מלכים א, פרק כ״ב, פסוק ל״ו

As the sun sets on the battlefield, the military campaign comes to an abrupt end with the death of the king. Without a commander to lead them, the forces must now disband and make their way back home. A sweeping cry echoes through the encampment as news of the king's demise and the sudden lack of leadership spreads among the ranks [מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While this call serves primarily as a formal announcement, it also carries a surprising emotional weight. Rather than mourning, the troops express joy over Ahab's downfall, reflecting the timeless principle that the end of wickedness brings gladness [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

With the arrival of evening [ביאור שטיינזלץ], a clear directive is issued to retreat and cease all hostilities [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The soldiers are instructed to return either to their local cities or to their broader country. This two-part command carefully addresses the distinct origins of the allied forces: the troops from the Kingdom of Israel are told to return to their individual cities, while the soldiers from the Kingdom of Judah are directed to head back to their own land [מלבי״ם].

This peaceful dispersion serves as the direct fulfillment of an earlier prophecy, which foretold that the troops would find themselves without a master but would still journey home safely. The soldiers' ability to withdraw without being chased down by enemy forces reveals a remarkable detail about the conflict. Despite the tragic loss of their king, the Israelite army suffered almost no other casualties during the fighting [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, the broader outcome of the war remains ambiguous, as it is unclear which side truly emerged victorious. The herald's call to retreat may have been sounded exclusively within the Israelite camp, or it might have echoed across both sides of the battlefield [רד״ק].