1 Kings 12

1 And Rehoboam (Rechavam) went to Shechem; for all Yisrael had come to Shechem to make him king.

2 And it came to pass, when Yarovam the son of Nevat, who was yet in Egypt (Mitsrayim), heard of it, (for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon (Shelomoh), and Yarovam dwelt in Egypt (Mitsrayim);)

3 That they sent and called him. And Yarovam and all the congregation of Yisrael came, and spake unto Rehoboam (Rechavam), saying,

4 “Your father made our yoke grievous; now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve you.”

5 And he said unto them, “Depart yet for three days, then come again to me.” And the people departed.

6 And King Rehoboam (Rechavam) consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon (Shelomoh) his father while he yet lived, and said, “How do you advise that I may answer this people?”

7 And they spake unto him, saying, “If you wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and who stood before him.

9 And he said unto them, “What counsel give you that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke which your father did put upon us lighter’?”

10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, “Thus shalt you speak unto this people that spake unto you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it lighter unto us’; thus shalt you say unto them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins!

11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions!’”

12 So Jeroboam (Yarovam) and all the people came to Rehoboam (Rechavam) the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, “Come to me again the third day.”

13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;

14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions!”

15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from יהוה, that he might perform his saying, which יהוה spake by Achiyah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam (Yarovam) the son of Nevat.

16 So when all Yisrael saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying: “What portion have we in Dawid? Neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse (Yishai). To your tents, O Yisrael! Now see to your own house, Dawid.” So Yisrael departed unto their tents.

17 But as for the children of Yisrael who dwelt in the cities of Judah (Yehudah), Rehoboam (Rechavam) reigned over them.

18 Then King Rehoboam (Rechavam) sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Yisrael stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore King Rehoboam (Rechavam) made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

19 So Yisrael rebelled against the house of Dawid unto this day.

20 And it came to pass, when all Yisrael heard that Yarovam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Yisrael; there was none that followed the house of Dawid, but the tribe of Judah (Yehudah) only.

21 And when Rehoboam (Rechavam) was come to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), he assembled all the house of Judah (Yehudah), with the tribe of Benjamin (Binyamin), a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Yisrael, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam (Rechavam) the son of Solomon (Shelomoh).

22 But the word of God (Elohim) came unto Shemayah the man of God (Elohim), saying,

23 “Speak unto Rehoboam (Rechavam), the son of Solomon (Shelomoh), king of Judah (Yehudah), and unto all the house of Judah (Yehudah) and Benjamin (Binyamin), and to the remnant of the people, saying,

24 ‘Thus saith יהוה: “You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Yisrael; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me.”’ They hearkened therefore to the word of יהוה, and returned to depart, according to the word of יהוה.

25 Then Jeroboam (Yarovam) built Shechem in Mount Efrayim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

26 And Yarovam said in his heart, “Now shall the kingdom return to the house of Dawid;

27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of יהוה at Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord (adon), even unto Rehoboam (Rechavam) king of Judah (Yehudah), and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam (Rechavam) king of Judah (Yehudah).”

28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). Behold your God (Elohim), O Yisrael, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim)!”

29 And he set the one in Bethel (Beit-El), and the other put he in Dan.

30 And this thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

31 And he made a house of high places, and made priests (kohanim) of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Lewi.

32 And Jeroboam (Yarovam) ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah (Yehudah), and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel (Beit-El), sacrificing unto the calves that he had made; and he placed in Bethel (Beit-El) the priests (kohanim) of the high places which he had made.

33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel (Beit-El) the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Yisrael; and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.