The division of the kingdom
1Rehoboam went to Shechem where all the people of northern Israel had gone to proclaim him king. 2As soon as Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news – he was still in Egypt where he had gone to escape from king Solomon – he returned from Egypt. 3The people of the northern tribes sent for him, and he came with the whole assembly.
And they said this to Rehoboam, 4“Your father placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter for us, we will serve you.” 5He said, “Come back to me in three days.” And the people went away.
6King Rehoboam consulted the older men who had served as advisers to his father Solomon and asked them, “What reply do you advise me to give to this people?” 7They said, “If you are kind to these people and listen to them and treat them fairly, then they will serve you forever.” 8But he rejected the advice given him by the elders and consulted the bloody young men who had grown up with him. 9He asked, “How do you advise us to answer these people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the burden your father put on us’?” 10The bloody young men who had grown up with him replied, “Give this answer to these people who have said, ‘Your father gave us a heavy burden to bear, you must lighten it for us.’ Say this to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11My father made you bear a heavy burden, but I will make it heavier still! My father beat you with whips; I am going to beat you with bullwhips!’ ”
12Jeroboam with all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day according to what the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.” 13King Rehoboam, rejecting the advice of the elders, gave them a harsh answer 14and spoke to them as the bloody young men had recommended, “My father made you bear a heavy burden, but I will make it heavier still. My father beat you with whips; I am going to beat you with bullwhips!” 15The king in fact paid no attention to the people’s wishes, and this was brought about by God to carry out what Yahweh had spoken through Ahijah of Shiloh to Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16When all Israel saw that the king paid no attention to their wishes, they gave him this answer: “Down with David and his descendants! What have they ever done for us? To your tents, men of Israel; let’s go home. From now on let Rehoboam look out for himself!”
17So the people of Israel rebelled and Rehoboam was left with those people of Israel who lived in the towns of Judah. 18King Rehoboam sent Adoram who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death; 19whereupon King Rehoboam was obliged to mount his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. And the people of Israel have been in rebellion against the family of David until the present day.
