1
Rechav’am went to Shekhem; for all Yisra’el had come to Shekhem to make him king.
2
It happened, when Yarov’am the son of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Mitzrayim, where he had fled from the presence of king Shəlomah), that Yarov’am returned out of Mitzrayim.
3
They sent and called him; and Yarov’am and all Yisra’el came, and they spoke to Rechav’am, saying,
4
"Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you."
5
He said to them, "Come again to me after three days." The people departed.
6
King Rechav’am took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Shəlomah his father while he yet lived, saying, "What counsel do you give me to return answer to this people?"
7
They spoke to him, saying, "If you are kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."
8
But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
9
He said to them, "What counsel do you give, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, 'Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?'"
10
The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall tell the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter on us;' thus you shall say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.
11
Now whereas my father burdened 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 Yarov’am and all the people came to Rechav’am the third day, as the king asked, saying, "Come to me again the third day."
13
The king answered them roughly; and king Rechav’am forsook the counsel of the old men,
14
and spoke to them after 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
So the king did not listen to the people; for it was brought about of Elohim, that the Yahuah might establish his word, which he spoke by Achiyah the Shilonite to Yarov’am the son of Nebat.
16
When all Yisra’el saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, "What portion have we in Daviyd? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Yishai! Every man to your tents, Yisra’el! Now see to your own house, Daviyd." So all Yisra’el departed to their tents.
17
But as for the children of Yisra’el who lived in the cities of Yehudah, Rechav’am reigned over them.
18
Then king Rechav’am sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and the children of Yisra’el stoned him to death with stones. King Rechav’am made speed to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Yerushalayim.
19
So Yisra’el rebelled against the house of Daviyd to this day.