Rebellion against Rehoboam
(2 Chronicles 10:1–15)

1  וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And went) רְחַבְעָ֖ם (Rehoboam) שְׁכֶ֑ם (to Shechem), כִּ֥י (for) שְׁכֶ֛ם (to Shechem) בָּ֥א (had gone) כָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) לְהַמְלִ֥יךְ (to make king) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (him). 2  וַיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass), כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ׀ (when heard it) יָרָבְעָ֣ם (Jeroboam) בֶּן־ (son) נְבָ֗ט (of Nebat), וְהוּא֙ (and he was) עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ (still) בְמִצְרַ֔יִם (in Egypt)— אֲשֶׁ֣ר (for) בָּרַ֔ח (he had fled) מִפְּנֵ֖י (from the presence) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (of King) שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה (Solomon) וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב (and had been dwelling) יָרָבְעָ֖ם (Jeroboam) בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃ (in Egypt)— 3  וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ (and they sent) וַיִּקְרְאוּ־ (and called) ל֔וֹ (to him), וַיָּבֹאוּ (and came) יָרָבְעָ֖ם (Jeroboam) וְכָל־ (and all) קְהַ֣ל (the assembly) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel) וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ (and spoke) אֶל־ (to) רְחַבְעָ֖ם (Rehoboam), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 4  אָבִ֖יךָ (Your father) הִקְשָׁ֣ה (heavy) אֶת־ (made) עֻלֵּ֑נוּ (our yoke), וְאַתָּ֡ה (and you) עַתָּ֣ה (now) הָקֵל֩ (lighten) מֵעֲבֹדַ֨ת (the service) אָבִ֜יךָ (of your father) הַקָּשָׁ֗ה (burdensome) וּמֵעֻלּ֧וֹ (and his yoke) הַכָּבֵ֛ד (heavy) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָתַ֥ן (he put) עָלֵ֖ינוּ (on us)— וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃ (and we will serve you).

5  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them), לְכ֥וּ (Depart) עֹ֛ד (yet) שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה (for three) יָמִ֖ים (days), וְשׁ֣וּבוּ (and come back) אֵלָ֑י (to me). וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (And departed) הָעָֽם׃ (the people).

6  וַיִּוָּעַ֞ץ (And counseled) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) רְחַבְעָ֗ם (Rehoboam) אֶת־ (with) הַזְּקֵנִים֙ (the elders) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) הָי֣וּ (had been) עֹמְדִ֗ים (standing) אֶת־ (-) פְּנֵי֙ (before) שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה (Solomon) אָבִ֔יו (his father) בִּֽהְיֹת֥וֹ (while he) חַ֖י (still lived), לֵאמֹ֑ר (and he said), אֵ֚יךְ (How) אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺) נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים (do counsel me) לְהָשִׁ֥יב (to return) אֶת־ (-) הָֽעָם־ (to the people) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) דָּבָֽר׃ (an answer)?

7  וַיְדַבֵּר (And they spoke) אֵלָ֜יו (to him), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), אִם־ (If) הַ֠יּוֹם (today) תִּֽהְיֶה־ (you will be) עֶ֜בֶד (a servant) לָעָ֤ם (to the people) הַזֶּה֙ (this), וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֔ם (and serve them) וַעֲנִיתָ֕ם (and answer them), וְדִבַּרְתָּ֥ (and speak) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them) דְּבָרִ֣ים (words) טוֹבִ֑ים (good), וְהָי֥וּ (then they will be) לְךָ֛ (to you) עֲבָדִ֖ים (servants) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (the days).

8  וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב (And he rejected) אֶת־ (-) עֲצַ֥ת (the counsel) הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים (of the elders) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יְעָצֻ֑הוּ (they counseled him), וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ (and he counseled) אֶת־ (with) הַיְלָדִים֙ (the young men) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) גָּדְל֣וּ (had grown up) אִתּ֔וֹ (with him), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) הָעֹמְדִ֖ים (stood) לְפָנָֽיו׃ (before his face). 9  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them), מָ֚ה (What) אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺) נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים (do counsel), וְנָשִׁ֥יב (that we should return) דָּבָ֖ר (as an answer) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֣ם (to the people) הַזֶּ֑ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) דִּבְּר֤וּ (have spoken) אֵלַי֙ (to me) לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הָקֵל֙ (Lighten) מִן־ (of) הָעֹ֔ל (the yoke) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) נָתַ֥ן (put) אָבִ֖יךָ (your father) עָלֵֽינוּ׃ (on us)’?

10  וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ (and spoke) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) הַיְלָדִים֙ (the young men) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (who) גָּדְל֣וּ (had grown up) אִתּוֹ֮ (with him), לֵאמֹר֒ (saying), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) תֹאמַ֣ר (you should speak) לָעָ֣ם (to the people) הַזֶּ֡ה (this) אֲשֶׁר֩ (who) דִּבְּר֨וּ (have spoken) אֵלֶ֜יךָ (to you), לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), אָבִ֙יךָ֙ (Your father) הִכְבִּ֣יד (heavy) אֶת־ (made) עֻלֵּ֔נוּ (our yoke), וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) הָקֵ֣ל (make it lighter) מֵעָלֵ֑ינוּ (on us). כֹּ֚ה (Thus) תְּדַבֵּ֣ר (you shall say) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them): קָֽטָנִּ֥י (My little finger) עָבָ֖ה (is thicker) מִמָּתְנֵ֥י (than the loins) אָבִֽי׃ (of my father). 11  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) אָבִי֙ (my father) הֶעְמִ֤יס (put) עֲלֵיכֶם֙ (on you⁺) עֹ֣ל (a yoke) כָּבֵ֔ד (heavy), וַאֲנִ֖י (and I) אוֹסִ֣יף (will add) עַֽל־ (to) עֻלְּכֶ֑ם (your⁺ yoke). אָבִ֗י (My father) יִסַּ֤ר (scourged) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺) בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים (with whips), וַאֲנִ֕י (and I) אֲיַסֵּ֥ר (will scourge) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים׃ (with scorpions).

12  וַיָּבוֹ (And came) יָרָבְעָ֧ם (Jeroboam) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֛ם (the people) אֶל־ (to) רְחַבְעָ֖ם (Rehoboam) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י (third), כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר (as) דִּבֶּ֤ר (had directed) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), שׁ֥וּבוּ (Come back) אֵלַ֖י (to me) בַּיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַשְּׁלִישִֽׁי׃ (third). 13  וַיַּ֧עַן (And answered) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) אֶת־ (-) הָעָ֖ם (the people) קָשָׁ֑ה (harshly), וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב (and he rejected) אֶת־ (-) עֲצַ֥ת (the counsel) הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים (of the elders) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) יְעָצֻֽהוּ׃ (they had counseled him). 14  וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (And he spoke) אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (to them) כַּעֲצַ֤ת (according to the counsel) הַיְלָדִים֙ (of the young men), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אָבִי֙ (My father) הִכְבִּ֣יד (made heavy) אֶֽת־ (-) עֻלְּכֶ֔ם (your⁺ yoke), וַאֲנִ֖י (and I) אֹסִ֣יף (will add) עַֽל־ (to) עֻלְּכֶ֑ם (your⁺ yoke). אָבִ֗י (My father) יִסַּ֤ר (scourged) אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺) בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים (with whips), וַאֲנִ֕י (and I) אֲיַסֵּ֥ר (will scourge) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים׃ (with scorpions).

15  וְלֹֽא־ (And not) שָׁמַ֥ע (did listen) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֑ם (the people), כִּֽי־ (for) הָיְתָ֤ה (was) סִבָּה֙ (the turning) מֵעִ֣ם (from) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), לְמַ֜עַן (that) הָקִ֣ים (He might fulfill) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָר֗וֹ (His word) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) דִּבֶּ֤ר (had spoken) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) בְּיַד֙ (by) אֲחִיָּ֣ה (Ahijah) הַשִּׁילֹנִ֔י (the Shilonite) אֶל־ (to) יָרָבְעָ֖ם (Jeroboam) בֶּן־ (son) נְבָֽט׃ (of Nebat).

The Kingdom Divided
(2 Chronicles 10:16–19)

16  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (Israel) כִּ֠י (that) לֹֽא־ (not) שָׁמַ֣ע (did listen) הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ (the king) אֲלֵיהֶם֒ (to them), וַיָּשִׁ֣בוּ (and returned) הָעָ֣ם (the people) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (to the king) דָּבָ֣ר׀ (the answer), לֵאמֹ֡ר (saying),

מַה־ (What have) לָּנוּ֩ (we) חֵ֨לֶק (portion) בְּדָוִ֜ד (in David),

וְלֹֽא־ (and there is no) נַחֲלָ֣ה (inheritance) בְּבֶן־ (in the son) יִשַׁ֗י (of Jesse)?

לְאֹהָלֶ֙יךָ֙ (To your tents), יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (O Israel)!

עַתָּ֕ה (Now) רְאֵ֥ה (see) בֵיתְךָ֖ (to your own house), דָּוִ֑ד (O David)!

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And departed) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel) לְאֹהָלָֽיו׃ (to their tents). 17  וּבְנֵ֣י (And the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים (who dwelt) בְּעָרֵ֣י (in the cities) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah)— וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ (and reigned) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (over them) רְחַבְעָֽם׃פ (Rehoboam).

18  וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח (And sent) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (King) רְחַבְעָ֗ם (Rehoboam) אֶת־ (-) אֲדֹרָם֙ (Adoram), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who was) עַל־ (in charge) הַמַּ֔ס (of the revenue). וַיִּרְגְּמ֨וּ (And stoned) כָל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל (Israel) בּ֛וֹ (him) אֶ֖בֶן (with stones), וַיָּמֹ֑ת (and he died). וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (And King) רְחַבְעָ֗ם (Rehoboam) הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ (strengthened himself) לַעֲל֣וֹת (to go up) בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֔ה (into a chariot) לָנ֖וּס (to flee) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (to Jerusalem). 19  וַיִּפְשְׁע֤וּ (And has been in rebellion) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) בְּבֵ֣ית (against the house) דָּוִ֔ד (of David) עַ֖ד (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (day) הַזֶּֽה׃ס (this).

Shemaiah’s Prophecy
(2 Chronicles 11:1–4)

20  וַיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass), כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ (when heard) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) כִּֽי־ (that) שָׁ֣ב (had come back) יָרָבְעָ֔ם (Jeroboam), וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֗וּ (that they sent for him) וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ (and called) אֹתוֹ֙ (him) אֶל־ (to) הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (the congregation), וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ (and they made king) אֹת֖וֹ (him) עַל־ (over) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel). לֹ֤א (None) הָיָה֙ (there was) אַחֲרֵ֣י (who followed) בֵית־ (the house) דָּוִ֔ד (of David), זוּלָתִ֥י (except) שֵֽׁבֶט־ (the tribe) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) לְבַדּֽוֹ׃ (alone).

21  וַיָּבֹאוּ (And came) רְחַבְעָם֮ (Rehoboam) יְרוּשָׁלִַם֒ (to Jerusalem), וַיַּקְהֵל֩ (and he assembled) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֨ית (the house) יְהוּדָ֜ה (of Judah), וְאֶת־ (and) שֵׁ֣בֶט (the tribe) בִּנְיָמִ֗ן (of Benjamin), מֵאָ֨ה (a hundred) וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים (and eighty) אֶ֛לֶף (thousand) בָּח֖וּר (chosen) עֹשֵׂ֣ה (who were) מִלְחָמָ֑ה (warriors) לְהִלָּחֵם֙ (to fight) עִם־ (against) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel), לְהָשִׁיב֙ (that he might restore) אֶת־ (-) הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה (the kingdom) לִרְחַבְעָ֖ם (to Rehoboam) בֶּן־ (son) שְׁלֹמֹֽה׃פ (of Solomon).

22  וַיְהִי֙ (And came) דְּבַ֣ר (the word) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (of God) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמַעְיָ֥ה (Shemaiah) אִישׁ־ (the man) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 23  אֱמֹ֗ר (Speak) אֶל־ (to) רְחַבְעָ֤ם (Rehoboam) בֶּן־ (son) שְׁלֹמֹה֙ (of Solomon), מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וְאֶל־ (and to) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) וּבִנְיָמִ֑ין (and Benjamin), וְיֶ֥תֶר (and to the rest) הָעָ֖ם (of the people), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 24  כֹּ֣ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֡ה (YHWH): לֹֽא־ (Not) תַעֲלוּ֩ (you⁺ shall go up) וְלֹא־ (and not) תִלָּ֨חֲמ֜וּן (fight) עִם־ (against) אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם (your⁺ brothers) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel). שׁ֚וּבוּ (And let return) אִ֣ישׁ (every man) לְבֵית֔וֹ (to his house), כִּ֧י (for) מֵאִתִּ֛י (from Me) נִהְיָ֖ה (is) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֑ה (this).

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ (And they listened) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֣ר (to the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ (and turned back) לָלֶ֖כֶת (to depart), כִּדְבַ֥ר (according to the word) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

Jeroboam’s Idolatry

25  וַיִּ֨בֶן (And built) יָרָבְעָ֧ם (Jeroboam) אֶת־ (-) שְׁכֶ֛ם (Shechem) בְּהַ֥ר (in the hill country) אֶפְרַ֖יִם (of Ephraim) וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב (and dwelt) בָּ֑הּ (there). וַיֵּצֵ֣א (And he went out) מִשָּׁ֔ם (from there) וַיִּ֖בֶן (and built) אֶת־ (-) פְּנוּאֵֽל׃ (Penuel).

26  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) יָרָבְעָ֖ם (Jeroboam) בְּלִבּ֑וֹ (in his heart), עַתָּ֛ה (Now) תָּשׁ֥וּב (may return) הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה (the kingdom) לְבֵ֥ית (to the house) דָּוִֽד׃ (of David). 27  אִֽם־ (If) יַעֲלֶ֣ה׀ (goes up) הָעָ֣ם (the people) הַזֶּ֗ה (this) לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת (to offer) זְבָחִ֤ים (sacrifices) בְּבֵית־ (in the house) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (at Jerusalem), וְ֠שָׁב (and will turn back) לֵ֣ב (the heart) הָעָ֤ם (of the people) הַזֶּה֙ (this) אֶל־ (to) אֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם (their lord), אֶל־ (unto) רְחַבְעָ֖ם (Rehoboam) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah), וַהֲרָגֻ֕נִי (and they will kill me) וְשָׁ֖בוּ (and go back) אֶל־ (to) רְחַבְעָ֥ם (Rehoboam) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah).

28  וַיִּוָּעַ֣ץ (And took counsel) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וַיַּ֕עַשׂ (and made) שְׁנֵ֖י (two) עֶגְלֵ֣י (calves) זָהָ֑ב (of gold), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) אֲלֵהֶ֗ם (to them), רַב־ (It is too much) לָכֶם֙ (for you⁺) מֵעֲל֣וֹת (to go up) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (to Jerusalem). הִנֵּ֤ה (Here are) אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ (your gods), יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (O Israel), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) הֶעֱל֖וּךָ (brought you up) מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (out of the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt).

29  וַיָּ֥שֶׂם (And he set up) אֶת־ (-) הָאֶחָ֖ד (one) בְּבֵֽית־ (in Beth-) אֵ֑ל (el), וְאֶת־ (and) הָאֶחָ֖ד (one) נָתַ֥ן (he put) בְּדָֽן׃ (in Dan). 30  וַיְהִ֛י (And became) הַדָּבָ֥ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) לְחַטָּ֑את (a sin), וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ (and went) הָעָ֛ם (for the people) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) הָאֶחָ֖ד (the one), עַד־ (as far as) דָּֽן׃ (Dan).

31  וַיַּ֖עַשׂ (And He made) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֣ית (shrines on) בָּמ֑וֹת (the high places), וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (and he made) כֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (priests) מִקְצ֣וֹת (from the ends) הָעָ֔ם (of the people), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) הָי֖וּ (were) מִבְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) לֵוִֽי׃ (of Levi). 32  וַיַּ֣עַשׂ (And ordained) יָרָבְעָ֣ם׀ (Jeroboam) חָ֡ג (a feast) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (of the month) הַשְּׁמִינִ֣י (eighth), בַּחֲמִשָּֽׁה־ (on the five) עָשָׂר֩ (and tenth) י֨וֹם׀ (day) לַחֹ֜דֶשׁ (of the month), כֶּחָ֣ג׀ (like the feast) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) בִּיהוּדָ֗ה (in Judah), וַיַּ֙עַל֙ (and he offered sacrifices) עַל־ (on) הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ (the altar). כֵּ֤ן (Thus) עָשָׂה֙ (he did) בְּבֵֽית־ (at Beth-) אֵ֔ל (el), לְזַבֵּ֖חַ (sacrificing) לָעֲגָלִ֣ים (to the calves) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֑ה (he had made), וְהֶעֱמִיד֙ (and he caused to stand) בְּבֵ֣ית (in Beth-) אֵ֔ל (el) אֶת־ (-) כֹּהֲנֵ֥י (the priests) הַבָּמ֖וֹת (of the high places) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָֽׂה׃ (he had made).

33  וַיַּ֜עַל (And he made offerings) עַֽל־ (on) הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ׀ (the altar) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֣ה (he had made) בְּבֵֽית־ (at Beth-) אֵ֗ל (el) בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה (on the five) עָשָׂ֥ר (and tenth) יוֹם֙ (day) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (of the month) הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י (eighth), בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ (in the month) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) בָּדָ֣א (he had devised) מִלִּבַּד (in his own heart), וַיַּ֤עַשׂ (and he ordained) חָג֙ (a feast) לִבְנֵ֣י (for the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel) וַיַּ֥עַל (and offered sacrifices) עַל־ (on) הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ (the altar) לְהַקְטִֽיר׃פ (and burned incense).