Rebellion against Rehoboam
(1 Kings 12:1–15)

1Then Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) went to Shechem (shoulder), for all Israel (he wrestles with God) had gone there to make him king. 2When Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect) heard about this, he returned from Egypt (land of bondage), where he had fled from King Solomon (peace). 3So they sent for Jeroboam, and he (the people will contend) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) came to Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) and said, 4“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed.

6Then King Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon (peace) during his lifetime. “How do you⁺ advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

7They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. 9He asked them, “What message do you⁺ advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11Whereas my father burdened you⁺ with a heavy yoke, I will add to your⁺ yoke. Whereas my father scourged you⁺ with whips, I will scourge you⁺ with scorpions.’”

12After three days, Jeroboam (the people will contend) and all the people returned to Rehoboam (a people has enlarged), since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.” 13And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) rejected the advice of the elders 14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your⁺ yoke heavy [Whereas I made your yoke heavy],a I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you⁺ with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God {Elohim}, in order that the LORD {YHWH} might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah (brother of Yah) the Shilonite to Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect).

The Kingdom Divided
(1 Kings 12:16–19)

16When all Israel saw (he wrestles with God) that the king had refused to listen to them, they answeredb the king:

“What portion do we have in David (beloved),

and what inheritance in the son of Jesse (I possess)?

To your tents, O Israel!

Look now to your own house, O David!”

So all the Israelites went home, 17but Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) still reigned over the Israelites (God prevails) living in the cities of Judah (praised).

18Then King Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) sent out Hadoram (Adoniram),c who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites (God prevails) stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem (city of peace). 19So to this day Israel (he wrestles with God) has been in rebellion against the house of David (beloved).