1
Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2
When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
3
They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam,
4
"Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you."
5
He said to them, "Come to me again in three days." So the people went away.
6
Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, "How do you advise me to answer this people?"
7
They answered him, "If you will be kind to this people and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."
8
But he rejected the advice that the older men gave him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him.
9
He said to them, "What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, "Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"