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Rehoboam’s Foolish Reign

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

Then King Rehoboam (D)took counsel with the elders who had [a]stood before his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to respond to this people?” And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be good to this people and please them and (E)speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he (F)forsook the counsel of the elders which they had counseled him, and took counsel with the young men who grew up with him and [b]stood before him. So he said to them, “What counsel do you give that we may respond to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” 10 Then the young men who grew up with him spoke with him, saying, “Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.’ Thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! 11 So now my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had spoken, saying, “Return to me on the third day.” 13 And the king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders, 14 and he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “[c]My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, (G)for it was a turn of events from God, (H)that Yahweh might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16 Now all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them. So the people responded to the king, saying,

(I)What portion do we have in David?
We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
Every man to your tents, O Israel;
Now see to your own house, David.”

(J)So all Israel went to their tents. 17 But as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was (K)over the forced labor, and the sons of Israel [d]stoned him and he died. And King Rehoboam made haste to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So (L)Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 10:6 Or served
  2. 2 Chronicles 10:8 Or served
  3. 2 Chronicles 10:14 Many mss I have made
  4. 2 Chronicles 10:18 Lit stoned with stones

Rehoboam’s Debacle

10 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. And it happened that when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it—now he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon—Jeroboam returned from Egypt. And they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and all Israel went, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now, therefore, lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve you.” And he said to them, “In three days return to me again.” And the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had been serving[a] before Solomon his father when he was alive, saying, “What word do you advise to answer this people?” And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them, then speak good words to them. Then they will be your servants forever.”[b] But he forsook the advice of the elders that advised him and took counsel of the young men who had grown up with him who were serving[c] before him. And he said to them, “What do you advise that we should say in return to this people, who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father has put upon us’?” 10 Then the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus you should say to this people who have said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, so you yourself should lighten it for us.’ Thus you should say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father. 11 So now, my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, but I myself will add to the yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I myself will do so with scorpions.’”

12 Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had spoken, saying, “Return to me on the third day.” 13 And the king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the advice of the elders. 14 And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “I will make your yoke heavy, and I myself will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will do so with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turning of events from God, so that Yahweh might fulfill his word that he had spoken by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16 So all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, and the people answered the king, saying, “What portion is there for us in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each to your tents, O Israel! Now look to your own house, David!” And all Israel went to their own tents. 17 But as for the Israelites[d] who were living in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of[e] the forced labor, but the Israelites[f] stoned him with stones, and he died. Then King Rehoboam hastily went up into the chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has rebelled against the house of David until this day.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 10:6 Literally “standing”
  2. 2 Chronicles 10:7 Literally “all the days”
  3. 2 Chronicles 10:8 Literally “standing”
  4. 2 Chronicles 10:17 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  5. 2 Chronicles 10:18 Literally “over”
  6. 2 Chronicles 10:18 Literally “sons/children of Israel”