101 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem , for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king . 2 When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon ), Jeroboam returned from Egypt . 3 So they sent and summoned him. When Jeroboam and all Israel came , they spoke to Rehoboam , saying , 4 "Your father made our yoke hard ; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you." 5 He said to them, "Return to me again in three days ." So the people departed . 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served e his father Solomon while he was still alive , saying , "How do you counsel me to answer e this people ?" 7 They spoke to him, saying , "If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever e ." 8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served e him. 9 So he said to them, "What counsel do you give that we may answer e this people , who have spoken to me, saying , 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?" 10 The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying , "Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying , 'Your father made our yoke heavy , but you make it lighter for us.' Thus you shall say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins ! 11 'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke , I will add to your yoke ; my father disciplined you with whips , but I will discipline you with scorpions .' "
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed , saying , "Return to me on the third day ." 13 The king answered them harshly , and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders . 14 He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men , saying , "My father made your yoke heavy , but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips , but I will discipline you with scorpions ." 15 So the king did not listen to the people , for it was a turn of events from God that the Lord might establish His word , which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat . 16 When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king , saying , " What portion do we have in David ? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse . Every man to your tents , O Israel ; Now look after your own house , David ." So all Israel departed to their tents . 17 But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah , Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram , who was over the forced labor , and the sons of Israel stoned him to death . And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem . 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day .
