'Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your brothers the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.' They hearkened to the word of the LORD and went back, for the way of the king of Judah — The oracle frames the divided kingdom as the LORD's own doing, transforming what appears to be political disaster into covenantal judgment. The term "brothers" (אַחִים, achim) maintains the tribal bond even as political unity dissolves. The command to return "each to his home" (וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת־דְּבַר־יְהוָה, vayishmeu et-devar-YHWH) shows the people's obedience to prophetic word trumps their king's military ambition. The Deuteronomistic historian emphasizes: even Judah's military superiority cannot stand against the LORD's purposes.

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