מלכים א, פרק י״ב, פסוק כ״ד

The brink of a devastating civil war is halted not by diplomacy or military strategy, but by a sudden prophetic intervention. A single prophet steps forward to override the decisions of the king and disband an entire army, revealing that massive political shifts are actually guided by supreme divine providence. The prophet holds the ultimate authority, capable of canceling royal decrees and military campaigns [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

God's instructions to stop the conflict are detailed and cover every possible scenario of war [מלבי״ם]. First, the army is forbidden from invading the cities of the ten tribes. Second, they are prohibited from even engaging in a planned, frontal battle. Finally, the troops are ordered to return to their homes. This final directive means a complete disbanding of the military; there is no need for the soldiers to remain armed or on alert out of fear that the opposing side might launch a surprise attack.

The reason for calling off the war is that the division of the kingdom is a direct result of God's deliberate plan. Giving the ten tribes to Jeroboam while leaving the tribe of Judah to the House of David is not a random political event, but an act of divine providence [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד]. A fundamental rule emerges from this: any attempt to fight against or challenge the will and intention of God is ultimately doomed to fail [רלב״ג].

The response of the king and the nation is immediate obedience. Although King Rehoboam does not possess the profound righteousness of his grandfather David, he understands with absolute clarity that he must obey the prophet's word without question [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The event concludes with the soldiers heading back. While the parallel account in the Book of Chronicles highlights their obedience in simply stopping the march to war, the focus here is on their compliance with the final part of God's command: the actual, physical return of every man to his own home [מלבי״ם].