2 Chronicles 10
1 All the people of Israel went to Shechem [city] in order to appoint Rehoboam to be their king. So Rehoboam also went there.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem, —for, to Shechem, had all Israel come, to make him king.
2 Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, had fled to Egypt [to escape] from King Solomon. But when he heard [about the people wanting to appoint Rehoboam to be their king], he returned [to Israel] from Egypt
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 the [leaders of the northern tribes] summoned him, and he went with them [to talk] to Rehoboam. They said to Rehoboam,
And they sent, and called him, so Jeroboam and all Israel came, —and spake unto Rehoboam, saying:
4 “Your father [Solomon] forced us to work very hard for him. If you do not force us to work that hard, and if you charge us less taxes than we were paying to him, we will serve you [faithfully].”
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 He replied, “Come back three days from now [and I will give you my answer].” So those leaders [and Jeroboam] left.
And he said unto them, Yet three days, and then return unto me, —and the people departed.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted his older men who had advised his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked them, “What shall I say to answer these men?”
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 do things that will please them, and if you say kind things to them when you answer 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 he ignored what the older men advised him to do. Instead, he consulted the younger men who had grown up with him, who were now his advisors.
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 said to them, “How should I answer the men who are asking me to reduce the [work and taxes] that my father required from them?”
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, “[Those men] have said that your father forced them to work very hard for him, so they want you to reduce the [work and taxes] that your father required from them. But 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 What I mean is that my father required you to [work hard and pay high taxes]. But I will make those loads heavier. [It was as though] my father whipped you, but I will whip you with whips that have pieces of metal in them.’”
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 leaders came to King Rehoboam again, which is what he had told them to do.
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 ignored the advice of the older men and spoke harshly to the Israeli leaders.
And the king answered them harshly, —and King Rehoboam declined the counsel of the old men;
14 [He told them what the younger men had advised.] He said, “My father put heavy burdens [of work and taxes] on you, but I will put heavier burdens on you. [It was as though] he beat you with whips, but I will beat you with whips that have pieces of metal in them!”
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 pay any attention to the Israeli leaders. But this happened in order that what Yahweh had told the prophet Ahijah about Jeroboam would happen.
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 the Israeli leaders realized that the king did not pay any attention to what they said, they shouted, “We do not want anything to do with this descendant of King David! We will not pay attention to what this grandson of Jesse says! You people of Israel, let’s go home! As for this descendant of David, he can rule his own kingdom!” So the Israeli leaders returned to their homes.
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 And [after that, the only Israeli] people whom Rehoboam ruled over were those who lived in the territory of [the tribes of] Judah [and Benjamin].
But, as for the sons of Israel who were dwelling in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18 Then King Rehoboam went with Adoniram [to talk to the Israeli people]. Adoniram was the man who supervised [all the men who were] forced to work [for Rehoboam]. But the Israeli people killed him by throwing stones at him. When that happened, King Rehoboam quickly got in his chariot 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 Ever since that time, [the people of the northern tribes of] Israel have been rebelling against the descendants of [King] David.
Thus Israel rebelled against the house of David—unto this day.
