2 Chronicles 10
1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem, —for, to Shechem, had all Israel come, to make him king.
2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon.
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam son of Nebat, who was in Egypt-whither he had fled from the face of Solomon the king—heard of it, then returned Jeroboam out of Egypt.
3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said,
And they sent, and called him, so Jeroboam and all Israel came, —and spake unto Rehoboam, saying:
4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
Thy father, made our yoke oppressive, —now, therefore, lighten thou somewhat the oppressive servitude of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
5 Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed.
And he said unto them, Yet three days, and then return unto me, —and the people departed.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.
Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had been standing before Solomon his father, while he yet lived, saying, —How do, ye, counsel to return answer unto this people?
7 They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
And they spake unto him saying, If thou wilt be kind to this people, and please them, and speak unto them kind words, then will they be thy servants, all the days.
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.
But he declined the counsel of the old men, which they gave him, —and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who were standing before him.
9 He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
And he said unto them, What do, ye, counsel that we should return as answer, unto this people, —who have spoken unto me saying, Lighten thou somewhat the yoke, which thy father put upon us?
10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
Then spake with him the young men who had grown up with him, saying, Thus, shalt thou speak unto the people who have spoken unto thee saying, Thy father, made our yoke heavy, Thou, therefore, lighten somewhat our yoke, —Thus, shalt thou say unto them, My little finger, is thicker than my father’s loins;
11 Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
Now, therefore, my father, laid upon you a heavy yoke, but, I, will add to your yoke, —My father, chastised you with whips, but, I, with scorpions,
12 After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
So Jeroboam and all the people came unto Rehoboam, on the third day, —as the king spake, saying, Return unto me on the third day.
13 And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders
And the king answered them harshly, —and King Rehoboam declined the counsel of the old men;
14 and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
and spake unto them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father, made your yoke heavy, but, I, will add thereunto, —My father, chastised you with whips, But, I, with scorpions.
15 So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
So the king hearkened not unto the people, —for there had come to be a turn from God, to the end Yahweh might establish his word which he had spoken by means of Ahijah the Shilonite, unto Jeroboam, son of Nebat.
16 When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home,
And, 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? Every man, to your homes, O Israel! Now, see to thine own house, O David! And all Israel departed to their homes.
17 but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.
But, as for the sons of Israel who were dwelling in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18 Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem.
Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the tribute, and the sons of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. So, King Rehoboam, hasted to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19 So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David.
Thus Israel rebelled against the house of David—unto this day.
