1. Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to acclaim him king.
2. Jeroboam son of Nebat learned of it while he was in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon, and Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
3. They sent for him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam as follows:
4. "Your father made our yoke heavy. Now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke that your father laid on us, and we will serve you."
5. He answered them, "Come back to me in three days." So the people went away.
10. And the young men who had grown up with him answered, "Speak thus to the people who said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us.' Say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
11. My father imposed a heavy yoke on you, and I will add to your yoke; my father flogged you with whips, but I [will do so] with scorpions.'"
12. Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, since the king had told them, "Come back on the third day."
13. The king answered them harshly; thus King Rehoboam ignored the elders' counsel.
14. He spoke to them in accordance with the counsel of the young men, and said, "I will make your yoke heavy, and I will add to it; my father flogged you with whips, but I [will do so] with scorpions."
15. The king did not listen to the people, for God had brought it about in order that the LORD might fulfill the promise that He had made through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
16. When all Israel [saw] that the king had not listened to them, the people answered the king: "We have no portion in David, No share in Jesse's son! To your tents, O Israel! Now look to your own house, O David." So all Israel returned to their homes.
17. But Rehoboam continued to reign over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.
18. King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites pelted him to death with stones. Thereupon, King Rehoboam hurriedly mounted his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.
19. Israel has been in revolt against the house of David to this day.
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