1 Kings 12:1-20

1 Kings 12:1-20

[1] And Rehoboam  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  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  [5] And he said  yet for three  days,  then come again  to me. And the people  [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  with the young men  that were grown up  with him, and which stood  before  [9] And he said  unto them, What counsel give  ye that we may  answer  this people,  who have spoken  to me, saying,  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,  unto this people  that spake  unto thee, saying,  Thy father  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  [14] And spake  to them after the counsel  of the young men,  saying,  My father  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  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