Rehoboam Listens to the Young

Solomon was dead.

Rehoboam went to Shechem to be made king.

All Israel came to Shechem for the coronation.

Jeroboam and the assembly came and spoke to Rehoboam.

They said: Your father made our yoke heavy.

Now lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke.

And we will serve you.

He told them to go away for three days and come back.

He consulted the elders who had stood before Solomon.

They said: If you will serve this people today and answer them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.

Then he consulted the young men he had grown up with.

He asked them the same question.

They said: Tell them my little finger is thicker than my father's thighs.

And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke.

My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.

When Jeroboam and the people came back on the third day, Rehoboam spoke harshly.

He forsook the counsel of the elders.

He followed the counsel of the young men.

The people said: What portion do we have in David?

To your tents, O Israel.

Look now to your own house, David.

Israel went to their tents.

Rehoboam reigned only over the people who lived in the cities of Judah.

He sent his taskmaster to the northern tribes.

They stoned him to death.

Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.

The kingdom that had been united under David and Solomon.

That had been the envy of the nations.

Split in a day.

Because a new king asked two groups for advice.

And chose the group that told him what he wanted to hear.

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