1 Kings 12

1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.

2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since.

3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel came to Rehoboam and said,

4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then return to me.” So the people departed.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

7 They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

9 He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!

11 Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

12 After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”

13 And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders

14 and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

15 So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

16 When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,

17 but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.

18 Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.

19 So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.

20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.

21 And when Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.

22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:

23 “Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people

24 that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must return home, for this is My doing.’” So they listened to the word of the LORD and turned back according to the word of the LORD.

25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel.

26 Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David.

27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

29 One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.

30 And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

31 Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.

32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.

33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had set up in Bethel. So he ordained a feast for the Israelites, offered sacrifices on the altar, and burned incense.

1 ¶ And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard [of it], (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)

3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,

4 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.

5 And he said unto them, Depart yet [for] three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.

6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?

7 And they spake 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.

8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, [and] which stood before him:

9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou [it] lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little [finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins.

11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father [also] chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 ¶ So 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.

17 But [as for] the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who [was] over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, 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.

21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

24 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 from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.

25 ¶ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, [even] unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went [to worship] before the one, [even] unto Dan.

31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that [is] in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, [even] in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

2 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it, while he was yet in Egypt, whither he fled from the presence of king Solomon; and he abode in Egypt.

3 And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying:

4 Thy Father hath made our yoke too hard: now therefore make thou the hard service and the heavy yoke lighter, which he hath put upon us, and we will be subject unto thee.

5 And he said unto them: Go ye till the third day, and come again unto me. And the people went.

6 And king Rehoboam took counsel with the elders that were before Solomon his father when he lived, saying, How counsel ye that we should answer this people?

7 And they said unto him, If thou wilt do service unto this people this day, and wilt do them will, and wilt hear them, and wilt speak good words unto them, they shall be servants unto thee all the days of thy life.

8 But he left the counsel of the elders, which they had given him, and held a council with the young men that were brought up with him, and sat before him.

9 And he said unto them: What counsel ye that we should answer this people, who have said unto me: Lighten the yoke which thy Father hath put upon us.

10 And the young men that were brought up with him said unto him, Thou shalt say unto the people that say unto thee, Thy father hath made our yoke too heavy; make thou it lighter for us; thus shalt thou say, My least finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

11 Now my father hath put a heavy yoke upon you, but I will make it more heavy upon you: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had said, saying: Come again unto me the third day.

13 And the king gave a hard answer unto the people, and forsook the counsel which the elders had given him,

14 And he spake unto them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father hath made your yoke heavy, but I will make it more heavy upon you: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for it was so wrought of the LORD, that he might confirm his word, which he spake by Ahijah of Shiloh unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 And when all Israel saw that the king would not hear them, the people answered the king, and said, What have we part in David, or inheritance in the son of Jesse? Arise, O Israel, unto thy tents. Now therefore, David, behold thou unto thy house. So Israel went to his tents,

17 That Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel only, which dwelt in the cities of Judah.

18 And when king Rehoboam sent Adoram the chamberlain, all Israel cast him down with stones. And king Rehoboam mounted a chariot, and fled to Jerusalem.

19 So Israel fell away from the house of David unto this day.

20 And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, they sent and called him unto all the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. And none followed the house of David, save the tribe of Judah only.

21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand young men of valour, to fight against the house of Israel, and to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

22 And the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying:

23 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah, and to Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying:

24 Thus saith the LORD; Ye shall not go up and fight against your brethren the children of Israel; every man return home: for this thing is done of me. And they hearkened unto the word of the LORD, and returned, and went, as the LORD had said.

25 And Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein, and went out thence, and built Pnuel.

26 And Jeroboam thought in his heart, The kingdom shall now fall again to the house of David,

27 And this people shall go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem: and the heart of this people shall turn unto their lord Rehoboam king of Judah, and shall slay me, and fall again unto Rehoboam king of Judah.

28 And the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them: It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold, there are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt!

29 And he set one at Bethel, and put the other at Dan.

30 And it became a sin: for the people went from before one even unto Dan.

31 He made also a house of high places; and made priests of the least of the people, which were not of the children of Levi.

32 And he made a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, as the plague in Judah, and offered upon the altar. So he did in Bethel, that they sacrificed unto the calves which he had made: and he ordained at Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

33 And he offered upon the altar which he had made at Bethel, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, which he had devised out of his heart, and made feasts for the children of Israel, and offered upon the altar to burn incense.