1. Then Rehoboam went to Shechem. For in that place, all of Israel had gathered to appoint him as king.
2. Yet truly, Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, while he was still in Egypt as a fugitive from the face of king Solomon, hearing of his death, returned from Egypt.
3. And they sent and called him. Therefore, Jeroboam went, with the entire multitude of Israel, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying:
4. "Your father imposed a very harsh yoke upon us. And so, you should now take away a little from the very harsh rule of your father and from his very grievous yoke, which he imposed upon us, and we will serve you."
5. And he said to them, "Go away, until the third day, and then return to me." And when the people had gone away,
6. king Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had assisted before his father Solomon while he was still living. And he said, "What counsel do you give to me, so that I may respond to this people?"
7. They said to him, "If today you will obey and serve this people, and yield to their petition, and if you will speak lenient words to them, they will be your servants for all days."
8. But he abandoned the counsel of the old men, which they had given to him. And he consulted the young men who had been raised with him, and who were assisting him.
9. And he said to them: "What counsel do you give to me, so that I may respond to this people, who have said to me: 'Make light the yoke that your father imposed on us?' "
10. And the young men who had been raised with him, said: "You shall speak in this way to this people, who have spoken to you, saying: 'Your father weighed down our yoke. You should relieve us.' You shall say this to them: 'My little finger is thicker than the back of my father.
11. And now, my father placed a heavy yoke upon you, but I will add more upon your yoke. My father cut you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.' "
12. Therefore, Jeroboam and all the people went to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had spoken, saying, "Return to me on the third day."
13. And the king responded to the people harshly, leaving behind the counsel of the elders that they had given to him.
14. And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying: "My father weighed down your yoke, but I will add more to your yoke. My father cut you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions."
15. And the king did not acquiesce to the people. For the Lord had turned him away, so that he might raise up his word, which he had spoken by the hand of Ahijah, the Shilonite, to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat.
16. And so the people, seeing that the king had not been willing to listen to them, responded to him, saying: "What part do we have in David? Or what inheritance do we have in the son of Jesse? Go to your own tents, O Israel. Now David, see to your own house." And Israel went away to their own tents.
17. But over all the sons of Israel who were living in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned.
18. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute. And all of Israel stoned him, and he died. Therefore, king Rehoboam hurrying, climbed into the chariot, and fled to Jerusalem.
19. And Israel drew away from the house of David, even to the present day.