The kingdom splits
Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had gathered there to make him king. Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it while he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. They sent for Jeroboam, and he came with the whole assembly of Israel to speak to Rehoboam. Your father made our yoke heavy, they said. Ease up on the hard service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we'll serve you. Rehoboam told them: Go away for three days, then come back. So the people left. King Rehoboam consulted the older men who had served his father Solomon while he was alive. He asked: What do you reckon I should say to these people? They told him: If you serve these people today, look after them and give them a decent answer, they'll serve you for the rest of your life. But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now served him. He asked them: What should we say to these people who want me to lighten the yoke my father put on them? The young men who had grown up with him said: Tell the people who say, Your father made our yoke heavy; make it lighter — tell them this: My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father loaded you with a heavy yoke; I'll make it heavier. My father disciplined you with whips; I'll do it with scorpions. Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, just as the king had told them. The king answered the people harshly. He ignored the advice the older men had given him and followed the young men's advice instead: My father made your yoke heavy; I'll make it heavier. My father disciplined you with whips; I'll discipline you with scorpions. So the king refused to listen to the people. This turn of events came from the Lord, fulfilling the word he had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. When all Israel realised the king wasn't going to listen, they answered him: What share have we got in David? What inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, Israel! David, look after your own house now. And Israel went home. Rehoboam continued to reign over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of forced labour. All Israel stoned him to death. Rehoboam barely managed to get into his chariot in time to bolt back to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David, and that remains the case to this day. When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem. Because all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. And when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it — because he was still in Egypt, where he'd run from King Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt — then they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the gathering of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam: Your father made our yoke hard. Now make the hard service of your father lighter, and his heavy yoke he put on us, and we'll serve you. And he said to them: Go away for three days, then come back to me. And the people went away. And King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who stood in front of Solomon his father while he was still alive: What counsel do you give me, to bring an answer back to this people? And they spoke to him: If you'll be a servant to this people today and will serve them and answer them and speak good words to them, then they'll be your servants forever. But he left the counsel of the old men that they'd given him, and took counsel with the young men who'd grown up with him and who stood in front of him. And he said to them: What counsel do you give, so we can answer this people, who've spoken to me: Make the yoke your father put on us lighter? And the young men who'd grown up with him spoke to him: This is what you'll say to this people who spoke to you — Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter for us. This is what you'll say to them: My little finger will be thicker than my father's waist. And now, my father loaded a heavy yoke on you, and I'll add to your yoke. My father set you straight with whips, but I'll do it with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, the way the king had said: Come back to me on the third day. And the king answered the people roughly and left the counsel of the old men that they'd given him. And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men: My father made your yoke heavy, and I'll add to your yoke. My father set you straight with whips, but I'll do it with scorpions. So the king didn't listen to the people. Because the cause was from the Lord, so he could carry out his word that the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw the king wouldn't listen to them, the people answered the king: What share have we got in David? And we've got no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel. Now see to your own house, David. So Israel went to their tents. But as for the people of Israel who lived in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the forced labour. And all Israel stoned him with stones, so he died. So King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up into his chariot, to run to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David right to this day. And when all Israel heard Jeroboam had come again, they sent and called him to the gathering and made him king over all Israel. Nobody followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah only.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou 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 thy servants for ever. 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 which stood before him: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. 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. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; 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. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had gathered there to make him king.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem. Because all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it while he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon.
And when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it — because he was still in Egypt, where he'd run from King Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt —
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
They sent for Jeroboam, and he came with the whole assembly of Israel to speak to Rehoboam.
then they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the gathering of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam:
That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
Your father made our yoke heavy, they said. Ease up on the hard service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we'll serve you.
Your father made our yoke hard. Now make the hard service of your father lighter, and his heavy yoke he put on us, and we'll serve you.
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
Rehoboam told them: Go away for three days, then come back. So the people left.
And he said to them: Go away for three days, then come back to me. And the people went away.
And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
King Rehoboam consulted the older men who had served his father Solomon while he was alive. He asked: What do you reckon I should say to these people?
And King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who stood in front of Solomon his father while he was still alive: What counsel do you give me, to bring an answer back to this people?
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
They told him: If you serve these people today, look after them and give them a decent answer, they'll serve you for the rest of your life.
And they spoke to him: If you'll be a servant to this people today and will serve them and answer them and speak good words to them, then they'll be your servants forever.
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou 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 thy servants for ever.
But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now served him.
But he left the counsel of the old men that they'd given him, and took counsel with the young men who'd grown up with him and who stood in front of him.
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 which stood before him:
He asked them: What should we say to these people who want me to lighten the yoke my father put on them?
And he said to them: What counsel do you give, so we can answer this people, who've spoken to me: Make the yoke your father put on us lighter?
And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
The young men who had grown up with him said: Tell the people who say, Your father made our yoke heavy; make it lighter — tell them this: My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.
And the young men who'd grown up with him spoke to him: This is what you'll say to this people who spoke to you — Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter for us. This is what you'll say to them: My little finger will be thicker than my father's waist.
And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
My father loaded you with a heavy yoke; I'll make it heavier. My father disciplined you with whips; I'll do it with scorpions.
And now, my father loaded a heavy yoke on you, and I'll add to your yoke. My father set you straight with whips, but I'll do it with scorpions.
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.
Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, just as the king had told them.
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, the way the king had said: Come back to me on the third day.
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
The king answered the people harshly. He ignored the advice the older men had given him
And the king answered the people roughly and left the counsel of the old men that they'd given him.
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;
and followed the young men's advice instead: My father made your yoke heavy; I'll make it heavier. My father disciplined you with whips; I'll discipline you with scorpions.
And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men: My father made your yoke heavy, and I'll add to your yoke. My father set you straight with whips, but I'll do it with scorpions.
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.
So the king refused to listen to the people. This turn of events came from the Lord, fulfilling the word he had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
So the king didn't listen to the people. Because the cause was from the Lord, so he could carry out his word that the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
When all Israel realised the king wasn't going to listen, they answered him: What share have we got in David? What inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, Israel! David, look after your own house now. And Israel went home.
So when all Israel saw the king wouldn't listen to them, the people answered the king: What share have we got in David? And we've got no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel. Now see to your own house, David. So Israel went to their tents.
So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
Rehoboam continued to reign over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.
But as for the people of Israel who lived in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them.
But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of forced labour. All Israel stoned him to death. Rehoboam barely managed to get into his chariot in time to bolt back to Jerusalem.
Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the forced labour. And all Israel stoned him with stones, so he died. So King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up into his chariot, to run to Jerusalem.
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David, and that remains the case to this day.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David right to this day.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah.
And when all Israel heard Jeroboam had come again, they sent and called him to the gathering and made him king over all Israel. Nobody followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah only.
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
The golden calves
When Rehoboam reached Jerusalem, he gathered the whole people of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin — 180,000 chosen fighting men — to make war on Israel and bring the kingdom back under Rehoboam son of Solomon. But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the rest of the people. This is what the Lord says: Do not go up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Every man is to go home, because this thing is from me. They listened to the Lord's word and went home as he had told them. Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built Penuel. Jeroboam thought to himself: At this rate the kingdom will end up back in David's house. If these people keep going to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the house of the Lord, their hearts will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. Then they'll kill me and go back to Rehoboam. So the king took advice and made two golden calves. He told the people: Going all the way to Jerusalem is too much trouble. Israel, here are your gods who brought you up out of Egypt. He set one calf up in Bethel and the other in Dan. This became a sin, because the people went as far as Dan to worship before one of them. Jeroboam also built worship shrines and appointed priests from ordinary people who were not Levites. He established a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. He did this at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he'd made, and stationed his high-place priests there. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month — a date he'd cooked up himself — Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. He established the feast for the Israelites and went up to the altar to burn incense.
And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were fighting men, to fight the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam son of Solomon. But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people: This is what the Lord says. You won't go up or fight your brothers the people of Israel. Go back every man to his house, because this thing is from me. So they listened to the word of the Lord and went back to go home again, according to the word of the Lord. Then Jeroboam built Shechem in Mount Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Peniel. And Jeroboam said in his heart: Now the kingdom will go back to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah. And they'll kill me and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold and said to them: It's too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look at your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. And this thing turned into a sin. Because the people went to worship in front of the one, right to Dan. And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people, who weren't of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam set up a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast in Judah. And he offered on the altar. He did the same in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he'd made. And he set up in Bethel the priests of the high places he'd made. So he offered on the altar he'd made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month he'd thought up out of his own heart. And he set up a feast for the people of Israel, and offered on the altar and burnt incense.
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD. Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 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: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel 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 Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
When Rehoboam reached Jerusalem, he gathered the whole people of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin — 180,000 chosen fighting men — to make war on Israel and bring the kingdom back under Rehoboam son of Solomon.
And when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he gathered all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were fighting men, to fight the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam son of Solomon.
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:
But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the rest of the people.
Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people:
Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
This is what the Lord says: Do not go up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Every man is to go home, because this thing is from me. They listened to the Lord's word and went home as he had told them.
This is what the Lord says. You won't go up or fight your brothers the people of Israel. Go back every man to his house, because this thing is from me. So they listened to the word of the Lord and went back to go home again, according to the word of the Lord.
Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built Penuel.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in Mount Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Peniel.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
Jeroboam thought to himself: At this rate the kingdom will end up back in David's house.
And Jeroboam said in his heart: Now the kingdom will go back to the house of David.
And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
If these people keep going to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the house of the Lord, their hearts will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. Then they'll kill me and go back to Rehoboam.
If this people go up to offer sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah. And they'll kill me and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
So the king took advice and made two golden calves. He told the people: Going all the way to Jerusalem is too much trouble. Israel, here are your gods who brought you up out of Egypt.
So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold and said to them: It's too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look at your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
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: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
He set one calf up in Bethel and the other in Dan.
And he set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
This became a sin, because the people went as far as Dan to worship before one of them.
And this thing turned into a sin. Because the people went to worship in front of the one, right to Dan.
And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
Jeroboam also built worship shrines and appointed priests from ordinary people who were not Levites.
And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people, who weren't of the sons of Levi.
And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
He established a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. He did this at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he'd made, and stationed his high-place priests there.
And Jeroboam set up a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast in Judah. And he offered on the altar. He did the same in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he'd made. And he set up in Bethel the priests of the high places he'd made.
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
On the fifteenth day of the eighth month — a date he'd cooked up himself — Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. He established the feast for the Israelites and went up to the altar to burn incense.
So he offered on the altar he'd made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month he'd thought up out of his own heart. And he set up a feast for the people of Israel, and offered on the altar and burnt incense.
So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel 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 Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.