1. Rehoboam went to Shechem because all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.
2. Jer o boam (Nebat’s son) was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. When he heard ⌊about Rehoboam⌋, he returned from Egypt.
3. ⌊Israel⌋ sent for Jer o boam and invited him back. Jer o boam and the entire assembly of Israel went to speak to Rehoboam. They said,
4. “Your father made us carry a heavy burden. Reduce the hard work and lighten the heavy burden he put on us, and we will serve you.”
5. He said to them, “Leave and come back the day after tomorrow.” So the people left.
6. King Rehoboam sought advice from the older leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked, “What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?”
7. They told him, “If you will serve these people today, humble yourself, and speak gently, then they will always be your servants.”
8. But he ignored the advice the older leaders gave him. He sought advice from the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
9. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we respond to these people who are asking me to lighten the burden my father put on them?”
10. The young men who had grown up with him answered, “This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is heavier than my father’s whole body.
11. If my father put a heavy burden on you, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.’ ”
12. So Jer o boam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them.
13. The king answered the people harshly. He ignored the advice the older leaders gave him.
14. He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, “If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions.”
15. The king refused to listen to the people because the Lord was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jer o boam (Nebat’s son) through Ahijah from Shiloh.
16. When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king,“What share do we have in David’s kingdom?We won’t receive an inheritance from Jesse’s son.To your own tents, Israel!Now look after your own house, David!”So Israel went home to their own tents.