1Kings:12:1-24

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* And Rehoboam went to Shechem ; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king . * And it came to pass , when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it--for he was yet in Egypt , whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon , and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt , * and they sent and called him--that Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came , and spoke unto Rehoboam , saying : * 'Thy 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 .' * And he said unto them : 'Depart yet for three days , then come again to me .' And the people departed . * 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 ?' * And they spoke unto him , saying : 'If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day , and wilt serve them , and answer them , and speak good words to them , then they will be thy servants for ever .' * But 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 . * And 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 ?' * And the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him , saying : 'Thus shalt thou say unto this people that spoke unto thee , saying : Thy father made our yoke heavy , but make thou it lighter unto us ; thus shalt thou speak unto them : My little finger is thicker than my father 's loins . * And now whereas my father did burden you with a heavy yoke , I will add to your yoke ; my father chastised you with whips , but I will chastise you with scorpions .' * So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day , as the king bade , saying : 'Come to me again the third day .' * And the king answered the people roughly , and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him ; * and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men , saying : 'My father made your yoke heavy , but I will add to your yoke ; my father chastised you with whips , but I will chastise you with scorpions .' * So the king hearkened not unto the people ; for it was a thing brought about of the LORD , that He might establish His word , which the LORD spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat . * And 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 ; to your tents , O Israel ; now see to thine own house , David .' So Israel departed unto their tents . * But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah , Rehoboam reigned over them . * Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram , who was over the levy ; and all Israel stoned him with stones , so that he died . And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot , to flee to Jerusalem . * So Israel rebelled against the house of David , unto this day . * And it came to pass , when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned , that they sent and called him unto the congregation , and made him king over all Israel ; there was none that followed the house of David , but the tribe of Judah only . * And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem , be assembled all the house of Judah , and the tribe of Benjamin , a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men that were warriors , to fight against the house of Israel , to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam the son of Solomon . * But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God , saying : * 'Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon , king of Judah , and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin , and to the rest of the people , saying : * Thus saith the LORD : Ye shall not go up , nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel ; return every man to his house ; for this thing is of Me .' So they hearkened unto the word of the LORD , and returned and went their way , according to the word of the LORD .

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