< 2 Chronicles 10 >

1 And Rehobo'am went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
And Roboam came to Sychem: for all Israel came to Sychem to make him king.
2 And it came to pass, when Jerobo'am the son of Nebat heard of it, for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, that Jerobo'am returned out of Egypt.
And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nabat heard [it], (now he was in Egypt, forasmuch as he had fled there from the face of king Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt, ) that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
3 And they sent and called him: and so came Jerobo'am with all Israel and spoke to Rehobo'am, saying,
And they sent and called him: and Jeroboam and all the congregation came to Roboam, saying,
4 Thy father made our yoke hard; but now do thou make lighter the hard service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
Your father made our yoke grievous: now then abate [somewhat] of your father's grievous rule, and of his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve you.
5 And he said unto them, After but three days, then return unto me. And the people went away.
And he said to them, Go away for three days, and [then] come to me. So the people departed.
6 Then consulted king Rehobo'am with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, How do you advise that I should return an answer to this people?
And king Roboam assembled the elders that stood before his father Solomon in his life-time, saying, How do you counsel [me] to return an answer to this people?
7 And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou wilt be kind to this people, and please them, and speak to them good words: then will they be servants unto thee for all times.
And they spoke to him, saying, If you would this day befriend this people, and be kind to them, and speak to them good words, then will they be your servants for ever.
8 But he forsook the counsel which the old men had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and who stood before him.
But he forsook the advice of the old men, who took counsel with him, and he took counsel with the young men who had been brought up with him, who stood before him.
9 And he said unto them, How do you counsel how we should give an answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make lighter the yoke which thy father did put upon us?
And he said to them, What do you advise that I should answer this people, who spoke to me, saying, Ease [somewhat] of the yoke which your father laid upon us?
10 Then spoke with him the young men that were grown up with him, saying, Thus must thou say unto the people that have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but do thou make it lighter unto us: thus must thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
And the young men that had been brought up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you speak to the people that spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, and do you lighten [somewhat of it] from us; thus shall you say, My little finger [shall be] thicker than my father's loins.
11 And now [if] my father hath burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: [if] my father hath chastised you with whips, then will I [do it] with scorpion-thorns.
And whereas my father chastised you with a heavy yoke, I will also add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, and I will chastise you with scorpions.
12 When now Jerobo'am and all the people came to Rehobo'am on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, Return to me on the third day:
And Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, Return to me on the third day.
13 The king answered them harshly; and king Rehobo'am forsook the counsel of the old men;
And the king answered harshly; and king Roboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
14 And he spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add thereto; my father chastised you with whips, but I will [do it] with scorpion-thorns.
and spoke to them according to the counsel 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.
15 And the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was so brought about from God, in order that the Lord might fulfill his word, which he had spoken by means of Achiyahu the Shilonite unto Jerobo'am the son of Nebat.
And the king listened not to the people, for there was a change [of their minds] from God, saying, The Lord has confirmed his word, which he spoke by the hand of Achia the Selonite concerning Jeroboam the son of Nabat, and [concerning] all Israel;
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? nor have we an inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel; now, see to thy own house, David. So did all Israel go to their tents.
for the king did not listen to them. And the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David, or inheritance in the son of Jessae? to your tents, O Israel: now see to your own house, David. So all Israel went to their tents.
17 But as for the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah, over them did Rehobo'am reign.
But the men of Israel, even those who lived in the cities of Juda, [remained] and made Roboam king over them.
18 Then sent king Rehobo'am Hadoram who was over the tribute; but the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehobo'am made speed with his might to get upon his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
And king Roboam sent to them Adoniram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. And king Roboam hasted to mount [his] chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19 So did Israel rebel against the house of David unto this day.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David until this day.

< 2 Chronicles 10 >