1 Kings 12:1-17

11Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had come to 2Shechem to make him king. 2Now 3when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard about this, 4he was living in Egypt (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon). 3Then they sent word and summoned him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4“5Your father made our yoke hard; but now, lighten the hard labor imposed by your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” 5Then he said to them, “6Depart 7for three days, then return to me.” So the people departed.

6And King Rehoboam 8consulted with the elders who had 9served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7Then they spoke to him, saying, “10If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and 11grant them their request, and speak pleasant words to them, then they will be your servants always.” 8But he ignored the advice of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him 12and served him. 9He said to them, “What advice do you give, so that we may answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” 10And the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “This is what you should say to this people who spoke to you, saying: ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!’ You should speak this way to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11Now then, my father loaded you with a heavy yoke; yet I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with 13scorpions!’”

12Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had 14directed, saying, “15Return to me on the third day.” 13And the king answered the people harshly, for he ignored the advice of the elders which they had 16given him, 14and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “17My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with 18scorpions!” 15So the king did not listen to the people; 19because it was 20a turn of events from the Lord, 21in order to establish His word which the Lord spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people replied to the king, saying, “What share do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; 22To your tents, Israel! Now look after your own house, David!” So Israel went away to their tents. 17But 23as for the sons of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.