3
And they sent and called him; and Jerobo'am and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehobo'am,
4
"Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke upon us, and we will serve you."
5
He said to them, "Depart for three days, then come again to me." So the people went away.
6
Then King Rehobo'am took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, "How do you advise me to answer this people?"
7
And they said to him, "If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants for ever."
8
But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.
9
And 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 upon us'?"
10
And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but do you lighten it for us'; thus shall you say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
11
And now, whereas my father laid upon you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'"
12
So Jerobo'am and all the people came to Rehobo'am the third day, as the king said, "Come to me again the third day."
13
And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel which the old men had given him,