2
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt,heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of kingSolomon, and Jeroboamdwelt in Egypt;)
4
Thy fathermade our yokegrievous: now therefore make thou the grievousservice of thy father, and his heavyyoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
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And kingRehoboamconsulted with the old men, that stoodbeforeSolomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I mayanswer this people?
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And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speakgoodwords to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
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But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stoodbefore him:
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And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we mayanswer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
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And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy fathermade our yokeheavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father'sloins.
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And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavyyoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
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And spake to them after the counsel of the young men,saying, My fathermade your yokeheavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
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Wherefore the kinghearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORDspakebyAhijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
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So when all Israelsaw that the kinghearkened not unto them, the peopleanswered the king,saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house,David. So Israeldeparted unto their tents.
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Then kingRehoboamsentAdoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israelstoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore kingRehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
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And it came to pass, when all Israelheard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David,but the tribe of Judah only.
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And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscorethousand chosen men, which were warriors*, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdomagain to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
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Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel:return every man to his house; for this thingis from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
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If this people go up to dosacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboamking of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboamking of Judah.
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Whereupon the king took counsel, and madetwocalves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
32
And Jeroboamordained a feast in the eighthmonth, on the fifteenth*day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel,sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
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So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth*day of the eighthmonth, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.