1 Kings 12 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. ^[2] When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt; ^[3] and they sent and called him), Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, ^[4] “Your father made our yoke difficult. Now therefore make the hard service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.” ^[5] He said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.”So the people departed. ^[6] King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me to answer these people?” ^[7] They replied, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them, and answer them with good words, then they will be your servants forever.” ^[8] But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. ^[9] He said to them, “What counsel do you give, that we may answer these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter’?” ^[10] The young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Tell these people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter to us’— tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. ^[11] Now my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add 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 the third day, as the king asked, saying, “Come to me again the third day.” ^[13] The king answered the people roughly, and abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, ^[14] and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.” ^[15] So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. ^[16] When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, “What portion have we in David? We don’t have an inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, Israel! Now see to your own house, David.” So Israel departed to their tents. ^[17] But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. ^[18] Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam hurried to get himself up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. ^[19] So Israel rebelled against David’s house to this day. ^[20] When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed David’s house, except for the tribe of Judah only. ^[21] When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. ^[22] But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, ^[23] “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying, ^[24] ‘Yahweh says, “You shall not go up or fight against your brothers, the children of Israel. Everyone return to his house; for this thing is from me.” ’ ” So they listened to Yahweh’s word, and returned and went their way, according to Yahweh’s word. ^[25] Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived in it; and he went out from there and built Penuel. ^[26] Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to David’s house. ^[27] If this people goes up to offer sacrifices in Yahweh’s house at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” ^[28] So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look and behold your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” ^[29] He set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. ^[30] This thing became a sin, for the people went even as far as Dan to worship before the one there. ^[31] He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi. ^[32] Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar. He did so in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made, and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. ^[33] He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn incense.

King James Version

^[1] And RehoboamH7346 wentH3212(QalImpf) to Shechem:H7927 for all IsraelH3478 were comeH935(QalPerf) to ShechemH7927 to make him king.H4427(HiphInf) ^[2] And it came to pass, when JeroboamH3379 the sonH1121 of Nebat,H5028 who was yet in Egypt,H4714 heardH8085(QalInf) [of it], (for he was fledH1272(QalPerf) from the presenceH6440 of kingH4428 Solomon,H8010 and JeroboamH3379 dweltH3427(QalImpf) in Egypt;H4714) ^[3] That they sentH7971(QalImpf) and calledH7121(QalImpf) him. And JeroboamH3379 and all the congregationH6951 of IsraelH3478 came,H935(QalImpf) and spakeH1696(PielImpf) unto Rehoboam,H7346 saying,H559(QalInf) ^[4] Thy fatherH1 madeH7185 our yokeH5923 grievous:H7185(HiphPerf) now therefore make thou the grievousH7186 serviceH5656 of thy father,H1 and his heavyH3515 yokeH5923 which he putH5414(QalPerf) upon us, lighter,H7043(HiphImpv) and we will serveH5647(QalImpf) thee. ^[5] And he saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, DepartH3212(QalImpv) yet [for] threeH7969 days,H3117 then come againH7725(QalImpv) to me. And the peopleH5971 departed.H3212(QalImpf) ^[6] And kingH4428 RehoboamH7346 consultedH3289(NiphImpf) with the old men,H2205 that stoodH5975(QalActPtc) beforeH6440 SolomonH8010 his fatherH1 while he yet lived,H2416 and said,H559(QalInf) How do ye adviseH3289(NiphPtc) that I mayH7725(HiphInf) answerH1697 this people?H5971 ^[7] And they spakeH1696(PielImpf) unto him, saying,H559(QalInf) If thou wilt be a servantH5650 unto this peopleH5971 this day,H3117 and wilt serveH5647(QalPerf) them, and answerH6030(QalPerf) them, and speakH1696(PielPerf) goodH2896 wordsH1697 to them, then they will be thy servantsH5650 for ever.H3117 ^[8] But he forsookH5800(QalImpf) the counselH6098 of the old men,H2205 which they had givenH3289(QalPerf) him, and consultedH3289(NiphImpf) with the young menH3206 that were grown upH1431(QalPerf) with him, [and] which stoodH5975(QalActPtc) beforeH6440 him: ^[9] And he saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, What counsel giveH3289(NiphPtc) ye that we mayH7725(HiphImpf) answerH1697 this people,H5971 who have spokenH1696(PielPerf) to me, saying,H559(QalInf) MakeH7043 the yokeH5923 which thy fatherH1 did putH5414(QalPerf) upon us lighter?H7043(HiphImpv) ^[10] And the young menH3206 that were grown upH1431(QalPerf) with him spakeH1696(PielImpf) unto him, saying,H559(QalInf) Thus shalt thou speakH559(QalImpf) unto this peopleH5971 that spakeH1696(PielPerf) unto thee, saying,H559(QalInf) Thy fatherH1 madeH3513 our yokeH5923 heavy,H3513(HiphPerf) but make thou [it] lighterH7043(HiphImpv) unto us; thus shalt thou sayH1696(PielImpf) unto them, My littleH6995 [finger] shall be thickerH5666(QalPerf) than my father’sH1 loins.H4975 ^[11] And now whereas my fatherH1 did ladeH6006(HiphPerf) you with a heavyH3515 yoke,H5923 I will addH3254(HiphImpf) to your yoke:H5923 my fatherH1 hath chastisedH3256(PielPerf) you with whips,H7752 but I will chastiseH3256(PielImpf) you with scorpions.H6137 ^[12] So JeroboamH3379 and all the peopleH5971 cameH935(QalImpf) to RehoboamH7346 the thirdH7992 day,H3117 as the kingH4428 had appointed,H1696(PielPerf) saying,H559(QalInf) Come to me againH7725(QalImpv) the thirdH7992 day.H3117 ^[13] And the kingH4428 answeredH6030(QalImpf) the peopleH5971 roughly,H7186 and forsookH5800(QalImpf) the old men’sH2205 counselH6098 that they gaveH3289(QalPerf) him; ^[14] And spakeH1696(PielImpf) to them after the counselH6098 of the young men,H3206 saying,H559(QalInf) My fatherH1 madeH3513 your yokeH5923 heavy,H3513(HiphPerf) and I will addH3254(HiphImpf) to your yoke:H5923 my fatherH1 [also] chastisedH3256(PielPerf) you with whips,H7752 but I will chastiseH3256(PielImpf) you with scorpions.H6137 ^[15] Wherefore the kingH4428 hearkenedH8085(QalPerf) not unto the people;H5971 for the causeH5438 was from the Lord,H3068 that he might performH6965(HiphInf) his saying,H1697 which the LordH3068 spakeH1696(PielPerf) byH3027 AhijahH281 the ShiloniteH7888 unto JeroboamH3379 the sonH1121 of Nebat.H5028 ^[16] SoH7725(HiphImpf) when all IsraelH3478 sawH7200(QalImpf) that the kingH4428 hearkenedH8085(QalPerf) not unto them, the peopleH5971 answeredH1697 the king,H4428 saying,H559(QalInf) What portionH2506 have we in David?H1732 neither [have we] inheritanceH5159 in the sonH1121 of Jesse:H3448 to your tents,H168 O Israel:H3478 now seeH7200(QalImpv) to thine own house,H1004 David.H1732 So IsraelH3478 departedH3212(QalImpf) unto their tents.H168 ^[17] But [as for] the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 which dweltH3427(QalActPtc) in the citiesH5892 of Judah,H3063 RehoboamH7346 reignedH4427(QalImpf) over them. ^[18] Then kingH4428 RehoboamH7346 sentH7971(QalImpf) Adoram,H151 who [was] over the tribute;H4522 and all IsraelH3478 stonedH7275(QalImpf) him with stones,H68 that he died.H4191(QalImpf) Therefore kingH4428 RehoboamH7346 made speedH553(HithPerf) to get him upH5927(QalInf) to his chariot,H4818 to fleeH5127(QalInf) to Jerusalem.H3389 ^[19] So IsraelH3478 rebelledH6586(QalImpf) against the houseH1004 of DavidH1732 unto this day.H3117 ^[20] And it came to pass, when all IsraelH3478 heardH8085(QalInf) that JeroboamH3379 was come again,H7725(QalPerf) that they sentH7971(QalImpf) and calledH7121(QalImpf) him unto the congregation,H5712 and made him kingH4427(HiphImpf) over all Israel:H3478 there was none that followedH310 the houseH1004 of David,H1732 butH2108 the tribeH7626 of JudahH3063 only. ^[21] And when RehoboamH7346 was comeH935(QalImpf) to Jerusalem,H3389 he assembledH6950(HiphImpf) all the houseH1004 of Judah,H3063 with the tribeH7626 of Benjamin,H1144 an hundredH3967 and fourscoreH8084 thousandH505 chosen men,H977(QalPasPtc) which were warriors,H6213(QalActPtc) to fightH3898(NiphInf) against the houseH1004 of Israel,H3478 to bringH7725 the kingdomH4410 againH7725(HiphInf) to RehoboamH7346 the sonH1121 of Solomon.H8010 ^[22] But the wordH1697 of GodH430 came unto ShemaiahH8098 the manH376 of God,H430 saying,H559(QalInf) ^[23] SpeakH559(QalImpv) unto Rehoboam,H7346 the sonH1121 of Solomon,H8010 kingH4428 of Judah,H3063 and unto all the houseH1004 of JudahH3063 and Benjamin,H1144 and to the remnantH3499 of the people,H5971 saying,H559(QalInf) ^[24] Thus saithH559(QalPerf) the Lord,H3068 Ye shall not go up,H5927(QalImpf) nor fightH3898(NiphImpf) against your brethrenH251 the childrenH1121 of Israel:H3478 returnH7725(QalImpv) every manH376 to his house;H1004 for this thingH1697 isH1961(NiphPerf) from me. They hearkenedH8085(QalImpf) therefore to the wordH1697 of the Lord,H3068 and returnedH7725(QalImpf) to depart,H3212(QalInf) according to the wordH1697 of the Lord.H3068 ^[25] Then JeroboamH3379 builtH1129(QalImpf) ShechemH7927 in mountH2022 Ephraim,H669 and dweltH3427(QalImpf) therein; and went outH3318(QalImpf) from thence, and builtH1129(QalImpf) Penuel.H6439 ^[26] And JeroboamH3379 saidH559(QalImpf) in his heart,H3820 Now shall the kingdomH4467 returnH7725(QalImpf) to the houseH1004 of David:H1732 ^[27] If this peopleH5971 go upH5927(QalImpf) to doH6213(QalInf) sacrificeH2077 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 at Jerusalem,H3389 then shall the heartH3820 of this peopleH5971 turn againH7725(QalPerf) unto their lord,H113 [even] unto RehoboamH7346 kingH4428 of Judah,H3063 and they shall killH2026(QalPerf) me, and go againH7725(QalPerf) to RehoboamH7346 kingH4428 of Judah.H3063 ^[28] Whereupon the kingH4428 took counsel,H3289(NiphImpf) and madeH6213(QalImpf) twoH8147 calvesH5695 [of] gold,H2091 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto them, It is too muchH7227 for you to go upH5927(QalInf) to Jerusalem:H3389 behold thy gods,H430 O Israel,H3478 which brought thee upH5927(HiphPerf) out of the landH776 of Egypt.H4714 ^[29] And he setH7760(QalImpf) the oneH259 in Bethel,H1008 and the otherH259 putH5414(QalPerf) he in Dan.H1835 ^[30] And this thingH1697 became a sin:H2403 for the peopleH5971 wentH3212(QalImpf) [to worship] beforeH6440 the one,H259 [even] unto Dan.H1835 ^[31] And he madeH6213(QalImpf) an houseH1004 of high places,H1116 and madeH6213(QalImpf) priestsH3548 of the lowestH7098 of the people,H5971 which were not of the sonsH1121 of Levi.H3878 ^[32] And JeroboamH3379 ordainedH6213(QalImpf) a feastH2282 in the eighthH8066 month,H2320 on the fifteenthH2568 dayH3117 of the month,H2320 like unto the feastH2282 that [is] in Judah,H3063 and he offeredH5927(HiphImpf) upon the altar.H4196 So didH6213(QalPerf) he in Bethel,H1008 sacrificingH2076(PielInf) unto the calvesH5695 that he had made:H6213(QalPerf) and he placedH5975(HiphPerf) in BethelH1008 the priestsH3548 of the high placesH1116 which he had made.H6213(QalPerf) ^[33] So he offeredH5927(HiphImpf) upon the altarH4196 which he had madeH6213(QalPerf) in BethelH1008 the fifteenthH2568 dayH3117 of the eighthH8066 month,H2320 [even] in the monthH2320 which he had devisedH908(QalPerf) of his own heart;H3820 and ordainedH6213(QalImpf) a feastH2282 unto the childrenH1121 of Israel:H3478 and he offeredH5927(HiphImpf) upon the altar,H4196 and burnt incense.H6999(HiphInf)

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