1And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel had gone there to make him king. 2And when Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who was in Egypt where he had fled from Solomon, heard that Rehoboam was now king, he returned from Egypt. 3For some leaders of Israel had sent for him. And Jeroboam and the leaders of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4“Your father burdened us with a heavy work and tax load; so lighten the load your father imposed upon us, and we will serve you.” 5And Rehoboam replied, “Come back in three days for my answer.” And so, the people departed.

6Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served Solomon, his father, during his reign, asking, “How would you advise me to answer these people?” 7And they said, “If you are kind to these people, and give them a favorable answer, they will be your servants forever.” 8But Rehoboam rejected that advice, and consulted the young men he grew up with. 9And he asked them, “How would you advise me to answer these people, who have asked me to lighten the load my father imposed upon them?” 10And these young men replied, “You should answer these people who asked you to lighten the load your father had imposed upon them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father's thighs. 11While my father laid a heavy burden upon you, I will add even more to your burden. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’”

12So Jeroboam returned with the people on the third day, as the king had said. 13And Rehoboam answered them harshly; disregarding the advice of the elders, 14Following the advice of the young men, by saying, “My father made your burden heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” 15So the new king disregarded the words of the people; for this outcome was from God, that the LORD might fulfill His word to Jeroboam, which He had spoken through Ahijah, the Shilonite, son of Nebat (1Kings 11:29). 16And when the people of Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, they responded, “What part have we in the dynasty of David? We do not share in the inheritance of the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! And now, Rehoboam, descendant of David, you see to your own house!” So all Israel returned home. 17But Rehoboam retained rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.

18Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who supervised the forced labor; and the Israelites stoned him to death. Then King Rehoboam hurriedly got to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19And thus began Israel’s rebellion against the house of David unto this day.