Rebellion against Rehoboam
(2 Chronicles 10:1–15)

1Then Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) went to Shechem (shoulder), for all Israel (he wrestles with God) had gone there to make him king. 2When Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect) heard about this, he was still (he remained)a in Egypt (land of bondage) where he had fled from King Solomon (peace) and had been living ever since. 3So they sent for Jeroboam, and he (the people will contend) and the whole assembly of Israel (he wrestles with God) came to Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) and said, 4“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then return to me.” So the people departed.

6Then King Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon (peace) during his lifetime. “How do you⁺ advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.

7They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. 9He asked them, “What message do you⁺ advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11Whereas my father burdened you⁺ with a heavy yoke, I will add to your⁺ yoke. Whereas my father scourged you⁺ with whips, I will scourge you⁺ with scorpions.’”

12After three days, Jeroboam (the people will contend) and all the people returned to Rehoboam (a people has enlarged), since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.” 13And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders 14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your⁺ yoke heavy, I will add to your⁺ yoke. Whereas my father scourged you⁺ with whips, I will scourge you⁺ with scorpions.”

15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD {YHWH}, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect) through Ahijah (brother of Yah) the Shilonite.

The Kingdom Divided
(2 Chronicles 10:16–19)

16When all Israel (he wrestles with God) saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What portion do we have in David (beloved),

and what inheritance in the son of Jesse (I possess)?

To your tents, O Israel!

Look now to your own house, O David!”

So the Israelites went home, 17but Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) still reigned over the Israelites (God prevails) living in the cities of Judah (praised).

18Then King Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) sent out Adoram [Adoniram],b who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel (he wrestles with God) stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem (city of peace). 19So to this day Israel (he wrestles with God) has been in rebellion against the house of David (beloved).

Shemaiah’s Prophecy
(2 Chronicles 11:1–4)

20When all Israel (he wrestles with God) heard that Jeroboam (the people will contend) had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah (praised) followed the house of David (beloved).

21And when Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) arrived in Jerusalem (city of peace), he mobilized the whole house of Judah (praised) and the tribe of Benjamin (son of the right hand)—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against the house of Israel (he wrestles with God) and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon (peace).

22But the word of God {Elohim} came to Shemaiah (heard by YHWH) the man of God: 23“Tell Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) son of Solomon (peace) king of Judah (praised), all the house of Judah and Benjamin (son of the right hand), and the rest of the people 24that this is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘You⁺ are not to go up and fight against your⁺ brothers, the Israelites (God prevails). Each of you must return home, for this is My doing.’”

So they listened to the word of the LORD and turned back according to the word of the LORD.

Jeroboam’s Idolatry

25Then Jeroboam (the people will contend) built Shechem (shoulder) in the hill country of Ephraim (doubly fruitful) and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel (Peniel).c

26Jeroboam (the people will contend) said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David (beloved). 27If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD {YHWH} at Jerusalem (city of peace), their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam (a people has enlarged) king of Judah (praised); then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

28After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people \to them/,d “Going up to Jerusalem (city of peace) is too much for you⁺. Here, O Israel (he wrestles with God), are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage).”

29One calf he set up in Bethel (house of God), and the other in Dan (He has judged). 30And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship (He has judged) before one of the calves [the people walked to the one as far as Dan].e

31Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites (joined to). 32And Jeroboam (the people will contend) ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month,f like the feast that was in Judah (praised), and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made (house of God) this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.

33On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had set up in Bethel (house of God). So he ordained a feast for the Israelites (God prevails), offered sacrifices on the altar, and burned incense.