And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. (1 Kings 20:20)
They fought man to man and hand to hand. An alert group of archers or spearmen might have been able to keep the little band of Hebrews at bay, but the Syrians did not awake to the situation till it was too late. Panic seized the host, and they turned and fled.