17
But as for the children of Yisra'el who lived in the cities of Yehudah, Rechav`am reigned over them.
18
Then king Rechav`am sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Yisra'el stoned him to death with stones. King Rechav`am made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Yerushalayim.
19
So Yisra'el rebelled against the house of David to this day.
20
It happened, when all Yisra'el heard that Yarov`am was returned, that they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Yisra'el: there was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Yehudah only.
21
When Rechav`am was come to Yerushalayim, he assembled all the house of Yehudah, and the tribe of Binyamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Yisra'el, to bring the kingdom again to Rechav`am the son of Shlomo.
22
But the word of God came to Shemayah the man of God, saying,
23
Speak to Rechav`am the son of Shlomo, king of Yehudah, and to all the house of Yehudah and Binyamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,
24
Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers the children of Yisra'el: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they listened to the word of the LORD, and returned and went their way, according to the word of the LORD.
25
Then Yarov`am built Shekhem in the hill-country of Efrayim, and lived therein; and he went out from there, and built Penu'el.
26
Yarov`am said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David:
27
if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Yerushalayim, then will the heart of this people turn again to their lord, even to Rechav`am king of Yehudah; and they will kill me, and return to Rechav`am king of Yehudah.