2 Chronicles 10

1Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard it—for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from before King Solomon—he returned from Egypt.

3They sent and called for him, and Jeroboam came with all Israel and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,

4Your father made our yoke harsh; now lighten the harsh service of your father and his heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you.

5He said to them, "Return to me again after three days." And the people departed.

6King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had stood before Solomon his father while he was still alive, saying, "What advice do you give for replying to this people?"

7They spoke to him, saying, "If you show kindness to these people, win their favor, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever."

8He forsook the counsel of the elders who had advised him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.

9He said to them, "What do you advise, that we may return a word to this people who spoke to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"

10The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "This is what you say to the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father imposed a heavy yoke on us, but you, lighten it for us'; this is what you say to them: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.'"

11Now my father loaded a heavy yoke on you, and I will increase your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.

12Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had said, "Return to me on the third day."

13The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam abandoned the elders' counsel.

14He answered them following the young men's counsel, saying, "My father burdened your yoke, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."

15So the king did not listen to the people, for the turn of events was from God in order that Yahweh might establish his word, which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

16All Israel, the people, answered the king because he did not listen to them: "What share do we have in David? No inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to your tents, Israel. Now see your house, David." Then all Israel went to their tents.

17Rehoboam reigned over the sons of Israel living in the cities of Judah.

18King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the forced labor, but the children of Israel stoned him with a stone until he died. Then King Rehoboam gathered his resolve to mount his chariot and flee to Jerusalem.

19Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.