10:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem had all Israel
come to make him king.
10:2 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 from
Egypt.
10:3 And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel
came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
10:4 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.
10:5 And he said to them, Come again to me after three days. And
the people departed.
10:6 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?
10:7 And they spoke to him, saying, If thou wilt be kind to this
people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they
will be thy servants for ever.
10:8 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.
10:9 And he said to them, What advice give ye, that we may
return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying,
Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father put upon us?
10:10 And the young men that were brought up with him, spoke to
him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spoke to
thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou
[it] somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say to them, My
little [finger] shall be thicker than my father's loins.
10:11 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.
10:12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the
third day, as the king directed, saying, Come again to me on
the third day.
10:13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam
forsook the counsel of the old men,
10:14 And answered them after the advice of the young men,
saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it;
my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you]
with scorpions.
10:15 So the king hearkened not to the people: for the cause was
of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spoke by
the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
10:16 And when all Israel [saw] that the king would not hearken
to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion
have we in David? and [we have] no inheritance in the son of
Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: [and] now, David, see
to thy own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
10:17 But [as for] the children of Israel that dwelt in the
cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
10:18 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 into his
chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
10:19 And Israel rebelled against the house of David to this
day.
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