And it came to pass, whenJeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fledfrom the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, thatJeroboamreturned out of Egypt.
Thy fathermade our yokegrievous: now thereforeeasethousomewhat the grievousservitude of thy father, and his heavyyokethat he put upon us, and we willservethee.
And kingRehoboamtookcounselwith the old men that had stoodbeforeSolomon his fatherwhile he yet lived, saying, Whatcounselgive ye me to returnanswer to thispeople?
And he saiduntothem, Whatadvicegive ye that we may returnanswer to thispeople, whichhavespoken to me, saying, Easesomewhat the yokethat thy father did put upon us?
And the young men thatwerebrought up with him spakeunto him, saying, Thusshaltthouanswer the peoplethatspakeuntothee, saying, Thy fathermade our yokeheavy, but makethou it somewhatlighter for us; thusshaltthou say untothem, My littlefingershall be thickerthan my father’sloins.
And answeredthemafter the advice of the young men, saying, My fathermadeyouryokeheavy, but I will add thereto: my fatherchastised you withwhips, but I willchastise you withscorpions.
So the kinghearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORDmightperform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
And when all Israel saw that the kingwould not hearkenuntothem, the peopleanswered the king, saying, Whatportionhave we in David? and we havenoneinheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to yourtents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israelwent to theirtents.
ThenkingRehoboamsentHadoramthat was over the tribute; and the children of Israelstoned him withstones, that he died. But kingRehoboammadespeed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.