Chapter 10

And Rehoboam went⁴ to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come¹ to make him king.⁵³

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who [was] in Egypt, whither he had fled¹ from the presence of Solomon the king, heard² [it], that Jeroboam returned⁴ out of Egypt.

And they sent⁴ and called⁴ him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came⁴ and spake¹⁷ to Rehoboam, saying,²

Thy father made our yoke grievous:⁵² now therefore ease⁵⁴ thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put¹ upon us, and we will serve⁴ thee.

And he said⁴ unto them, Come again³ unto me after three days. And the people departed.⁴

And king Rehoboam took counsel¹¹ with the old men that had stood⁶ before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying,² What counsel give¹² ye [me] to return⁵³ answer to this people?

And they spake¹⁷ unto him, saying,² If thou be kind to this people, and please¹ them, and speak¹⁴ good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever. ³¹¹⁷

But he forsook⁴ the counsel which the old men gave¹ him, and took counsel¹¹ with the young men that were brought up¹ with him, that stood⁶ before him.

And he said⁴ unto them, What advice give¹² ye that we may return⁵⁵ answer to this people, which have spoken¹⁴ to me, saying,² Ease⁵⁴ somewhat the yoke that thy father did put¹ upon us?

And the young men that were brought up¹ with him spake¹⁷ unto him, saying,² Thus shalt thou answer⁴ the people that spake¹⁴ unto thee, saying,² Thy father made our yoke heavy,⁵² but make thou [it] somewhat lighter⁵⁴ for us; thus shalt thou say⁴ unto them, My little [finger] shall be thicker¹ than my father's loins.

For whereas my father put⁵² a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more⁵⁵ to your yoke: my father chastised¹⁴ you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.

So Jeroboam and all the people came⁴ to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade,¹⁴ saying,² Come again³ to me on the third day.

And the king answered⁴ them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook⁴ the counsel of the old men,

And answered¹⁷ them after the advice of the young men, saying,² My father made your yoke heavy,⁵² but I will add⁵⁵ thereto: my father chastised¹⁴ you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.

So the king hearkened¹ not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform⁵³ his word, which he spake¹⁴ by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

And when all Israel [saw]¹ that the king would not hearken¹ unto them, the people answered⁵⁵ the king, saying,² 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, see³ to thine own house. So all Israel went⁴ to their tents.

But [as for] the children of Israel that dwelt⁶ in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned⁴ over them.

Then king Rehoboam sent⁴ Hadoram that [was] over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned⁴ him with stones, that he died.⁴ But king Rehoboam made speed⁹⁸ to get him up² to [his] chariot, to flee² to Jerusalem.

And Israel rebelled⁴ against the house of David unto this day.