Standard Bible
Behold, he is now hidden in some pit, or in some other place. It will happen, when some of them have fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There is a slaughter amongst the people who follow Absalom!’
Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first (note: Or If he should attack your troops first), whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’