1 Kings 11:26–12:24

26  And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zeredah, Solomon’s servant (whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow woman), even he lifted up his hand against the king. 27  And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon was building Millo, and closing the breach of the city of David his father; 28  and the man Jeroboam was strong and valiant; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 29  And it came to pass at that time that Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field. 30  Then Ahijah seized the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces; 31  and said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel: Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee; 32  but one tribe shall he have for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel: 33  because they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my sight, and my statutes and mine ordinances, as David his father. 34  But I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; for I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes; 35  but I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, —the ten tribes. 36  And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen for myself to put my name there. 37  And I will take thee, that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth, and thou shalt be king over Israel. 38  And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my sight, in keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, that I will be with thee, and build thee a lasting house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. 39  And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. 40  And Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam; and Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt; and he was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

41  And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? 42  And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43  And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

Chapter 12

1  And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2  And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (now he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt; 3  and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4  Thy father made our yoke grievous; and now lighten thou the grievous servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. 5  And he said to them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. 6  And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, How do ye advise to return answer to this people? 7  And they spoke to him saying, If this day thou wilt be a servant to this people, and wilt serve them and answer them and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever. 8  But he forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, that stood before him. 9  And he said to them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people who have spoken to me saying, Lighten the yoke which thy father put upon us? 10  And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him saying, Thus shalt thou say to this people that have spoken to thee saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and lighten thou it for us, —thus shalt thou say to them: My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins; 11  and whereas my father laid a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12  And Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed saying, Come again to me on the third day. 13  And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the advice of the old men which they had given him; 14  and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15  So the king hearkened not to the people; for it was brought about by Jehovah, that he might give effect to his word, which Jehovah spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16  And all Israel saw that the king hearkened not to them; and the people answered the king saying, What portion have we in David? And we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse: To your tents, O Israel! Now see to thine own house, David! And Israel went to their tents. 17  But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18  And king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the levy; but all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. And king Rehoboam hastened to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19  And Israel rebelled against the house of David, unto this day. 20  And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, that they sent and called him to the assembly, and made him king over all Israel: none followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. 21  And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men apt for war, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22  But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23  Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remainder of the people, saying, 24  Thus saith Jehovah: Go not up, nor fight with your brethren, the children of Israel; return every man to his house, for this thing is from me. And they hearkened to the word of Jehovah, and returned to depart, according to the word of Jehovah.