9. "What do you advise?" he asked them. "How should we respond to these people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the workload your father demanded of us’?"
10. The young people who had grown up with him said to him, "This people said to you, ‘Your father made our workload heavy; lighten it for us!’ Now this is what you should say to them: ‘My baby finger is thicker than my father’s entire waist!
11. So if my father made your workload heavy, I’ll make it even heavier! If my father disciplined you with whips, I’ll do it with scorpions!’"
12. Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had specified when he said, "Come back to me in three days."
13. The king then answered the people harshly. He ignored the elders’ advice
14. and instead followed the young people’s advice. He said, "My father made your workload heavy, but I’ll make it even heavier! My father disciplined you with whips, but I’ll do it with scorpions!"
15. The king didn’t listen to the people because this turn of events came from the Lord so that he might keep the promise he delivered through Ahijah from Shiloh concerning Jeroboam, Nebat’s son.
16. When all Israel saw that the king wouldn’t listen to them, the people answered the king:"Why should we care about David?We have no stake in Jesse’s son!Go back to your homes, Israel!You better look after your own house now, David!"Then the Israelites went back to their homes,
17. and Rehoboam ruled over only the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.
18. When King Rehoboam sent Adoram to them (he was the leader of the work gang), all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam quickly got into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.
19. Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.