1. Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all the people of northern Israel had gathered to make him king.
2. When Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had gone to Egypt to escape from King Solomon, heard this news, he returned from Egypt.
3. The people of the northern tribes sent for him, and then they all went together to Rehoboam and said to him,
4. “Your father Solomon treated us harshly and placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter and make life easier for us, we will be your loyal subjects.”
5. “Come back in three days and I will give you my answer,” he replied. So they left.
6. King Rehoboam consulted the older men who had served as his father Solomon's advisers. “What answer do you advise me to give these people?” he asked.