| 1 | And Rehoboam goeth to Shechem, for [to] Shechem have all Israel come to cause him to reign. |
| 2 | And it cometh to pass, at Jeroboam son of Nebat`s -- who [is] in Egypt because he hath fled from the face of Solomon the king -- hearing, that Jeroboam turneth back out of Egypt; |
| 3 | and they send and call for him, and Jeroboam cometh in, and all Israel, and speak unto Rehoboam, saying, |
| 4 | `Thy father made our yoke sharp, and now, make light [somewhat] of the sharp service of thy father, and of his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we serve thee.` |
| 5 | And he saith unto them, `Yet three days -- then return ye unto me;` and the people go. |
| 6 | And king Rehoboam consulteth with the aged men who have been standing before Solomon his father in his being alive, saying, `How are ye counselling to answer this people?` |
| 7 | And they speak unto him, saying, `If thou dost become good to this people, and hast been pleased with them, and spoken unto them good words, then they have been to thee servants all the days.` |
| 8 | And he forsaketh the counsel of the aged men that they counselled him, and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, those standing before him, |
| 9 | and he saith unto them, `What are ye counselling, and we answer this people that have spoken unto me, saying, Make light [somewhat] of the yoke that thy father put upon us?` |
| 10 | And the lads who have grown up with him, speak with him, saying, `Thus dost thou say to the people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make light [somewhat] of our yoke; thus dost thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father; |
| 11 | and now, my father laid on you a heavy yoke, and I -- I add unto your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- with scorpions.` |
| 12 | And Jeroboam cometh in, and all the people, unto Rehoboam on the third day, as the king spake, saying, `Return unto me on the third day.` |
| 13 | And the king answereth them sharply, and king Rehoboam forsaketh the counsel of the aged men, |
| 14 | and speaketh unto them according to the counsel of the lads, saying, `My father made your yoke heavy, and I -- I add unto it; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- with scorpions.` |
| 15 | And the king hath not hearkened unto the people, for the revolution hath been from God, for the sake of Jehovah`s establishing His word that He spake by the hand of Abijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam son of Nebat. |
| 16 | And all Israel have seen that the king hath not hearkened to them, and the people send back [to] the king, saying, `What portion have we in David? yea, there is no inheritance in a son of Jesse; each to thy tents, O Israel; now, see thy house -- David,` and all Israel go to their tents. |
| 17 | As to the sons of Israel who are dwelling in the cities of Judah -- Rehoboam reigneth over them. |
| 18 | And king Rehoboam sendeth Hadoram, who [is] over the tribute, and the sons of Israel cast at him stones, and he dieth; and king Rehoboam hath strengthened himself to go up into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem; |
| 19 | and Israel transgress against the house of David unto this day. |
