1. Rehoboam went to Shechem because all the Israelites had gone there to make him king.
2. Jeroboam son of Nebat was in Egypt. He had gone there to run away from King Solomon. Jeroboam heard that Rehoboam was going to be the new king. So he returned from Egypt.
3. The people sent for Jeroboam. Then he and the people went to Rehoboam. They said to Rehoboam,
4. “Your father forced us to work very hard. Now, make it easier for us. Don’t make us work as hard as your father did. Then we will serve you.”
5. Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people left.
6. There were some elders who had helped Solomon make decisions during his lifetime. So King Rehoboam asked them what he should do. He said, “How do you think I should answer these people?”
7. They answered, “Be kind to these people. Please them and give them a kind answer. If you do, they will serve you always.”