1 And Rehoboam {Rechav'am: Solomon's successor} journeyed to Shechem, because all Israel had assembled there to make him king {lehamlikh: to install as monarch}.
2 And it happened when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard {shama: attentive perception} and he was in Egypt {mitsrayim: place of exile}, where he had fled from before Solomon the king, that Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
3 Then they sent for Jeroboam {Yarav'am: contender or people’s advocate} and all Israel {Yisra'el: covenant nation} came. And they spoke to Rehoboam, saying:
4 Your father made our yoke {ulleinu: oppressive harness} oppressive, and now lighten the harsh service {avodat: forced labor} of your father and the heavy yoke that he placed upon us, and we will serve you.
5 And he said to them, “Return to me after three days {sheloshet yamim: measured interval},” and the people {haam: collective group} went away.
6 And King Rehoboam consulted the elders {zeqenim: respected wise men} who had stood before his father Solomon while he was alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people with a word {davar: concise reply}?”
7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be good to this people and please {retsitam: show favor} them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants all the days {kol-hayamim: for all time}.”
8 But he forsook the counsel {atsah: deliberative plan} of the elders which they had given him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, those standing {omedim: attendants} before him.
9 And he said to them, “What are you advising {noatzim: offering counsel}, and how shall we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke {ol: burden of labor} which your father put upon us?’”
10 And the young men {yeladim: male youths} who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger {katanni: smallest portion} is thicker than my father’s loins.’”
11 And now my father laid a heavy yoke {ul: oppressive burden} upon you, and I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips {shotim: military scourges}, and I will discipline you with scorpions.
12 And Jeroboam and all the people{am: collective assembly} came to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king{melekh: royal authority} had spoken, saying, “Return to me on the third day.”
13 The king {hamelek: royal monarch} answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel {atzat: advice from elders} of the elders.
14 And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke {ullechem: oppressive burden} heavy, and I will add to it. My father disciplined {yissar: strict punishment} you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”
15 And the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God {Elohim: Sovereign Orchestrator}, in order that the LORD {YHWH: Word-Fulfiller} might establish His word {davar: spoken declaration} which He spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion {chelek: tribal share} do we have in David {David: royal ancestor}? Nor do we have any inheritance in Jesse’s son. Each to your tents, Israel! Now look to your own house, David.” So all Israel went to their tents.
17 But as for the Israelites {yisrael: tribal contingent} who were living in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned {vayimlokh: exercised royal authority} over them.
18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram {hadoram: Royal Overseer}, who was over the forced labor {mas: corvee levy}, but the sons of Israel stoned him with a stone, and he died. And King Rehoboam exerted himself to mount the chariot to flee to Jerusalem.
19 So Israel has rebelled {pasha: risen in revolt} against the house of David until this day {yom: ongoing period}.