| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king. | 1Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king. |
| 2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. | 2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt, for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. |
| 3So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said, | 3The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak with Rehoboam. |
| 4“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” | 4“Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.” |
| 5Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed. | 5Rehoboam replied, “Come back in three days for my answer.” So the people went away. |
| 6Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked. | 6Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?” |
| 7They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.” | 7The older counselors replied, “If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.” |
| 8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. | 8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. |
| 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’?” | 9“What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?” |
| 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 should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! | 10The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘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.’ ” | 11Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’” |
| 12After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.” | 12Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to hear Rehoboam’s decision, just as the king had ordered. |
| 13And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders | 13But Rehoboam spoke harshly to them, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors |
| 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.” | 14and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” |
| 15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. | 15So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of God, for it fulfilled the LORD’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh. |
| 16When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home, | 16When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So all the people of Israel returned home. |
| 17but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. | 17But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah. |
| 18Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. | 18King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem. |
| 19So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David. | 19And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David. |
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