1. And Roboam went to Sichem: for thither all Israel were assembled, to make him king.
2. And when Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who was in Egypt, (for he was fled thither from Solomon,) heard it, forthwith he returned.
3. And they sent for him, and he came with all Israel, and they spoke to Roboam, saying:
4. Thy father oppressed us with a most grievous yoke, do thou govern us with a lighter hand than thy father, who laid upon us a heavy servitude, and ease some thing of the burden, that we may serve thee.
5. And he said to them: Come to me again after three days. And when the people were gone,
6. He took counsel with the ancients, who had stood before his father Solomon, while he yet lived, saying: What counsel give you to me, that I may answer the people?
7. And they said to him: If thou please this people, and soothe them with kind words, they will be thy servants for ever.
8. But he forsook the counsel of the ancients, end began to treat with the young men, that had been brought up with him, and were in his train.
9. And he said to them: What seemeth good to you? or what shall I answer this people, who have said to me: Ease the yoke which thy father laid upon us?