1 Kings 12:1–19

¹And Rehoboam goeth to Shechem, for to Shechem hath all Israel come to make him king. ²And it cometh to pass, at Jeroboam son of Nebat’s hearing (and he is yet in Egypt where he hath fled from the presence of Solomon the king, and Jeroboam dwelleth in Egypt), ³that they send and call for him; and they come—Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel—and speak unto Rehoboam, saying, ⁴‘Thy father made hard our yoke, and thou, now, make light some of the hard service of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we serve thee.’ ⁵And he saith unto them, ‘Go—yet three days, and come back unto me;’ and the people go. ⁶And king Rehoboam consulteth with the elders who have been standing in the presence of Solomon his father, in his being alive, saying, ‘How are ye counselling to answer this people?’ ⁷And they speak unto him, saying, ‘If, to-day, thou art servant to this people, and hast served them, and answered them, and spoken unto them good words, then they have been to thee servants all the days.’ ⁸And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him, and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, who are standing before him; ⁹and he saith unto them, ‘What are ye counselling, and we answer this people, who have spoken unto me, saying, Lighten somewhat of the yoke that thy father put upon us?’ ¹⁰And they speak unto him—the lads who had grown up with him—saying, ‘Thus dost thou say to this people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make it light upon us; thus dost thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father; ¹¹and now, my father laid on you a heavy yoke, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I—I chastise you with scorpions.’ ¹²And they come—Jeroboam and all the people—unto Rehoboam, on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, ‘Come back unto me on the third day.’ ¹³And the king answereth the people sharply, and forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him, ¹⁴and speaketh unto them, according to the counsel of the lads, saying, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I—I chastise you with scorpions;’ ¹⁵and the king hearkened not unto the people, for the revolution was from Jehovah, in order to establish His word that Jehovah spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam son of Nebat.

¹⁶And all Israel see that the king hath not hearkened unto them, and the people send the king back word, saying, ‘What portion have we in David? yea, there is no inheritance in the son of Jesse; to thy tents, O Israel; now see thy house, O David!’ and Israel goeth to its tents. ¹⁷As to the sons of Israel, those dwelling in the cities of Judah—over them reign doth Rehoboam. ¹⁸And king Rehoboam sendeth Adoram who is over the tribute, and all Israel cast at him stones, and he dieth; and king Rehoboam hath strengthened himself to go up into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem; ¹⁹and Israel transgresseth against the house of David unto this day.