1. Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
2. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt.
3. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him:
4. ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labour and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.’
5. Rehoboam answered, ‘Go away for three days and then come back to me.’ So the people went away.
6. Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. ‘How would you advise me to answer these people?’ he asked.
7. They replied, ‘If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favourable answer, they will always be your servants.’