CHAPTER 10
When Jeroboam
son
of Nebat
heard about this,
he
returned
from Egypt,
where
he had fled
from King
Solomon.
“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.”
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.
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.”
But Rehoboam rejected
the advice
of the elders;
instead, he consulted
the young men
who
had grown up
with him
and served
him.
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’?”
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!
Although
my father
burdened
you with a heavy
yoke,
I
will add
to
your yoke.
Although my father
scourged
you
with whips,
I will scourge you
with scorpions.’”
After three
days,
Jeroboam
and all
the people
returned
to
Rehoboam,
since
the king
had said,
“Come back
to me
on the third
day.”
and spoke
to them
as the young men
had advised,
saying,
“Although my father made your yoke
heavy,
I
will add
to it.
Although my father
scourged
you
with whips,
I will scourge you
with scorpions!”
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.
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,
Then King
Rehoboam
sent out
Hadoram,
who
was in charge
of the labor force,
but the Israelites
stoned
him to death.
And King
Rehoboam
mounted
his chariot
in haste
and escaped
to Jerusalem.