2 Chronicles 10

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

Rehoboam journeyed to Shechem, drawn by the collective will of Israel, all gathered there to crown him as their king.

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

When Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who had sought refuge in Egypt to escape King Solomon, heard the news, he felt a surge of courage and decided to leave Egypt and return home.

And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

They summoned him, and so Jeroboam, along with all of Israel, approached Rehoboam. They spoke to him, expressing,

Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

Your father burdened us heavily; now, lighten the harsh load he placed on us. Do this, and we will gladly serve you.

And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.

He gently told them, "Return to me in three days." With that, the crowd slowly dispersed.

And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?

King Rehoboam, feeling uncertain, sought advice from the wise elders who had served his father, Solomon. He asked them, "What should I say to the people?"

And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.

They told him, "If you treat these people with kindness, make them happy, and speak kindly to them, they will loyally serve you forever."

But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

He ignored the wisdom of the elders, instead seeking advice from his youthful peers who grew up with him and stood by his side.

And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?

He asked them, "What should we reply to these people who have asked me to lighten the load that my father placed on them? What's your advice?"

And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.

His childhood friends advised him, "Here's how you should respond to the people who complain, 'Your father burdened us heavily, can you lighten our load?' You should tell them, 'Even my smallest effort will be greater than my father's hardest work.'"

For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

While my father burdened you greatly, I will add to your load. He disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with something far more painful.

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.

Jeroboam and the entire crowd arrived to meet Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had requested. "Return to me in three days," he had said.

And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

The king responded harshly, ignoring the wisdom of the elders; King Rehoboam chose his own path.

And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Following the guidance of the young, he responded, "My father burdened you, but I will add more. He disciplined you with whips, but I will do so with scorpions."

So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

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

And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.

When all of Israel realized that the king wasn't listening to them, they responded, "What connection do we have with David? We don't share any inheritance with Jesse's son. Everyone, return to your homes, Israel! And David, take care of your own family." So, everyone in Israel went back to their homes.

But as for the children of Israel that 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 Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

King Rehoboam hastily dispatched Hadoram, the man in charge of the forced labor, to the Israelites. They, in their anger, pelted Hadoram with stones, killing him. Terrified, Rehoboam quickly scrambled into his chariot, fleeing back to the safety of Jerusalem.

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

Israel, filled with defiance and resentment, continues to resist the rule of David's lineage even today.