1Kings:12:1-24

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* And Rehoboam went to Shechem , for , to Shechem , had all Israel come to make him king . * And it came to pass , when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of ithe being yet in Egypt , whither he had fled from the face the king , that Jeroboam returned from Egypt ; * yes they sent , and called him , and Jeroboam and all the convocation of Israel came , and spake unto Rehoboam , saying : * Thy father , made our yoke , grievous , now , therefore do , thou , lighten the grievous service of thy father , and his heavy yoke which he put upon us , that we may serve thee . * And he said unto them Depart ye for yet three days , and then come again unto me . And the people departed . * Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who used to stand before Solomon his father , while he yet lived , saying , How do , ye , advise , that I answer this people ? * And they spake unto him , saying If , to-day , thou wilt be servant unto this people , and wilt serve them , and answer them kindly , and speak unto them good words , then will they be , thy , servants , always . * But he declined the counsel of the elders which they gave him , and consulted with the young men , who had grown up with him , who were standing before himself ; * and said unto them What counsel do , ye , give as to how we shall answer this people who have spoken unto me , saying Make a lightening of the yoke which thy father put upon us ? * Then spake unto him the young men who had grown up with him , saying , Thus , shalt thou say to this people that have spoken unto thee , saying Thy father , made our yoke heavy , thou , therefore lighten it upon us , Thus , shalt thou speak unto them , My little finger , is thicker than my fathers loins ; * Now , therefore , whereas , my father , laid upon you a heavy yoke , I , will add to your yoke , My father , did chastise you with whips , but , I , will chastise you with scorpions . * So Jeroboam and all the people came in unto Rehoboam , on the third day , as the king had bidden , saying Come again unto me , on the third day . * And the king answered the people , harshly , and declined the counsel of the elders wherewith they had counselled him ; * and spake unto them after the counsel of the young men , saying , My father , made your yoke heavy , but , I , will add unto your yoke , My father , chastised you , with whips , but , I , will chastise you , with scorpions . * Thus the king hearkened not unto the people , for there had come about a turn from Yahweh , that he might establish his word , which Yahweh had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite , unto Jeroboam , son of Nebat . * So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them , the people answered the king , saying What portion have , we , in , David . Or inheritance in the son of Jesse ? To your homes O Israel ! Now , see to thine own house , O David ! And Israel departed to their homes . * But , as for the sons of Israel who were dwelling in the cities of Judah , Rehoboam reigned over them . * Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was over the tribute , but all Israel stoned him with stones , that he died , King Rehoboam , therefore , hastily mounted his chariot , to flee unto Jerusalem . * So Israel rebelled against the house of David , unto this day . * And it came to pass , when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned , that they sent and called him into the assembly , and made him king over all Israel , there were none that followed the house of David , saving the tribe of Judah only . * And , when Rehoboam entered Jerusalem , he called together all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamina hundred and eighty thousand chosen men , able to make war , to fight against the house of Israel , to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam , son of Solomon . * Then came the word of God unto Shemaiah , the man of God , saying : * Speak unto Rehoboam , son of Solomon , king of Judah , and unto all the house of Judah , and Benjamin , and the remnant of the people , saying : * Thus , saith Yahweh Ye shall not go up , neither shall ye fight with your brethren the sons of Israel , return ye every man to his own house , for , from me , hath this thing been brought about . So they hearkened unto the word of Yahweh , and turned back to depart , according to the word of Yahweh .

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