1 Kings 12

And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

Rehoboam journeyed to Shechem, drawn by the united hope of all Israel, who had gathered there to crown him as their 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;)

When Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who was hiding in Egypt, heard the news, he was shocked. He had fled from King Solomon's wrath and was living in Egypt.

That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,

They urgently summoned him. Jeroboam and the entire assembly of Israel arrived, pouring out their hearts to Rehoboam.

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.

Your father burdened us heavily; now, please, lighten the harsh labor and the heavy load he placed on us, and we will be loyal to you.

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

He told them, "Leave now, but return in three days." And so, the people left, filled with anticipation.

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?

King Rehoboam, feeling overwhelmed, sought wisdom from the elders who had advised his father, Solomon. He asked them, "What's the best way to respond to the people's concerns?"

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.

They told him, "If you choose to serve these people today, to truly listen and respond to them with kindness, they will remain loyal to you forever."

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 ignored the wisdom of the elders, choosing instead to seek advice from his peers who grew up alongside 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?

He asked them, "What advice do you have for responding to the people who pleaded with me, 'Ease the burden your father placed on us'?"

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.

The friends he grew up with advised him, "Tell the people who complained about your father's harsh rule, 'You thought my father was tough? I'll be even tougher. My smallest actions will be heavier than my father's harshest orders.'"

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.

My father burdened you with heavy responsibilities, but I will add even more. He disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with something far more painful - 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.

Jeroboam and the crowd came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had requested when he said, "Return to me on the third day."

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

The king harshly dismissed the people and ignored the wise advice given by the elders.

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.

He spoke to them, following the advice of the young men, saying, "My father burdened you heavily, and I will add to your load. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline 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.

The king ignored the people's pleas, as it was God's will. This was to fulfill God's prophecy, spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, Nebat's son.

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.

When Israel realized the king wasn't listening to them, they answered him, "What share do we have in David? We have no part in the son of Jesse! To your homes, Israel! Look after your own house now, David!" And the Israelites went home.

But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

The children of Israel, living in the cities of Judah, were under the rule of Rehoboam.

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.

King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, to the people. But they were so angry, they pelted him with stones until he died. Terrified, Rehoboam quickly escaped to Jerusalem in his chariot.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

Israel, filled with defiance, turned its back on the house of David, a rift that remains to 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.

When everyone in Israel learned that Jeroboam had returned, they eagerly invited him to join their gathering and crowned him as their king. No one remained loyal to David's lineage, except for the tribe of Judah.

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.

When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he rallied the entire tribe of Judah and Benjamin, amassing 180,000 of their bravest warriors. Their mission was clear - to wage war against the house of Israel and reclaim the kingdom for Rehoboam, Solomon's son.

But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

God's message reached Shemaiah, the devoted servant, whispering,

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,

Address Rehoboam, Solomon's son and king of Judah, along with all of Judah, Benjamin, and the remaining people, and say,

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.

The Lord spoke, "Do not battle your brothers, the children of Israel. Go home, this is my will." They listened to God's words and, respecting His command, they left in peace.

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

Jeroboam, filled with determination, established the city of Shechem on the hills of Ephraim, making it his home. Later, he ventured out and, with the same fervor, constructed Penuel.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

Jeroboam thought anxiously, "The kingdom will now go back to David's family."

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.

If these people journey to Jerusalem to worship in God's house, their hearts will be drawn back to their leader, Rehoboam, the King of Judah. They might even kill me and return to him.

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.

The king, after careful thought, crafted two golden calves. He then told his people, "Traveling to Jerusalem is too burdensome. Look, here are your gods, O Israel, who led you out of Egypt."

And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

He placed one in Bethel, while the other was positioned in Dan.

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

This act turned into a sin: the people went all the way to Dan to worship before one of the calves.

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 built a temple on a hilltop, appointing priests from common folk, not from the respected Levi lineage.

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.

Jeroboam declared a grand celebration in the middle of the eighth month, mirroring the feast in Judah. He made offerings on the altar in Bethel, dedicating them to the idols he'd crafted. He also stationed his self-appointed priests in Bethel to oversee the rituals.

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.

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, he offered sacrifices on the altar he built in Bethel, in a month he had made up on his own. He then declared a feast for all the children of Israel. He offered more on the altar and filled the air with the scent of burning incense.