Print Page Options

10 Forsooth Rehoboam went forth into Shechem; for all Israel came together thither to make him king.

And when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, that was in Egypt, for he fled thither (from) before Solomon, had heard this, he turned again anon. (And when Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, for he had fled there from Solomon, had heard this, he returned at once.)

And they called him, and he came with all Israel, and they spake to Rehoboam, and said,

Thy father oppressed us with a full hard yoke; command thou lighter things on us than thy father, the which set upon us a grievous servage; and release thou a little of our burden, that we serve thee. (Thy father oppressed us with a very hard yoke; command thou lighter things upon us than thy father, who set upon us a grievous slavery; and if thou release a little of our burden, then we shall gladly serve thee.)

And he said, After three days turn ye again to me (And he said, Return to me after three days). And when the people was gone [away],

he took counsel with [the] eld men, that stood before his father Solomon, while he lived yet (he took counsel with the old men, or the elders, who stood before his father Solomon, while yet he lived), and said, What counsel give ye, that I answer to the people?

And they said to him, If thou pleasest this people, and makest them soft, or quietest them, by meek words, they shall serve thee in all time. (And they said to him, If thou pleasest this people, and quietest them, with humble words, they shall loyally serve thee always.)

And he forsook the counsel of the eld men, and began to treat (this in thought) with (the) young men, that were nourished with him, and were in his company. (But he forsook the counsel of the old men, that is, the elders, and began to discuss this with the young men, who grew up with him, and were his friends.)

And he said to them, What seemeth to you? either what thing ought I (to) answer to this people, that said to me, Release thou the yoke, that thy father hath put upon us?

10 And they answered, as young men, and nourished with him in delights, and said, Thus thou shalt speak to the people that said to thee, Thy father made grievous our yoke, release thou it; and thus thou shalt answer to them, My least finger is greater than the loins of my father; (And these young men, who had grown up with him in ease, said, Thus shalt thou say to the people who said to thee, Thy father made our yoke grievous, release thou it; thou shalt answer this to them, My least finger is greater than my father’s loins;)

11 my father put upon you a grievous yoke, and I shall lay to (you) a greater burden (but I shall put upon you a far greater burden); my father beat you with scourges, but I shall beat you with scorpions, that is, hard-knotted ropes.

12 And Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam in the third day, as he had commanded to them.

13 And the king answered (to them) hard things, after that he had forsaken the counsel of the elder men,

14 and he spake by the will of the young men, (and said,) My father putted on you a grievous yoke, which I shall make grievouser; my father beat you with scourges, soothly I shall beat you with scorpions.

15 And Rehoboam assented not to the prayers of the people; for it was the will of God, that his word should be [ful]filled, which he had spoken by the hand of Ahijah of Shiloh to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat.

16 And when the king had said these harder things, all the people spake thus to him, No part be to us in David, neither heritage in the son of Jesse; Israel, turn thou again into thy tabernacles; and thou, David, feed thine own house. And Israel went into his tabernacles. (And when the king had said these hard things, all the people spoke thus to him, We shall have no part with David, nor inheritance with the son of Jesse; Israel, return thou to thy tents, or to thy homes; and thou, David, feed thy own house. And the people of Israel went back to their tents/went back home.)

17 And Rehoboam reigned upon the sons of Israel, that dwelled in the cities of Judah. (And so Rehoboam reigned only upon the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.)

18 And king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, that was sovereign over the tributes; and the sons of Israel stoned him, and he was dead (And King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was the ruler over the tributes, or the taxes; and the Israelites stoned him, and he died). And king Rehoboam hasted him(self) to go up into his chariot, and fled into Jerusalem.

19 And Israel went away from the house of David unto this day.

Roboam y la rebelión de Israel

10 (A)Entonces Roboam fue a Siquem, porque todo Israel había ido a Siquem para hacerlo rey. Y cuando lo oyó Jeroboam, hijo de Nabat (porque él estaba en Egipto adonde había huido de la presencia del rey Salomón(B)), volvió Jeroboam de Egipto. Y enviaron a llamarlo. Entonces vino con todo Israel, y hablaron a Roboam: «Su padre hizo pesado nuestro yugo(C); ahora pues, aligere la dura servidumbre de su padre y el pesado yugo que puso sobre nosotros y le serviremos». Entonces él les dijo: «Vuelvan otra vez a mí dentro de tres días». Y el pueblo se fue.

El rey Roboam pidió consejo a los ancianos que habían servido a(D) su padre Salomón cuando aún vivía, diciendo: «¿Qué me aconsejan que responda a este pueblo?». Y ellos le respondieron: «Si usted es bueno con este pueblo, les complace y les dice buenas palabras(E), entonces ellos serán sus siervos para siempre». Pero él abandonó el consejo que le habían dado los ancianos, y pidió consejo a los jóvenes que se habían criado con él y le servían(F). «¿Qué aconsejan», les pregunto, «que respondamos a este pueblo que me ha hablado: “Aligere el yugo que su padre puso sobre nosotros”?». 10 Y los jóvenes que se habían criado con él le respondieron: «Así dirá al pueblo que le ha hablado: “Su padre hizo pesado nuestro yugo, pero usted hágalo más ligero para nosotros”. Así usted les dirá: “Mi dedo meñique es más grueso que los lomos de mi padre. 11 Por cuanto mi padre los cargó con un pesado yugo, yo añadiré a su yugo; mi padre los castigó con látigos, pero yo los castigaré con escorpiones”».

12 Entonces vino Jeroboam con todo el pueblo a Roboam al tercer día como el rey lo había dicho: «Vuelvan a mí al tercer día». 13 El rey les respondió con dureza, pues el rey Roboam había despreciado el consejo de los ancianos, 14 y les habló conforme al consejo de los jóvenes, diciendo: «Mi padre les hizo pesado su yugo, pero yo lo haré más pesado; mi padre los castigó con látigos, pero yo los castigaré con escorpiones». 15 El rey no escuchó al pueblo, porque esto venía de parte de Dios(G), para que el Señor confirmara la palabra que Él había hablado por medio de Ahías el silonita a Jeroboam, hijo de Nabat(H).

16 Cuando todo Israel vio que el rey no los escuchaba, el pueblo respondió al rey:

«¿Qué parte tenemos nosotros con David?
No tenemos herencia con el hijo de Isaí.
¡Cada uno a su tienda, Israel(I)!
¡Mire ahora por su casa, David!».

Y todo Israel se fue a sus tiendas(J). 17 Pero en cuanto a los israelitas que habitaban en las ciudades de Judá, Roboam reinó sobre ellos. 18 Entonces el rey Roboam envió a Adoram, que estaba a cargo de los trabajos forzados(K), pero los israelitas lo mataron a pedradas; y el rey Roboam se apresuró a subir a su carro para huir a Jerusalén. 19 Así Israel ha estado en rebeldía contra la casa de David hasta hoy(L).

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

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

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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?

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

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

14 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.

15 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.

16 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.

17 But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18 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.

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

Israel Rebels Against Rehoboam(A)

10 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam(B) son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled(C) from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel(D) went to Rehoboam and said to him: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us,(E) but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

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

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders(F) who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer,(G) they will always be your servants.”

But Rehoboam rejected(H) the advice the elders(I) gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “The people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

12 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God,(J) to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.(K)

16 When all Israel(L) saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David,(M)
    what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!
    Look after your own house, David!”

So all the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.

18 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram,[a](N) who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 10:18 Hebrew Hadoram, a variant of Adoniram

The Revolt Against Rehoboam(A)

10 And (B)Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was in Egypt, (C)where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), that Jeroboam returned from Egypt. Then they sent for him and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

So he said to them, “Come back to me after three days.” And the people departed.

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, saying, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”

And they spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

(D)But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with [a]scourges!’ ”

12 So (E)Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.” 13 Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders, 14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, [b]“My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with [c]scourges!” 15 So the king did not listen to the people; (F)for the turn of events was from God, that the Lord might fulfill His (G)word, which He had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, saying:

“What share have we in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
Every man to your tents, O Israel!
Now see to your own house, O David!”

So all Israel departed to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of revenue; but the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem. 19 (H)So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 10:11 Scourges with points or barbs, lit. scorpions
  2. 2 Chronicles 10:14 So with many Heb. mss., LXX, Syr., Vg. (cf. v. 10; 1 Kin. 12:14); MT I
  3. 2 Chronicles 10:14 Lit. scorpions