اَلْمُلُوكِ ٱلْأَوَّلُ 12

١ 1 وَذَهَبَ رَحُبْعَامُ إِلَى شَكِيمَ، لِأَنَّهُ جَاءَ إِلَى شَكِيمَ جَمِيعُ إِسْرَائِيلَ لِيُمَلِّكُوهُ.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem, —for, to Shechem, had all Israel come to make him king.

٢ 2 وَلَمَّا سَمِعَ يَرُبْعَامُ بْنُ نَبَاطَ وَهُوَ بَعْدُ فِي مِصْرَ، لِأَنَّهُ هَرَبَ مِنْ وَجْهِ سُلَيْمَانَ ٱلْمَلِكِ، وَأَقَامَ يَرُبْعَامُ فِي مِصْرَ،

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it—he being yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the face of Solomon the king, that Jeroboam returned from Egypt;

٣ 3 وَأَرْسَلُوا فَدَعَوْهُ. أَتَى يَرُبْعَامُ وَكُلُّ جَمَاعَةِ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَلَّمُوا رَحُبْعَامَ قَائِلِينَ:

yes they sent, and called him, and Jeroboam and all the convocation of Israel came, —and spake unto Rehoboam, saying:

٤ 4 «إِنَّ أَبَاكَ قَسَّى نِيرَنَا، وَأَمَّا أَنْتَ فَخَفِّفِ ٱلْآنَ مِنْ عُبُودِيَّةِ أَبِيكَ ٱلْقَاسِيَةِ، وَمِنْ نِيرِهِ ٱلثَّقِيلِ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَهُ عَلَيْنَا، فَنَخْدِمَكَ».

Thy father, made our yoke, grievous, —now, therefore do, thou, lighten the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, that we may serve thee.

٥ 5 فَقَالَ لَهُمُ: «ٱذْهَبُوا إِلَى ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ أَيْضًا ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعُوا إِلَيَّ». فَذَهَبَ ٱلشَّعْبُ.

And he said unto them—Depart ye for yet three days, and then come again unto me. And the people departed.

٦ 6 فَٱسْتَشَارَ ٱلْمَلِكُ رَحُبْعَامُ ٱلشُّيُوخَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا يَقِفُونَ أَمَامَ سُلَيْمَانَ أَبِيهِ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ، قَائِلًا: «كَيْفَ تُشِيرُونَ أَنْ أَرُدَّ جَوَابًا إِلَى هَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ؟»

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who used to stand before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, —How do, ye, advise, that I answer this people?

٧ 7 فَكَلَّمُوهُ قَائِلِينَ: «إِنْ صِرْتَ ٱلْيَوْمَ عَبْدًا لِهَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ وَخَدَمْتَهُمْ وَأَجَبْتَهُمْ وَكَلَّمْتَهُمْ كَلَامًا حَسَنًا، يَكُونُونَ لَكَ عَبِيدًا كُلَّ ٱلْأَيَّامِ».

And they spake unto him, saying—If, to-day, thou wilt be servant unto this people, and wilt serve them, —and answer them kindly, and speak unto them good words, then will they be, thy, servants, always.

٨ 8 فَتَرَكَ مَشُورَةَ ٱلشُّيُوخِ ٱلَّتِي أَشَارُوا بِهَا عَلَيْهِ وَٱسْتَشَارَ ٱلْأَحْدَاثَ ٱلَّذِينَ نَشَأُوا مَعَهُ وَوَقَفُوا أَمَامَهُ،

But he declined the counsel of the elders which they gave him, and consulted with the young men, who had grown up with him, who were standing before himself;

٩ 9 وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «بِمَاذَا تُشِيرُونَ أَنْتُمْ فَنَرُدَّ جَوَابًا عَلَى هَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَلَّمُونِي قَائِلِينَ: خَفِّفْ مِنَ ٱلنِّيرِ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَهُ عَلَيْنَا أَبُوكَ».

and said unto them—What counsel do, ye, give as to how we shall answer this people who have spoken unto me, saying—Make a lightening of the yoke which thy father put upon us?

١٠ 10 فَكَلَّمَهُ ٱلْأَحْدَاثُ ٱلَّذِينَ نَشَأُوا مَعَهُ قَائِلِينَ: «هَكَذَا تَقُولُ لِهَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَلَّمُوكَ قَائِلِينَ: إِنَّ أَبَاكَ ثَقَّلَ نِيرَنَا وَأَمَّا أَنْتَ فَخَفِّفْ مِنْ نِيرِنَا، هَكَذَا تَقُولُ لَهُمْ: إِنَّ خِنْصَرِي أَغْلَظُ مِنْ مَتْنَيْ أَبِي.

Then spake unto him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou say to this people that have spoken unto thee, saying—Thy father, made our yoke heavy, thou, therefore lighten it upon us, Thus, shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger, is thicker than my father’s loins;

١١ 11 وَٱلْآنَ أَبِي حَمَّلَكُمْ نِيرًا ثَقِيلًا وَأَنَا أَزِيدُ عَلَى نِيرِكُمْ. أَبِي أَدَّبَكُمْ بِٱلسِّيَاطِ وَأَنَا أُؤَدِّبُكُمْ بِٱلْعَقَارِبِ».

Now, therefore, whereas, my father, laid upon you a heavy yoke, I, will add to your yoke, —My father, did chastise you with whips, but, I, will chastise you with scorpions.

١٢ 12 فَجَاءَ يَرُبْعَامُ وَجَمِيعُ ٱلشَّعْبِ إِلَى رَحُبْعَامَ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلثَّالِثِ كَمَا تَكَلَّمَ ٱلْمَلِكُ قَائِلًا: «ٱرْجِعُوا إِلَيَّ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلثَّالِثِ».

So Jeroboam and all the people came in unto Rehoboam, on the third day, —as the king had bidden, saying—Come again unto me, on the third day.

١٣ 13 فَأَجَابَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلشَّعْبَ بِقَسَاوَةٍ، وَتَرَكَ مَشُورَةَ ٱلشُّيُوخِ ٱلَّتِي أَشَارُوا بِهَا عَلَيْهِ،

And the king answered the people, harshly, —and declined the counsel of the elders wherewith they had counselled him;

١٤ 14 وَكَلَّمَهُمْ حَسَبَ مَشُورَةِ ٱلْأَحْدَاثِ قَائِلًا: «أَبِي ثَقَّلَ نِيرَكُمْ وَأَنَا أَزِيدُ عَلَى نِيرِكُمْ. أَبِي أَدَّبَكُمْ بِٱلسِّيَاطِ وَأَنَا أُؤَدِّبُكُمْ بِٱلْعَقَارِبِ».

and spake unto them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father, made your yoke heavy, but, I, will add unto your yoke, —My father, chastised you, with whips, but, I, will chastise you, with scorpions.

١٥ 15 وَلَمْ يَسْمَعِ ٱلْمَلِكُ لِلشَّعْبِ، لِأَنَّ ٱلسَّبَبَ كَانَ مِنْ قِبَلِ ٱلرَّبِّ لِيُقِيمَ كَلَامَهُ ٱلَّذِي تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ ٱلرَّبُّ عَنْ يَدِ أَخِيَّا ٱلشِّيلُونِيِّ إِلَى يَرُبْعَامَ بْنِ نَبَاطَ.

Thus the king hearkened not unto the people, —for there had come about a turn from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite, unto Jeroboam, son of Nebat.

١٦ 16 فَلَمَّا رَأَى كُلُّ إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّ ٱلْمَلِكَ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ لَهُمْ، رَدَّ ٱلشَّعْبُ جَوَابًا عَلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ قَائِلِينَ: «أَيُّ قِسْمٍ لَنَا فِي دَاوُدَ؟ وَلَا نَصِيبَ لَنَا فِي ٱبْنِ يَسَّى! إِلَى خِيَامِكَ يَا إِسْرَائِيلُ. ٱلْآنَ ٱنْظُرْ إِلَى بَيْتِكَ يَادَاوُدُ». وَذَهَبَ إِسْرَائِيلُ إِلَى خِيَامِهِمْ.

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying—What portion have, we, in, David. Or inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your homes O Israel! Now, see to thine own house, O David! And Israel departed to their homes.

١٧ 17 وَأَمَّا بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ ٱلسَّاكِنُونَ فِي مُدُنِ يَهُوذَا فَمَلَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ رَحُبْعَامُ.

But, as for the sons of Israel who were dwelling in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

١٨ 18 ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ ٱلْمَلِكُ رَحُبْعَامُ أَدُورَامَ ٱلَّذِي عَلَى ٱلتَّسْخِيرِ فَرَجَمَهُ جَمِيعُ إِسْرَائِيلَ بِٱلْحِجَارَةِ فَمَاتَ. فَبَادَرَ ٱلْمَلِكُ رَحُبْعَامُ وَصَعِدَ إِلَى ٱلْمَرْكَبَةِ لِيَهْرُبَ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ.

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram who was over the tribute, but all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died, —King Rehoboam, therefore, hastily mounted his chariot, to flee unto Jerusalem.

١٩ 19 فَعَصَى إِسْرَائِيلُ عَلَى بَيْتِ دَاوُدَ إِلَى هَذَا ٱلْيَوْمِ.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David, —unto this day.

٢٠ 20 وَلَمَّا سَمِعَ جَمِيعُ إِسْرَائِيلَ بِأَنَّ يَرُبْعَامَ قَدْ رَجَعَ، أَرْسَلُوا فَدَعَوْهُ إِلَى ٱلْجَمَاعَةِ، وَمَلَّكُوهُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ إِسْرَائِيلَ. لَمْ يَتْبَعْ بَيْتَ دَاوُدَ إِلَّا سِبْطُ يَهُوذَا وَحْدَهُ.

And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him into the assembly, and made him king over all Israel, —there were none that followed the house of David, saving the tribe of Judah only.

٢١ 21 وَلَمَّا جَاءَ رَحُبْعَامُ إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ جَمَعَ كُلَّ بَيْتِ يَهُوذَا وَسِبْطَ بَنْيَامِينَ، مِئَةً وَثَمَانِينَ أَلْفَ مُخْتَارٍ مُحَارِبٍ، لِيُحَارِبُوا بَيْتَ إِسْرَائِيلَ وَيَرُدُّوا ٱلْمَمْلَكَةَ لَرَحُبْعَامَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ.

And, when Rehoboam entered Jerusalem, he called together all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, able to make war, —to fight against the house of Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam, son of Solomon.

٢٢ 22 وَكَانَ كَلَامُ ٱللهِ إِلَى شِمَعْيَا رَجُلِ ٱللهِ قَائِلًا:

Then came the word of God unto Shemaiah, the man of God, saying:

٢٣ 23 «كَلِّمْ رَحُبْعَامَ بْنَ سُلَيْمَانَ مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا وَكُلَّ بَيْتِ يَهُوذَا وَبَنْيَامِينَ وَبَقِيَّةِ ٱلشَّعْبِ قَائِلًا:

Speak unto Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah, and Benjamin, —and the remnant of the people, saying:

٢٤ 24 هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: لَا تَصْعَدُوا وَلَا تُحَارِبُوا إِخْوَتَكُمْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ. ٱرْجِعُوا كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ، لِأَنَّ مِنْ عِنْدِي هَذَا ٱلْأَمْرَ». فَسَمِعُوا لِكَلَامِ ٱلرَّبِّ وَرَجَعُوا لِيَنْطَلِقُوا حَسَبَ قَوْلِ ٱلرَّبِّ.

Thus, saith Yahweh—Ye shall not go up, neither shall ye fight with your brethren the sons of Israel, —return ye every man to his own house, for, from me, hath this thing been brought about. So they hearkened unto the word of Yahweh, and turned back to depart, according to the word of Yahweh.

٢٥ 25 وَبَنَى يَرُبْعَامُ شَكِيمَ فِي جَبَلِ أَفْرَايِمَ وَسَكَنَ بِهَا. ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنْ هُنَاكَ وَبَنَى فَنُوئِيلَ.

Then Jeroboam built Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein, —and went forth from thence, and built Penuel.

٢٦ 26 وَقَالَ يَرُبْعَامُ فِي قَلْبِهِ: «ٱلْآنَ تَرْجِعُ ٱلْمَمْلَكَةُ إِلَى بَيْتِ دَاوُدَ.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, —Now, shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

٢٧ 27 إِنْ صَعِدَ هَذَا ٱلشَّعْبُ لِيُقَرِّبُوا ذَبَائِحَ فِي بَيْتِ ٱلرَّبِّ فِي أُورُشَلِيمَ، يَرْجِعْ قَلْبُ هَذَا ٱلشَّعْبِ إِلَى سَيِّدِهِمْ، إِلَى رَحُبْعَامَ مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا وَيَقْتُلُونِي، وَيَرْجِعُوا إِلَى رَحُبْعَامَ مَلِكِ يَهُوذَا».

If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh, in Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people return unto their lord, unto Rehoboam, king of Judah, —and they will slay me, and return unto Rehoboam, king of Judah.

٢٨ 28 فَٱسْتَشَارَ ٱلْمَلِكُ وَعَمِلَ عِجْلَيْ ذَهَبٍ، وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «كَثِيرٌ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تَصْعَدُوا إِلَى أُورُشَلِيمَ. هُوَذَا آلِهَتُكَ يَاإِسْرَائِيلُ ٱلَّذِينَ أَصْعَدُوكَ مِنْ أَرْضِ مِصْرَ».

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, —and said unto them—It is, too much for you, to go up to Jerusalem, Lo! thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt;

٢٩ 29 وَوَضَعَ وَاحِدًا فِي بَيْتِ إِيلَ، وَجَعَلَ ٱلْآخَرَ فِي دَانَ.

And he set the one in Bethel, —and, the other, put he in Dan.

٣٠ 30 وَكَانَ هَذَا ٱلْأَمْرُ خَطِيَّةً. وَكَانَ ٱلشَّعْبُ يَذْهَبُونَ إِلَى أَمَامِ أَحَدِهِمَا حَتَّى إِلَى دَانَ.

And this thing became a sin, —and the people went before the one, as far as Dan.

٣١ 31 وَبَنَى بَيْتَ ٱلْمُرْتَفَعَاتِ، وَصَيَّرَ كَهَنَةً مِنْ أَطْرَافِ ٱلشَّعْبِ لَمْ يَكُونُوا مِنْ بَنِي لَاوِي.

And he made a house of high-places, —and made priests from the whole compass of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.

٣٢ 32 وَعَمِلَ يَرُبْعَامُ عِيدًا فِي ٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلثَّامِنِ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْخَامِسَ عَشَرَ مِنَ ٱلشَّهْرِ، كَٱلْعِيدِ ٱلَّذِي فِي يَهُوذَا، وَأَصْعَدَ عَلَى ٱلْمَذْبَحِ. هَكَذَا فَعَلَ فِي بَيْتِ إِيلَ بِذَبْحِهِ لِلْعِجْلَيْنِ ٱللَّذَيْنِ عَمِلَهُمَا. وَأَوْقَفَ فِي بَيْتِ إِيلَ كَهَنَةَ ٱلْمُرْتَفَعَاتِ ٱلَّتِي عَمِلَهَا.

And Jeroboam made a festival in the eight month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival which [was held] in Judah, and offered up on the altar, likewise, did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made, —and he kept in attendance in Bethel, the priests of the high-places which he had made.

٣٣ 33 وَأَصْعَدَ عَلَى ٱلْمَذْبَحِ ٱلَّذِي عَمِلَ فِي بَيْتِ إِيلَ فِي ٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْخَامِسَ عَشَرَ مِنَ ٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلثَّامِنِ، فِي ٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلَّذِي ٱبْتَدَعَهُ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ، فَعَمِلَ عِيدًا لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَصَعِدَ عَلَى ٱلْمَذْبَحِ لِيُوقِدَ.

And he offered up on the altar which he had made in Bethel, on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month which he had devised out of his own heart, —thus made he a festival for the sons of Israel, and offered up on the altar, to make a perfume.