“1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come
to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
who [was] in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the
king, heard [it], that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. 3 And they sent
and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam,
saying, 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou
somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that
he put upon us, and we will serve thee. 5 And he said unto them, Come
again unto me after three days. And the people departed. 6 And king
Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his
father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye [me] to return
answer to this people? 7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be
kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they
will be thy servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel which the
old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought
up with him, that stood before him. 9 And he said unto them, What advice
give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to
me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? 10
And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying,
Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy
father made our yoke heavy, but make thou [it] somewhat lighter for us;
thus shalt thou say unto them, My little [finger] shall be thicker than
my father’s loins. 11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I
will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I
[will chastise you] with scorpions.”
“12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day,
as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. 13 And the
king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the
old men, 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying,
My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father
chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions. 15
So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God,
that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of
Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 And when all
Israel [saw] that the king would not hearken unto them, the people
answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and [we have]
none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel:
[and] now, David, see to thine own house. So all 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 Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram
that [was] over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with
stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to
[his] chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 And Israel rebelled against the
house of David unto this day.” (2 Chronicles 10:1-19 AV)
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