2Chronicles:10-11

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* And Rehoboam went to Shechem : for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king . * And it came to pass , when Jeroboam the son of Nebat , who was in Egypt , whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king , heard it , that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt . * And they sent and called him . So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam , saying , * Thy father made our yoke grievous : now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father , and his heavy yoke that he put upon us , and we will serve thee . * And he said unto them , Come again unto me after three days . 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 spake unto him , saying , If thou be kind to this people , and please them , and speak good words to them , they will be thy servants for ever . * But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him , and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him , that stood before him . * And he said unto them , What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people , which have spoken to me , saying , Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us ? * And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him , saying , Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee , saying , Thy father made our yoke heavy , but make thou it somewhat lighter for us ; thus shalt thou say unto them , My little finger shall be thicker than my father 's loins . * For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you , I will put more 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 on the third day , as the king bade , saying , Come again to me on the third day . * And the king answered them roughly ; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men , * And answered them after the advice 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 . * So the king hearkened not unto the people : for the cause was of God , that the LORD might perform his word , which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat . * And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them , the people answered the king , saying , 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 , see to thine own house . So all Israel went to their tents . * But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah , Rehoboam reigned over them . * Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute ; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones , that he died . But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot , to flee to Jerusalem . * And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day . * And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem , he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men , which were warriors , to fight against Israel , that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam . * But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God , saying , * Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon , king of Judah , and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin , saying , * Thus saith the LORD , Ye shall not go up , nor fight against your brethren : return every man to his house : for this thing is done of me . And they obeyed the words of the LORD , and returned from going against Jeroboam . * And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem , and built cities for defence in Judah . * He built even Bethlehem , and Etam , and Tekoa , * And Bethzur , and Shoco , and Adullam , * And Gath , and Mareshah , and Ziph , * And Adoraim , and Lachish , and Azekah , * And Zorah , and Aijalon , and Hebron , which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities . * And he fortified the strong holds , and put captains in them , and store of victual , and of oil and wine . * And in every several city he put shields and spears , and made them exceeding strong , having Judah and Benjamin on his side . * And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts . * For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession , and came to Judah and Jerusalem : for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest 's office unto the LORD : * And he ordained him priests for the high places , and for the devils , and for the calves which he had made . * And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem , to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers . * So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah , and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong , three years : for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon . * And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife , and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse ; * Which bare him children ; Jeush , and Shamariah , and Zaham . * And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom ; which bare him Abijah , and Attai , and Ziza , and Shelomith . * And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines : (for he took eighteen wives , and threescore concubines ; and begat twenty and eight sons , and threescore daughters .) * And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief , to be ruler among his brethren : for he thought to make him king . * And he dealt wisely , and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin , unto every fenced city : and he gave them victual in abundance . And he desired many wives . * And it came to pass , when Rehoboam had established the kingdom , and had strengthened himself , he forsook the law of the LORD , and all Israel with him .

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