And it shall be, when the officers have finished addressing the people, that they shall appoint captains of the host at the head of the people (Deut. 20:9) —- and at the rear of the people. They stationed guards in front of them, and others behind them with axes of iron in their hands; and if anyone tries to turn back, he has the authority to break his legs —- for flight is the beginning of slaughter, as it is said (I Samuel 4:17): Israel has fled from before the Philistines and there has been also a great slaughter among the people. And below it states (I Samuel 31:1): And Israel fled before the Philistines and they fell slain, etc.