1 Kings 12 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
1 Kings 12 (WEBP)
[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.
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
1 Kings 12 (KJVS)
[1] And Rehoboam H7346 went H3212 (8799) to Shechem H7927: for all Israel H3478 were come H935 (8804) to Shechem H7927 to make him king H4427 (8687).
[2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat H5028, who was yet in Egypt H4714, heard H8085 (8800) [of it], (for he was fled H1272 (8804) from the presence H6440 of king H4428 Solomon H8010, and Jeroboam H3379 dwelt H3427 (8799) in Egypt H4714;)
[3] That they sent H7971 (8799) and called H7121 (8799) him. And Jeroboam H3379 and all the congregation H6951 of Israel H3478 came H935 (8799), and spake H1696 (8762) unto Rehoboam H7346, saying H559 (8800),
[4] Thy father H1 made H7185 our yoke H5923 grievous H7185 (8689): now therefore make thou the grievous H7186 service H5656 of thy father H1, and his heavy H3515 yoke H5923 which he put H5414 (8804) upon us, lighter H7043 (8685), and we will serve H5647 (8799) thee.
[5] And he said H559 (8799) unto them, Depart H3212 (8798) yet [for] three H7969 days H3117, then come again H7725 (8798) to me. And the people H5971 departed H3212 (8799).
[6] And king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 consulted H3289 (8735) with the old men H2205, that stood H5975 (8802) before H6440 Solomon H8010 his father H1 while he yet lived H2416, and said H559 (8800), How do ye advise H3289 (8737) that I may H7725 (8687) answer H1697 this people H5971?
[7] And they spake H1696 (8762) unto him, saying H559 (8800), If thou wilt be a servant H5650 unto this people H5971 this day H3117, and wilt serve H5647 (8804) them, and answer H6030 (8804) them, and speak H1696 (8765) good H2896 words H1697 to them, then they will be thy servants H5650 for ever H3117.
[8] But he forsook H5800 (8799) the counsel H6098 of the old men H2205, which they had given H3289 (8804) him, and consulted H3289 (8735) with the young men H3206 that were grown up H1431 (8804) with him, [and] which stood H5975 (8802) before H6440 him:
[9] And he said H559 (8799) unto them, What counsel give H3289 (8737) ye that we may H7725 (8686) answer H1697 this people H5971, who have spoken H1696 (8765) to me, saying H559 (8800), Make H7043 the yoke H5923 which thy father H1 did put H5414 (8804) upon us lighter H7043 (8685)?
[10] And the young men H3206 that were grown up H1431 (8804) with him spake H1696 (8762) unto him, saying H559 (8800), Thus shalt thou speak H559 (8799) unto this people H5971 that spake H1696 (8765) unto thee, saying H559 (8800), Thy father H1 made H3513 our yoke H5923 heavy H3513 (8689), but make thou [it] lighter H7043 (8685) unto us; thus shalt thou say H1696 (8762) unto them, My little H6995 [finger] shall be thicker H5666 (8804) than my father’s H1 loins H4975.
[11] And now whereas my father H1 did lade H6006 (8689) you with a heavy H3515 yoke H5923, I will add H3254 (8686) to your yoke H5923: my father H1 hath chastised H3256 (8765) you with whips H7752, but I will chastise H3256 (8762) you with scorpions H6137.
[12] So Jeroboam H3379 and all the people H5971 came H935 (8799) to Rehoboam H7346 the third H7992 day H3117, as the king H4428 had appointed H1696 (8765), saying H559 (8800), Come to me again H7725 (8798) the third H7992 day H3117.
[13] And the king H4428 answered H6030 (8799) the people H5971 roughly H7186, and forsook H5800 (8799) the old men’s H2205 counsel H6098 that they gave H3289 (8804) him;
[14] And spake H1696 (8762) to them after the counsel H6098 of the young men H3206, saying H559 (8800), My father H1 made H3513 your yoke H5923 heavy H3513 (8689), and I will add H3254 (8686) to your yoke H5923: my father H1 [also] chastised H3256 (8765) you with whips H7752, but I will chastise H3256 (8762) you with scorpions H6137.
[15] Wherefore the king H4428 hearkened H8085 (8804) not unto the people H5971; for the cause H5438 was from the LORD H3068, that he might perform H6965 (8687) his saying H1697, which the LORD H3068 spake H1696 (8765) by H3027 Ahijah H281 the Shilonite H7888 unto Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat H5028.
[16] So H7725 (8686) when all Israel H3478 saw H7200 (8799) that the king H4428 hearkened H8085 (8804) not unto them, the people H5971 answered H1697 the king H4428, saying H559 (8800), What portion H2506 have we in David H1732? neither [have we] inheritance H5159 in the son H1121 of Jesse H3448: to your tents H168, O Israel H3478: now see H7200 (8798) to thine own house H1004, David H1732. So Israel H3478 departed H3212 (8799) unto their tents H168.
[17] But [as for] the children H1121 of Israel H3478 which dwelt H3427 (8802) in the cities H5892 of Judah H3063, Rehoboam H7346 reigned H4427 (8799) over them.
[18] Then king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 sent H7971 (8799) Adoram H151, who [was] over the tribute H4522; and all Israel H3478 stoned H7275 (8799) him with stones H68, that he died H4191 (8799). Therefore king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 made speed H553 (8694) to get him up H5927 (8800) to his chariot H4818, to flee H5127 (8800) to Jerusalem H3389.
[19] So Israel H3478 rebelled H6586 (8799) against the house H1004 of David H1732 unto this day H3117.
[20] And it came to pass, when all Israel H3478 heard H8085 (8800) that Jeroboam H3379 was come again H7725 (8804), that they sent H7971 (8799) and called H7121 (8799) him unto the congregation H5712, and made him king H4427 (8686) over all Israel H3478: there was none that followed H310 the house H1004 of David H1732, but H2108 the tribe H7626 of Judah H3063 only.
[21] And when Rehoboam H7346 was come H935 (8799) to Jerusalem H3389, he assembled H6950 (8686) all the house H1004 of Judah H3063, with the tribe H7626 of Benjamin H1144, an hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 chosen men H977 (8803), which were warriors H6213 (8802) H4421, to fight H3898 (8736) against the house H1004 of Israel H3478, to bring H7725 the kingdom H4410 again H7725 (8687) to Rehoboam H7346 the son H1121 of Solomon H8010.
[22] But the word H1697 of God H430 came unto Shemaiah H8098 the man H376 of God H430, saying H559 (8800),
[23] Speak H559 (8798) unto Rehoboam H7346, the son H1121 of Solomon H8010, king H4428 of Judah H3063, and unto all the house H1004 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144, and to the remnant H3499 of the people H5971, saying H559 (8800),
[24] Thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068, Ye shall not go up H5927 (8799), nor fight H3898 (8735) against your brethren H251 the children H1121 of Israel H3478: return H7725 (8798) every man H376 to his house H1004; for this thing H1697 is H1961 (8738) from me. They hearkened H8085 (8799) therefore to the word H1697 of the LORD H3068, and returned H7725 (8799) to depart H3212 (8800), according to the word H1697 of the LORD H3068.
[25] Then Jeroboam H3379 built H1129 (8799) Shechem H7927 in mount H2022 Ephraim H669, and dwelt H3427 (8799) therein; and went out H3318 (8799) from thence, and built H1129 (8799) Penuel H6439.
[26] And Jeroboam H3379 said H559 (8799) in his heart H3820, Now shall the kingdom H4467 return H7725 (8799) to the house H1004 of David H1732:
[27] If this people H5971 go up H5927 (8799) to do H6213 (8800) sacrifice H2077 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 at Jerusalem H3389, then shall the heart H3820 of this people H5971 turn again H7725 (8804) unto their lord H113, [even] unto Rehoboam H7346 king H4428 of Judah H3063, and they shall kill H2026 (8804) me, and go again H7725 (8804) to Rehoboam H7346 king H4428 of Judah H3063.
[28] Whereupon the king H4428 took counsel H3289 (8735), and made H6213 (8799) two H8147 calves H5695 [of] gold H2091, and said H559 (8799) unto them, It is too much H7227 for you to go up H5927 (8800) to Jerusalem H3389: behold thy gods H430, O Israel H3478, which brought thee up H5927 (8689) out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714.
[29] And he set H7760 (8799) the one H259 in Bethel H1008, and the other H259 put H5414 (8804) he in Dan H1835.
[30] And this thing H1697 became a sin H2403: for the people H5971 went H3212 (8799) [to worship] before H6440 the one H259, [even] unto Dan H1835.
[31] And he made H6213 (8799) an house H1004 of high places H1116, and made H6213 (8799) priests H3548 of the lowest H7098 of the people H5971, which were not of the sons H1121 of Levi H3878.
[32] And Jeroboam H3379 ordained H6213 (8799) a feast H2282 in the eighth H8066 month H2320, on the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the month H2320, like unto the feast H2282 that [is] in Judah H3063, and he offered H5927 (8686) upon the altar H4196. So did H6213 (8804) he in Bethel H1008, sacrificing H2076 (8763) unto the calves H5695 that he had made H6213 (8804): and he placed H5975 (8689) in Bethel H1008 the priests H3548 of the high places H1116 which he had made H6213 (8804).
[33] So he offered H5927 (8686) upon the altar H4196 which he had made H6213 (8804) in Bethel H1008 the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the eighth H8066 month H2320, [even] in the month H2320 which he had devised H908 (8804) of his own heart H3820; and ordained H6213 (8799) a feast H2282 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478: and he offered H5927 (8686) upon the altar H4196, and burnt incense H6999 (8687).
Young’s Literal Translation
1 Kings 12 (YLT)
[1] And Rehoboam goeth to Shechem, for to Shechem hath all Israel come to make him king.
[2] And it cometh to pass, at Jeroboam son of Nebat’s hearing (and he is yet in Egypt where he hath fled from the presence of Solomon the king, and Jeroboam dwelleth in Egypt),
[3] that they send and call for him; and they come-Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel-and speak unto Rehoboam, saying,
[4] ‘Thy father made hard our yoke, and thou, now, make light some of the hard service of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we serve thee.’
[5] And he saith unto them, ‘Go-yet three days, and come back unto me;’ and the people go.
[6] And king Rehoboam consulteth with the elders who have been standing in the presence of Solomon his father, in his being alive, saying, ‘How are ye counselling to answer this people?’
[7] And they speak unto him, saying, ‘If, to-day, thou art servant to this people, and hast served them, and answered them, and spoken unto them good words, then they have been to thee servants all the days.’
[8] And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him, and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, who are standing before him;
[9] and he saith unto them, ‘What are ye counselling, and we answer this people, who have spoken unto me, saying, Lighten somewhat of the yoke that thy father put upon us?’
[10] And they speak unto him-the lads who had grown up with him-saying, ‘Thus dost thou say to this people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make it light upon us; thus dost thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father;
[11] and now, my father laid on you a heavy yoke, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I-I chastise you with scorpions.’
[12] And they come-Jeroboam and all the people-unto Rehoboam, on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, ‘Come back unto me on the third day.’
[13] And the king answereth the people sharply, and forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him,
[14] and speaketh unto them, according to the counsel of the lads, saying, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I-I chastise you with scorpions;’
[15] and the king hearkened not unto the people, for the revolution was from Jehovah, in order to establish His word that Jehovah spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam son of Nebat.
[16] And all Israel see that the king hath not hearkened unto them, and the people send the king back word, saying, ‘What portion have we in David? yea, there is no inheritance in the son of Jesse; to thy tents, O Israel; now see thy house, O David!’ and Israel goeth to its tents.
[17] As to the sons of Israel, those dwelling in the cities of Judah-over them reign doth Rehoboam.
[18] And king Rehoboam sendeth Adoram who is over the tribute, and all Israel cast at him stones, and he dieth; and king Rehoboam hath strengthened himself to go up into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem;
[19] and Israel transgresseth against the house of David unto this day.
[20] And it cometh to pass, at all Israel’s hearing that Jeroboam hath returned, that they send and call him unto the company, and cause him to reign over all Israel; none hath been after the house of David save the tribe of Judah alone.
[21] And Rehoboam cometh to Jerusalem, and assembleth all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors, to fight with the house of Israel, to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.
[22] And the word of God is unto Shemaiah a man of God, saying,
[23] ‘Speak unto Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people, saying,
[24] Thus said Jehovah, Ye do not go up nor fight with your brethren the sons of Israel; turn back each to his house, for from Me hath this thing been;’ and they hear the word of Jehovah, and turn back to go according to the word of Jehovah.
[25] And Jeroboam buildeth Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelleth in it, and goeth out thence, and buildeth Penuel;
[26] and Jeroboam saith in his heart, ‘Now doth the kingdom turn back to the house of David-
[27] if this people go up to make sacrifices in the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem, then hath the heart of this people turned back unto their lord, unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they have slain me, and turned back unto Rehoboam king of Judah.’
[28] And the king taketh counsel, and maketh two calves of gold, and saith unto them, ‘Enough to you of going up to Jerusalem; lo, thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.’
[29] And he setteth the one in Beth-El, and the other he hath put in Dan,
[30] and this thing becometh a sin, and the people go before the one-unto Dan.
[31] And he maketh the house of high places, and maketh priests of the extremities of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi;
[32] and Jeroboam maketh a festival in the eighth month, in the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival that is in Judah, and he offereth on the altar-so did he in Beth-El-to sacrifice to the calves which he made, and he hath appointed in Beth-El the priests of the high places that he made.
[33] And he offereth up on the altar that he made in Beth-El, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month that he devised of his own heart, and he maketh a festival to the sons of Israel, and offereth on the altar-to make perfume.