Rehoboam’s Foolish Reign

1Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2And it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3Then they sent and called for him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4“Your father made our yoke harsh; but now, lighten the harsh service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” 5Then he said to them, “Return to me again in three days.” So the people went away.

6Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had [†]stood before his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to respond to this people?” 7And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had counseled him, and took counsel with the young men who grew up with him and [†]stood before him. 9So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may respond to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” 10Then the young men who grew up with him spoke with him, saying, “Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.’ Thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! 11So now my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had spoken, saying, “Return to me on the third day.” 13And the king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders, 14and he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “[†]My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events from God, that Yahweh might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16Now all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them. So the people responded to the king, saying,

“What portion do we have in David?

We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.

Every man to your tents, O Israel;

Now see to your own house, David.” So all Israel went to their tents. 17But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor, and the sons of Israel [†]stoned him and he died. And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.