1 Kings 12
12:1And king Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel came unto Shechem to give him reign.
12:2And it came to pass as Jeroboam son of Nebat heard, and he was still being in Egypt, as he had fled from the face of king Solomon, and settled in Egypt,
12:3that they sent and called him. And Jeroboam came and all the people of Israel. And the people spoke to king Rehoboam, saying,
12:4Your father hardened our neck yoke. And you now, lighten of the hard servitude of your father, and from his heavy neck yoke! of which he put upon us, and we will serve to you.
12:5And he said to them, Go forth for three days, and return to me! And they went forth.
12:6And king Rehoboam reported to the elders, the ones who were standing before Solomon his father while he was still living, saying, How do you counsel that I should answer to this people a word?
12:7And they spoke to him, saying, If in this day you will be a servant to this people, and should serve them, and shall speak to them with good words, then they will be to you servants all the days.
12:8And he abandoned the counsel of the elders which they advised him, and he took up advice with the young men being brought up with him, of the ones standing before his face.
12:9And he said to them, What do you advise, and what should I answer to this people speaking to me, saying, Lighten up the neck yoke which your father put upon us?
12:10And they spoke to him, the young men having been brought up with him; and they said, Thus you shall speak to this people, to the ones speaking to you, saying, Your father oppressed our neck yoke, and you now lighten it from us! Thus you shall say to them, My thinness is thicker than the loin of my father.
12:11And now, my father saddled you with a heavy neck yoke, and I will add unto your neck yoke. My father corrected you with whips, but I will correct you with scorpions.
12:12And Jeroboam came, and all Israel to king Rehoboam on the third day as the king spoke to them, saying, Return to me the third day!
12:13And the king answered to the people hard. And Rehoboam abandoned the counsel of the elders which they advised him.
12:14And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father oppressed your neck yoke, and I shall add to your neck yoke. My father corrected you with whips, and I will correct you with scorpions.
12:15And the king did not hear the people, for he was converted by the lord, so that his word should stand, which he spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite over Jeroboam son of Nebat.
12:16And all Israel knew that the king did not hearken to them. And the people answered to the king, saying, What is our portion with David? and, There is no inheritance to us with the son of Jesse. Run, O Israel, to your tents! Now graze your own house, David! And Israel went forth to his tents.
12:17And the sons of Israel, the ones dwelling in the cities of Judah -- Rehoboam reigned over them.
12:18And king Rehoboam sent Adoram, the one for collecting the tribute. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. And king Rehoboam anticipated to ascend upon the chariot to flee into Jerusalem.
12:19And Israel annulled allegiance with the house of David until this day.
12:20And it came to pass as all Israel heard that Jeroboam returned from out of Egypt, that they sent and called him to the congregation. And they gave him reign over Israel. And there was none following after the house of David except the chiefdom of Judah and Benjamin only.
12:21And Rehoboam entered into Jerusalem, and he held an assembly of all the congregation of Judah, and the chiefdom of Benjamin -- a hundred and twenty thousand young men for making war, to wage war against the house of Israel, to return the kingdom of Rehoboam son of Solomon.
12:22And there came to pass the word of the lord to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
12:23Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people! saying,
12:24Thus says the lord, You shall not ascend, nor wage war with your brethren of the sons of Israel. Let each return to his house! for from me this thing has taken place. And they hearkened to the word of the lord, and they ceased to go against the thing of the lord.
12:25And Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and he dwelt in it. And he went forth from there and built Penuel.
12:26And Jeroboam said in his heart, Behold, now the kingdom shall return to the house of David,
12:27if this people should ascend to offer a sacrifice in the house of the lord in Jerusalem, then the heart of the people shall turn towards their master, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me.
12:28And the king consulted, and made two heifers of gold. And he said to the people, Let it be enough for you to ascend to Jerusalem! Behold, your gods, O Israel, the ones leading you from out of the land of Egypt.
12:29And he put the one in Beth-el, and the other one he put in Dan.
12:30And this account came to pass for sin. And the people went after the one unto Dan.
12:31And he made houses upon high places, and he appointed priests from any part of the people who were not of the sons of Levi.
12:32And Jeroboam made a holiday feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, according to the holiday, the one in Judah. And he ascended unto the altar which he made in Beth-el, to sacrifice to the heifers which he made. And he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he made.
12:33And he ascended unto the altar which he made in the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the holiday which he shaped out of his own heart. And he made the holiday for the sons of Israel, and he ascended unto the altar to sacrifice upon it.