2 Chronicles 10
1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all the Israelites had gone to Shechem to make him king.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem, —for, to Shechem, had all Israel come, to make him king.
2 Jeroboam, son of Nebat, was still in Egypt when he heard about this. (He had run away to Egypt to escape from King Solomon and was living there.)
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 The Israelite leaders sent for him. Jereboam and all the Israelites went to talk with Rehoboam.
And they sent, and called him, so Jeroboam and all Israel came, —and spake unto Rehoboam, saying:
4 “Your father placed a heavy burden on us,” they told him. “But now if you lighten the load your father imposed and the heavy demands he laid on us, 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 in three days time.” So the people left.
And he said unto them, Yet three days, and then return unto me, —and the people departed.
6 King Rehoboam asked for advice from the elders who had served his father Solomon when he was alive. “How do you advise me to reply to these people about this?” 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 treat these people well, and please them by speaking kindly to them, they will always serve you.”
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 dismissed the advice of the elders. He instead asked advice from the young men who he had grown up with, and who were close to 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 response do you advise that we send back to these people who have told me, ‘Lighten the burden 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 he had grown up with told him, “This is what you have to tell these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our burden heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should answer 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 My father placed a heavy burden on you, and I will make it even heavier. My father punished you with whips; I will punish 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 Three days later, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, because the king had told them, “Come back in three days time.”
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 The king answered them sharply. Dismissing the advice of the elders,
And the king answered them harshly, —and King Rehoboam declined the counsel of the old men;
14 he replied using the advice of the young men. He said, “My father placed a heavy burden on you, and I will make it even heavier. My father punished you with whips; I will punish 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 The king did not listen to what the people said, for this change in circumstances was from God, to fulfill what Lord had told Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.
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 the Israelites saw that the king wasn't listening to them, they told the king: “What share do we have in David, and what part do we have in the son of Jesse? Go home, Israel! You're on your own, house of 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 However, Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in 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 forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam quickly jumped into his chariot and raced back 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 As a result, Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
Thus Israel rebelled against the house of David—unto this day.
