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10 And Rechav’am went to Shechem, for to Shechem were kol Yisroel come to make him melech.

And it came to pass, when Yarov’am ben Nevat, who was in Mitzrayim, where he fled from the presence of Sh’lomo HaMelech heard it, that Yarov’am returned out of Mitzrayim.

And they sent and called him. So Yarov’am and kol Yisroel came and spoke to Rechav’am, saying,

Avicha made our ol (yoke) kasheh (difficult, harsh); now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous avodas Avicha, and his heavy ol (yoke i.e., taxes, see verse 18) that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

And he said unto them, Shuvu (come back, return) unto me after shloshet yamin. And HaAm departed.

And HaMelech Rechav’am took counsel with the Zekenim that had stood before Sh’lomo Avi while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to HaAm HaZeh?

And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou be kind to HaAm HaZeh, and please them, and speak devarim tovim to them, they will be thy avadim kol hayamim (all the days).

But he forsook the Atzat HaZekenim they gave him, and took counsel with the yeladim that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to HaAm HaZeh, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat haOl that Avicha did put upon us?

10 And the yeladim that grew up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer HaAm that spoke unto thee, saying, Avicha made our ol (yoke) heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of Avi.

11 For whereas Avi put an ol kaved (a heavy yoke) upon you, I will add more to your ol (yoke). Avi chastised you with shotim (whips), but I will chastise you with akrabim (scorpions).

12 So Yarov’am and kol HaAm came to Rechav’am on the Yom HaShelishi, as HaMelech said, Shuva (return) to me on the Yom HaShelishi.

13 And HaMelech answered them kashah (harshly); and HaMelech Rechav’am forsook the Atzat HaZekenim,

14 And answered them after the Atzat HaYeladim, saying, Avi made your ol (yoke) heavy, but I will add thereto; Avi chastised you with shotim (whips), but I will chastise you with akrabim (scorpions).

15 So HaMelech paid heed not unto HaAm, for the nesibah (turn of events, circumstance) was of HaElohim, that Hashem might perform His Devar, which He spoke by the yad Achiyah HaShiloni to Yarov’am ben Nevat. [1Kgs 11:29-39]

16 And when kol Yisroel saw that HaMelech would not pay heed unto them, HaAm answered HaMelech, saying, What chelek have we in Dovid? We have none nachalah in Ben Yishai. Every ish to your ohalim, O Yisroel; and now, Dovid, see to thine own Bais. So kol Yisroel went to their ohalim.

17 But as for the Bnei Yisroel that dwelt in the towns of Yehudah, Rechav’am reigned over them.

18 Then HaMelech Rechav’am sent Hadoram [I Kgs 12:18 "Adoram"] who was over the mas (tax, tribute); and the Bnei Yisroel stoned him with stones, that he died. But HaMelech Rechav’am made speed to get up into his merkavah, to escape to Yerushalayim.

19 And Yisroel rebelled against the Bais Dovid unto Hayom Hazeh.

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam(A)

10 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam(B) son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled(C) from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel(D) went to Rehoboam and said to him: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us,(E) but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders(F) who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer,(G) they will always be your servants.”

But Rehoboam rejected(H) the advice the elders(I) gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God,(J) to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.(K)

16 When all Israel(L) saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David,(M)
    what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!
    Look after your own house, David!”

So all the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram,[a](N) who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 10:18 Hebrew Hadoram, a variant of Adoniram