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¹ AND Rehoboam went to Shechem; for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.² And it came to pass, when Jeroboam and all Israel heard it,³ They came and said to Rehoboam the son of Solomon,⁴ Your father made our yoke grievous; now therefore lighten somewhat the harsh rule of your father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve you.⁵ And he said to them, Go away and come again to me after three days. And the people departed.⁶ And King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had served Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, What counsel do you give me to return an answer to this people?⁷ And they spoke to him, saying, If you will answer kindly to this people, and please them and speak good words to them, they will be your servants for ever.⁸ But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who were brought up with him and stood before him.⁹ And he said to them, What advice do you give me that we may return answer to this people who have spoken to me, saying, Lighten the yoke which your father did put upon us, and we will serve you?¹⁰ And the young men who were brought up with him in the streets spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you say to the people who have spoken to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it somewhat lighter for us; thus shall you say to them, My little finger is thicker than my fathers thumb.¹¹ And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹² So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had bade them, saying, Come again to me on the third day.¹³ And the king answered them with harsh words; and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,¹⁴ And spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people; for the decree had been made by God, that the LORD might perform the word of Ahijah the prophet the Shilonite concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat.¹⁶ And when all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying. We have no portion in David, nor an inheritance in the son of Jesse; return every man to his house, O Israel; and now, David, see to your own house. So Israel went to their houses.¹⁷ But as for the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.¹⁸ Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But King Rehoboam hastily got up into his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.¹⁹ So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.