17. But Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites who dwelt in the cities of Judah.
18. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute [taskmaster over the forced labor], and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. So King Rehoboam hastened to get into his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.
19. So Israel has rebelled against the house of David to this day.
20. When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. None followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah only.
21. And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam son of Solomon.
22. But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23. Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the house of Judah and Benjamin and the remnant of the people,
24. Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your brethren, the Israelites. Return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me. So they hearkened to the Lord's word and returned home, according to the Lord's word.
25. Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. He went out from there and built Penuel.
26. Jeroboam said in his heart, Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.
27. If this people goes up to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to sacrifice, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28. So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, It is too much for you to go [all the way] up to Jerusalem. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.