1And Rehoboam went to Shechem ; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king . 2And it came to pass , when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it ( for he was in Egypt , whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon ), that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt . 3And they sent and called him ; and Jeroboam and all Israel came , and they spake to Rehoboam , saying , 4Thy father made our yoke grievous : now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us , lighter , and we will serve thee . 5And he said unto them , Come again unto me after three days . And the people departed .
The People's Request
6And 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 ? 7And they spake unto him , saying , If thou be kind to this people , and please them , and speak good words to them , then they will be thy servants for ever . 8But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him , and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him , that stood before him . 9And he said unto them , What counsel give ye , that we may return answer to this people , who have spoken to me , saying , Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter ? 10And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him , saying , Thus shalt thou say unto the people that spake unto thee , saying , Thy father made our yoke heavy , but make thou it lighter unto us ; thus shalt thou say unto them , My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins . 11And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke , I will add to your yoke : my father chastised you with whips , but I will chastise you with scorpions .
Rehoboam's Consultation
12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day , as the king bade , saying , Come to me again the third day . 13And the king answered them roughly ; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men , 14and spake to them after the counsel 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 . 15So the king hearkened not unto the people ; for it was brought about of God , that Jehovah might establish his word , which he spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat .
The Division of the Kingdom
16And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them , the people answered the king , saying, What portion have we in David ? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse : every man to your tents, O Israel : now see to thine own house , David . So all Israel departed unto their tents. 17But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah , Rehoboam reigned over them . 18Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram , who was over the men subject to taskwork; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot , to flee to Jerusalem . 19So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day .