1
And Rehoboamwent 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 kingSolomon, and Jeroboamdwelt in Egypt;)
3
That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israelcame, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
4
Thy fathermade our yokegrievous: now therefore make thou the grievousservice of thy father, and his heavyyoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
5
And he said unto them, Depart yet for threedays, then come again to me. And the peopledeparted.
6
And kingRehoboamconsulted with the old men, that stoodbeforeSolomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I mayanswer this people?
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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 speakgoodwords 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 stoodbefore him:
9
And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we mayanswer 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 fathermade our yokeheavy, 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 heavyyoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
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So Jeroboam and all the peoplecame to Rehoboam the thirdday, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the thirdday.
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And the kinganswered the peopleroughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
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And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My fathermade your yokeheavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15
Wherefore the kinghearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORDspakebyAhijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16So when all Israelsaw that the kinghearkened not unto them, the peopleanswered 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. SoIsraeldeparted unto their tents.
17
But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboamreigned over them.
18
Then kingRehoboamsentAdoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israelstoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore kingRehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19
So Israelrebelled against the house of David unto this day.
20
And it came to pass, when all Israelheard 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 fourscorethousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdomagain to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
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But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23Speak 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,
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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 thingis from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
25
Then JeroboambuiltShechem in mountEphraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and builtPenuel.
26
And Jeroboamsaid in his heart, Now shall the kingdomreturn to the house of David:
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If this people go up to dosacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboamking of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboamking of Judah.
28
Whereupon the king took counsel, and madetwocalves 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.
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And he set the one in Bethel, and the otherput he in Dan.
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And this thing became a sin: for the peoplewent to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
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And he made an house of high places, and madepriests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
32
And Jeroboamordained a feast in the eighthmonth, on the fifteenthday 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 fifteenthday of the eighthmonth, 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.