International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Rehoboam traveled to Shechem because all of Israel went there to install him as king.

1וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֖ם שְׁכֶ֑ם כִּ֥י שְׁכֶ֛ם בָּ֥א כָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהַמְלִ֥יךְ אֹתֽוֹ׃

2Nebat's son Jeroboam heard about it while he was still in Egypt, where he had fled to get away from King Solomon. Jeroboam returned from Egypt

2וַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ ׀ יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־ נְבָ֗ט וְהוּא֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ בְמִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּרַ֔ח מִפְּנֵ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יָרָבְעָ֖ם בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃

3after being summoned. When Jeroboam and the entire assembly of Israel arrived, they spoke to Rehoboam,

3וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ וַיִּקְרְאוּ־ ל֔וֹ [ויבאו] (וַיָּבֹ֥א) יָרָבְעָ֖ם וְכָל־ קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶל־ רְחַבְעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

4"Your father made our burdens unbearable. Therefore lighten your father's requirements and his heavy burdens that he placed on us, and we'll serve you."

4אָבִ֖יךָ הִקְשָׁ֣ה אֶת־ עֻלֵּ֑נוּ וְאַתָּ֡ה עַתָּ֣ה הָקֵל֩ מֵעֲבֹדַ֨ת אָבִ֜יךָ הַקָּשָׁ֗ה וּמֵעֻלּ֧וֹ הַכָּבֵ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥ן עָלֵ֖ינוּ וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃

5"Come again in three days," Rehoboam told them. So the people left

5וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לְכ֥וּ עֹ֛ד שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וְשׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלָ֑י וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ הָעָֽם׃

6while King Rehoboam conferred with his advisors who had worked for his father Solomon during his administration. He asked them, "What is your advice as to how I should respond to these people?"

6וַיִּוָּעַ֞ץ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם אֶת־ הַזְּקֵנִים֙ אֲשֶׁר־ הָי֣וּ עֹמְדִ֗ים אֶת־ פְּנֵי֙ שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה אָבִ֔יו בִּֽהְיֹת֥וֹ חַ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵ֚יךְ אַתֶּ֣ם נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־ הָֽעָם־ הַזֶּ֖ה דָּבָֽר׃

7They advised him, "If today you are a servant, you will serve this people by answering them and speaking kindly to them. Then they will serve you forever."

7[וידבר] (וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ‪‬) אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־ הַ֠יּוֹם תִּֽהְיֶה־ עֶ֜בֶד לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֔ם וַעֲנִיתָ֕ם וְדִבַּרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם דְּבָרִ֣ים טוֹבִ֑ים וְהָי֥וּ לְךָ֛ עֲבָדִ֖ים כָּל־ הַיָּמִֽים׃

8But Rehoboam ignored the counsel that his elder advisors had given him. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him and who worked for him.

8וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת־ עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְעָצֻ֑הוּ וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ אֶת־ הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָעֹמְדִ֖ים לְפָנָֽיו׃

9As a result, he asked them, "What's your advice so that we can give an answer to these people who have asked me, 'Please lighten the burden that your father put on us.'?"

9וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם מָ֚ה אַתֶּ֣ם נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים וְנָשִׁ֥יב דָּבָ֖ר אֶת־ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבְּר֤וּ אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הָקֵל֙ מִן־ הָעֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥ן אָבִ֖יךָ עָלֵֽינוּ׃

10"This is what you should tell these people who asked you 'Your father made our burden heavy, but you must make it lighter for us!'" the young men who grew up with Rehoboam replied. "Tell them, 'My little finger will be thicker than my father's whole body!

10וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ כֹּֽה־ תֹאמַ֣ר לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֡ה אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבְּר֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ לֵאמֹ֗ר אָבִ֙יךָ֙ הִכְבִּ֣יד אֶת־ עֻלֵּ֔נוּ וְאַתָּ֖ה הָקֵ֣ל מֵעָלֵ֑ינוּ כֹּ֚ה תְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם קָֽטָנִּ֥י עָבָ֖ה מִמָּתְנֵ֥י אָבִֽי׃

11Not only that, but since my father loaded you down heavily, I'm going to add to that burden. My father disciplined you with whips, but I'm going to discipline you with scorpions!'"

11וְעַתָּ֗ה אָבִי֙ הֶעְמִ֤יס עֲלֵיכֶם֙ עֹ֣ל כָּבֵ֔ד וַאֲנִ֖י אוֹסִ֣יף עַֽל־ עֻלְּכֶ֑ם אָבִ֗י יִסַּ֤ר אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֕י אֲיַסֵּ֥ר אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים׃

12So Jeroboam and all the people went back to Rehoboam on the third day, just as they had been directed when the king said, "Come back again in three days."

12[ויבו] (וַיָּב֨וֹא) יָרָבְעָ֧ם וְכָל־ הָעָ֛ם אֶל־ רְחַבְעָ֖ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שׁ֥וּבוּ אֵלַ֖י בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִֽׁי׃

13But the king gave the people a harsh response, because he was ignoring the counsel that his elders had given him.

13וַיַּ֧עַן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־ הָעָ֖ם קָשָׁ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת־ עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָצֻֽהוּ׃

14Instead, Rehoboam spoke to them along the lines of what the younger men suggested. He told them "My father burdened you heavily, but I will add to that burden. If my father disciplined you with whips, I'm going to discipline you with scorpions!"

14וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כַּעֲצַ֤ת הַיְלָדִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָבִי֙ הִכְבִּ֣יד אֶֽת־ עֻלְּכֶ֔ם וַאֲנִ֖י אֹסִ֣יף עַֽל־ עֻלְּכֶ֑ם אָבִ֗י יִסַּ֤ר אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֕י אֲיַסֵּ֥ר אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים׃

15The king would not listen to the people, because the turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill his prediction that the LORD spoke by means of Ahijah the Shilonite to Nebat's son Jeroboam

15וְלֹֽא־ שָׁמַ֥ע הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־ הָעָ֑ם כִּֽי־ הָיְתָ֤ה סִבָּה֙ מֵעִ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה לְמַ֜עַן הָקִ֣ים אֶת־ דְּבָר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר יְהוָה֙ בְּיַד֙ אֲחִיָּ֣ה הַשִּׁילֹנִ֔י אֶל־ יָרָבְעָ֖ם בֶּן־ נְבָֽט׃

16When all of Israel saw that the king wasn't listening to them, the people responded to the king's message, "What's the point in following David? We have no inheritance in the descendants of Jesse. Let's go home, Israel! David, take care of your own household!' So Israel left for home.

16וַיַּ֣רְא כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כִּ֠י לֹֽא־ שָׁמַ֣ע הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ אֲלֵיהֶם֒ וַיָּשִׁ֣בוּ הָעָ֣ם אֶת־ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּבָ֣ר ׀ לֵאמֹ֡ר מַה־ לָּנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק בְּדָוִ֜ד וְלֹֽא־ נַחֲלָ֣ה בְּבֶן־ יִשַׁ֗י לְאֹהָלֶ֙יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַתָּ֕ה רְאֵ֥ה בֵיתְךָ֖ דָּוִ֑ד וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְאֹהָלָֽיו׃

17And so Rehoboam ruled over the Israelis who lived in the cities of Judah.

17וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם רְחַבְעָֽם׃ פ

18King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of conscripted labor, but all of Israel stoned him to death, and King Rehoboam had to jump in his chariot and flee back in a hurry to Jerusalem.

18וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם אֶת־ אֲדֹרָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ הַמַּ֔ס וַיִּרְגְּמ֨וּ כָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל בּ֛וֹ אֶ֖בֶן וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ לַעֲל֣וֹת בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֔ה לָנ֖וּס יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

19That's how Israel came to be in rebellion against David's dynasty to this day.

19וַיִּפְשְׁע֤וּ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּבֵ֣ית דָּוִ֔ד עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ ס

20Now when all of Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent for him and invited him to visit their assembly, where they installed him as king over all of Israel. Nobody (with the sole exception of the tribe of Judah) would align with David's dynasty.

20וַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־ שָׁ֣ב יָרָבְעָ֔ם וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֗וּ וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל־ הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ עַל־ כָּל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֹ֤א הָיָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י בֵית־ דָּוִ֔ד זוּלָתִ֥י שֵֽׁבֶט־ יְהוּדָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ׃

21As soon as Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he assembled 180,000 elite soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, intending to attack the dynasty of Israel and restore the kingdom to Solomon's son Rehoboam.

21[ויבאו] (וַיָּבֹ֣א) רְחַבְעָם֮ יְרוּשָׁלִַם֒ וַיַּקְהֵל֩ אֶת־ כָּל־ בֵּ֨ית יְהוּדָ֜ה וְאֶת־ שֵׁ֣בֶט בִּנְיָמִ֗ן מֵאָ֨ה וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף בָּח֖וּר עֹשֵׂ֣ה מִלְחָמָ֑ה לְהִלָּחֵם֙ עִם־ בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־ הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה לִרְחַבְעָ֖ם בֶּן־ שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃ פ

22But a message from God came to Shemaiah, a man of God:

22וַיְהִי֙ דְּבַ֣ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶל־ שְׁמַעְיָ֥ה אִישׁ־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹֽר׃

23"Tell Solomon's son Rehoboam, king of Judah, all the dynasty of Judah, Benjamin, and the rest of the people,

23אֱמֹ֗ר אֶל־ רְחַבְעָ֤ם בֶּן־ שְׁלֹמֹה֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶל־ כָּל־ בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ין וְיֶ֥תֶר הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

24This is what the LORD says: "You are not to fight or even approach your fellow Israelis in battle. Every soldier is to return to his own home, because this development comes from me."'" So they listened to what the LORD had to say and returned home, just as the LORD had directed.

24כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה לֹֽא־ תַעֲלוּ֩ וְלֹא־ תִלָּ֨חֲמ֜וּן עִם־ אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם בְּנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שׁ֚וּבוּ אִ֣ישׁ לְבֵית֔וֹ כִּ֧י מֵאִתִּ֛י נִהְיָ֖ה הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־ דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ לָלֶ֖כֶת כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ ס

25Later on, Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. He also expanded from there and built Penuel.

25וַיִּ֨בֶן יָרָבְעָ֧ם אֶת־ שְׁכֶ֛ם בְּהַ֥ר אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב בָּ֑הּ וַיֵּצֵ֣א מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־ פְּנוּאֵֽל׃

26Jeroboam was thinking to himself, "The kingdom is about to return to David's control.

26וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יָרָבְעָ֖ם בְּלִבּ֑וֹ עַתָּ֛ה תָּשׁ֥וּב הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה לְבֵ֥ית דָּוִֽד׃

27If these people keep going up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD there, the hearts of these people will return to their lord, King Rehoboam of Judah. Then they'll kill me and return to Rehoboam, king of Judah!"

27אִֽם־ יַעֲלֶ֣ה ׀ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת זְבָחִ֤ים בְּבֵית־ יְהוָה֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְ֠שָׁב לֵ֣ב הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ אֶל־ אֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם אֶל־ רְחַבְעָ֖ם מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַהֲרָגֻ֕נִי וְשָׁ֖בוּ אֶל־ רְחַבְעָ֥ם מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָֽה׃

28So the king sought some advice and then built two golden calves and announced, "It's too difficult for you to travel to Jerusalem. So here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!"

28וַיִּוָּעַ֣ץ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּ֕עַשׂ שְׁנֵ֖י עֶגְלֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם רַב־ לָכֶם֙ מֵעֲל֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם הִנֵּ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֱל֖וּךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

29He set one of them in Bethel and placed the other one in Dan.

29וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־ הָאֶחָ֖ד בְּבֵֽית־ אֵ֑ל וְאֶת־ הָאֶחָ֖ד נָתַ֥ן בְּדָֽן׃

30Doing this was sinful, because the people traveled as far as Dan to appear before one of their idols.

30וַיְהִ֛י הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לְחַטָּ֑את וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֶחָ֖ד עַד־ דָּֽן׃

31Jeroboam built temples on the high places, and appointed his own priests from the fringe elements of the people who were not descendants of Levi.

31וַיַּ֖עַשׂ אֶת־ בֵּ֣ית בָּמ֑וֹת וַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֹּֽהֲנִים֙ מִקְצ֣וֹת הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־ הָי֖וּ מִבְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי׃

32Jeroboam invented a festival for the fifteenth day of the eighth month similar to the festival that takes place in Judah. He approached the altar that he had set up in Bethel and sacrificed to the calves that he had made, having stationed in Bethel the priests that he had appointed.

32וַיַּ֣עַשׂ יָרָבְעָ֣ם ׀ חָ֡ג בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִ֣י בַּחֲמִשָּֽׁה־ עָשָׂר֩ י֨וֹם ׀ לַחֹ֜דֶשׁ כֶּחָ֣ג ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּיהוּדָ֗ה וַיַּ֙עַל֙ עַל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כֵּ֤ן עָשָׂה֙ בְּבֵֽית־ אֵ֔ל לְזַבֵּ֖חַ לָעֲגָלִ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֑ה וְהֶעֱמִיד֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔ל אֶת־ כֹּהֲנֵ֥י הַבָּמ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃

33Then, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, he went up to burn incense on the altar that he had set up in Bethel, thus beginning the festival that he had made up out of his own heart for the Israelis.

33וַיַּ֜עַל עַֽל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ ׀ אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֣ה בְּבֵֽית־ אֵ֗ל בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־ בָּדָ֣א [מלבד] (מִלִּבּ֑וֹ) וַיַּ֤עַשׂ חָג֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּ֥עַל עַל־ הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לְהַקְטִֽיר׃ פ

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