1 Kings 12:3

3 So the people sent for Jeroboam. He and the whole community of Israel went to Rehoboam. They said to him,

1 Kings 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 12:3

That they sent and called him
That is, the people of Israel, some of the principal of them, especially of the tribe of Ephraim, sent messengers to him, and gave him an invitation to come to them at Shechem; or, they had sent ^F5, as Kimchi interprets it, which was the reason of his returning from Egypt, at least one of them:

and Jeroboam, and all the congregation of Israel, came;
the chief men of them, the heads of the people; these, with Jeroboam at the head of them, who was come out of Egypt, came to Shechem, where Rehoboam was, and they had appointed to meet him:

and spake unto Rehoboam;
one in the name of them all, perhaps Jeroboam:

saying;
as follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 So Pagninus, Montanus.

1 Kings 12:3 In-Context

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem. All of the people of Israel had gone there to make him king.

2 Jeroboam heard about it. He was the son of Nebat. Jeroboam was still in Egypt at that time. He had gone there for safety. He wanted to get away from King Solomon. But now he returned from Egypt.

3 So the people sent for Jeroboam. He and the whole community of Israel went to Rehoboam. They said to him,

4 "Your father put a heavy load on our shoulders. But now make our hard work easier. Make the heavy load on us lighter. Then we'll serve you."

5 Rehoboam answered, "Go away for three days. Then come back to me." So the people went away.