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'?"
10
The young men who had grown up with him said to him, "Thus should you speak to the people who said to you, "Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us'; tell them, "My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.
11
Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.' "
12
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had said, "Come to me again the third day."