Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 12:16

"And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents." — 1 Kings 12:16 (ASV)

To your tents. —This war-cry was not new. It had been heard once before, during the conflict between Judah and Israel after the rebellion of Absalom, when it was silenced instantly by the relentless promptness of Joab (2 Samuel 20:1). Only the last ironical line is added, See to your own house, David (which the Septuagint explains as “Feed, as a shepherd, your own house, David”). There is perhaps a sarcastic allusion to God’s promise to establish the house of David: “Be a king, but only in your own house!”