| 1 And Rehoboam went 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
heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence
of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt, 3 and they sent and called
him), that Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spake unto
Rehoboam, saying, 4 Thy father made 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 thee. 5 And he said unto them, Depart yet
for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
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? 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 him, and
took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood
before him. 9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may
return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke
that 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 say unto this
people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make
thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger is
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 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 bade, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king
answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which
they had given him, 14 and spake to them after the counsel 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 hearkened not unto the people; for it was a thing brought
about of Jehovah, that he might establish his word, which Jehovah spake by
Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16 And 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 departed unto their tents. 17 But as for the
children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over
them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to
taskwork; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And 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 returned, 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, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen
men, that were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the
kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came
unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, 23 Speak unto Rehoboam the son of
Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to
the rest of the people, saying, 24 Thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not go up,
nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to
his house; for this thing is of me. So they hearkened unto the word of
Jehovah, and returned and went their way, according to the word of
Jehovah.
25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelt
therein; and he went out from thence, and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam
said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David:
27 if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Jehovah at
Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people turn again unto their lord,
even unto Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to
Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two
calves of gold; and he 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. 29 And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin; for the people went to worship
before the one, even unto Dan. 31 And he made houses of high places, and
made priests from among all the people, that were not of the sons of Levi.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day
of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he went up unto the
altar; so did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made:
and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places that he had made.
33 And he went up unto the altar which he had made in Beth-el on the
fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of
his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went
up unto the altar, to burn incense.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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