מלכים א, פרק י״א, פסוק ל״א

A dramatic physical action illustrates the upcoming fracture of the united kingdom. The prophet instructs Jeroboam to take ten torn strips from a garment. This act serves as a tangible sign that God will tear the royal power away from Solomon and hand over the rule of ten tribes to Jeroboam [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד].

Beyond the physical event, the torn pieces themselves carry a deeper message about the nature of the newly formed kingdom. They suggest that Jeroboam's rule will be inherently flawed and broken, much like a tear ruins the perfection of a piece of clothing [חומת אנך]. At the same time, this division leaves a lingering numerical puzzle. The ten tribes handed to Jeroboam, combined with just one additional tribe, fall short of the complete twelve tribes of Israel [מדוד ועד לחורבן].