1 Kings 12:6-15

6And King Rehoboam 1consulted with the elders who had 2served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7Then they spoke to him, saying, “3If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and 4grant 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 5and 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 6scorpions!’”

12Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had 7directed, saying, “8Return to me on the third day.” 13And the king answered the people harshly, for he ignored the advice of the elders which they had 9given him, 14and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “10My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with 11scorpions!” 15So the king did not listen to the people; 12because it was 13a turn of events from the Lord, 14in order to establish His word which the Lord spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.