1  And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

1  And Roboam came to Sychem: for all Israel came to Sychem to make him king.

1  Now Rehoboam set out for Shechem. For in that place all of Israel had convened, so that they might appoint him as king.

2  And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it--for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon--that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.

2  But when Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, who was in Egypt, (indeed he had fled to that place from Solomon) had heard it, he promptly returned.

2  And it came to pass, when Jeroboam and all Israel heard it,

3  And they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying

3  And they summoned him, and he arrived with all of Israel. And they spoke to Rehoboam, saying

3  They came and said to Rehoboam the son of Solomon,

4  'Thy father made our yoke grievous; now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.'

4  “Your father pressed upon us a very difficult yoke. You should govern us more lightly than your father, who imposed on us a heavy servitude, and so lift up some of the burden, so that we may serve you.”

4  Your father made our yoke grievous; now therefore lighten somewhat the harsh rule of your father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve you.

5  And he said unto them: 'Come again unto me after three days.' And the people departed.

5  But he said, “Return to me after three days.” And when the people had gone away,

6  And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying: 'What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?'

6  And king Roboam assembled the elders that stood before his father Solomon in his life-time, saying, How do ye counsel me to return an answer to this people?

6  he took counsel with the elders, who had stood before his father Solomon while he was still living, saying, “What counsel would you give to me, so that I may respond to the people?”

7  And they spoke unto him, saying: 'If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.'

7  And they said to him, “If you please this people, and if you soothe them with words of clemency, they will be your servants for all days.”

8  But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him.

8  But he set aside the counsel of the elders, and he began to have discussion with the youth, who had been raised with him and who were among his companions.

9  And he said unto them: 'What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying: Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?'

9  And he said to them, What do ye advise that I should answer this people, who spoke to me, saying, Ease somewhat of the yoke which thy father laid upon us?

9  And he said to them: “How does it seem to you? Or how should I respond to this people, who have said to me, ‘Lift up the yoke that your father imposed upon us?’ ”

10  And the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him, saying: 'Thus shalt thou say unto the people that spoke unto thee, saying: Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them: My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.

10  But they responded like youths, having been raised with him in luxury, and they said: “So shall you speak to the people, who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy; you should lighten it,’ and so shall you respond to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than the back of my father.

11  And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'

11  My father imposed a heavy yoke upon you, and I will place more weight upon it. My father cut you with whips; truly, I will beat you with scorpions.’ ”

12  So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying: 'Come to me again the third day.'

12  And Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, Return to me on the third day.

12  Then Jeroboam, and the entire people, went to Rehoboam on the third day, just as he had instructed them.

13  And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

13  And the king responded harshly, abandoning the counsel of the elders.

14  and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying: ' My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.'

14  And he spoke according to the will of the youths: “My father imposed a heavy yoke upon you, which I will make heavier. My father cut you with whips; truly, I will beat you with scorpions.”

15  So the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was brought about of God, that YHWH might establish His word, which He spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

15  And the king hearkened not to the people, for there was a change of their minds from God, saying, The Lord has confirmed his word, which he spoke by the hand of Achia the Selonite concerning Jeroboam the son of Nabat, and concerning all Israel;

15  And he did not acquiesce to the pleadings of the people. For it was the will of God that his word be fulfilled, which he had spoken by the hand of Ahijah, the Shilonite, to Jeroboam, the son of Nabat.

16  And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying: 'What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to your tents, O Israel; now see to thine own house, David.' So all Israel departed unto their tents.

16  for the king did not hearken to them. And the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David, or inheritance in the son of Jessae? to thy tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel went to their tents.

16  Then the entire people, speaking more harshly to the king, spoke to him in this way: “There is no portion for us in David, and there is no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Return to your dwellings, O Israel. Then you, O David, shall pasture your own house.” And Israel went away to their dwellings.

17  But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

17  But the men of Israel, even those who dwelt in the cities of Juda, remained and made Roboam king over them.

17  But Rehoboam reigned over the sons of Israel who were living in the cities of Judah.

18  Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the levy; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, so that he died. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

18  And king Roboam sent to them Adoniram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. And king Roboam hasted to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19  So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

19  And Israel withdrew from the house of David, even to this day.

11:1  And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom back to Rehoboam.

1  And Roboam came to Jerusalem; and he assembled Juda and Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand young men fit for war, and he waged war with Israel to recover the kingdom to Roboam.

1  Then Rehoboam went to Jerusalem, and he called together the entire house of Judah and of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand elect men of war, so that he might contend against Israel, and turn back his kingdom to himself.

11:2  But the word of YHWH came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying

2  And the Word of the Lord came to Samaias the man of God, saying,

11:3  'Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying

11:4  Thus saith YHWH: Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren; return every man to his house, for this thing is of Me.' So they hearkened unto the words of the YHWH, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

4  Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, and ye shall not war against your brethren: return every one to his home; for this thing is of me. And they hearkened to the word of the Lord, and returned from going against Jeroboam.

4  Thus says the Lord: You shall not ascend and fight against your brothers. Let each one return to his own house. For it is by my will that this has happened.” And when they had heard the word of the Lord, they turned back, and they did not continue on against Jeroboam.

11:5  And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.

5  And Jeroboam built Shechem on the mountain of the tribe of the house of Ephraim, and dwelt in it; and went out from there and built Penuel.

11:6  He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,

6  And he built Bethleem, and Ætan and Thecoe,

6  And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David;

11:7  and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

7  If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again to their LORD, and they shall kill me and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

11:8  and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

8  indeed also Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

8  Therefore the king took counsel and made two calves of gold, and said to the people, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem, why should you go up to Jerusalem and come down? Then he said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

11:9  and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,

9  And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other he put in Dan.

11:10  and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.

10  And this thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before the calf, even to Dan. And this thing became a sin to all the house of Jeroboam, to be uprooted and destroyed from the earth.

11:11  And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and oil and wine.

11  And when he had enclosed them with walls, he placed in them rulers, and storehouses of provisions, that is, of oil and wine.

11  At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick; and Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise and disguise yourself, and be as a simple woman, that you may not be known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and go to Shiloh; behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who told me that I should be king over this people.

11:12  And in every city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And Judah and Benjamin adhered to him.

12  Moreover, in each city he made an armory of shields and spears, and he strengthened them with the utmost diligence. And he ruled over Judah and Benjamin.

12  Go to him; he shall tell you what shall become of this child.

11:13  And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel presented themselves to him out of all their border.

13  Then the priests and Levites, who were in all of Israel, came to him from all their settlements,

13  And the LORD said to Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to ask a thing of you concerning her son; for he is sick; thus and thus shall you say to her; for it shall be, when she comes in, that she will disguise herself.

11:14  For the Levites left their open land and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office unto YHWH;

14  leaving behind their suburbs and possessions, and crossing over to Judah and to Jerusalem. For Jeroboam and his followers had cast them out, so that they could not exercise the priestly office to the Lord.

14  And it came to pass, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said to her, Come in, wife of Jeroboam; why have you disguised yourself? For I am sent to tell you harsh words.

11:15  and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the satyrs, and for the calves which he had made.

15  And he made for himself priests of the high places, and for the idols, and for the vanities, and for the calves which Jeroboam made.

15  Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus says the LORD God of Israel: I have exalted you from among the people and made you king over my people Israel,

11:16  And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek YHWH, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the YHWH, the God of their fathers.

16  Moreover, out of all the tribes of Israel, whosoever would give their heart so that they sought the Lord God of Israel, they went to Jerusalem to immolate their victims before the Lord, the God of their fathers.

16  And took the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you; and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and who walked in my statutes with all his heart to do that which was right in my presence;

11:17  So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.

17  And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and they confirmed Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, for three years. For they walked in the ways of David and of Solomon, but only for three years.

17  But you have done evil above all kings who were before you; for you have gone and made for yourself idols of the nations, and images to blaspheme before me, and have cast my worship behind your back.

11:18  And Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

18  Then Rehoboam took as wife Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, and also Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, son of Jesse.

11:19  and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.

19  Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah and Zaham.

11:20  And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

20  And also after her, he married Maacah, the daughter of Absalom, who bore for him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.

11:21  And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines--for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines, and begot twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters.

21  And Roboam loved Maacha the daughter of Abessalom more than all his wives and all his concubines: for he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; and he begot twenty-eight sons, and sixty daughters.

11:22  And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, even the prince among his brethren; for he was minded to make him king.

22  And he made Abia the son of Maacha chief, even a leader among his brethren, for he intended to make him king.

22  Truly, he appointed as the head, Abijah, the son of Maacah, to be the ruler over all his brothers. For he thought to make him king,

11:23  And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fortified city; and he gave them victual in abundance. And he sought for them many wives.

23  And he was exalted beyond all his other sons in all the coasts of Juda and Benjamin, and in the strong cities; and he gave them provisions in great abundance: and he desired many wives.

23  since he was wiser and more powerful than all his sons, even in all the regions of Judah and Benjamin, and in all the fortified cities. And he provided them with very much food, and he sought many wives.

12:1  And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of YHWH, and all Israel with him.

1  And when the kingdom of Rehoboam had been strengthened and fortified, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all of Israel with him.

12:2  And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had dealt treacherously with YHWH,

2  Then, in the fifth year of the reign of Rehoboam, Shishak, the king of Egypt, ascended against Jerusalem (for they had sinned against the Lord)

12:3  with twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen; and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.

3  with one thousand two hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. And the common people could not be numbered who had arrived with him from Egypt, namely, the Libyans, and the Troglodytes, and the Ethiopians.

12:4  And he took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came unto Jerusalem.

4  And they obtained possession of the strong cities, which were in Juda, and came to Jerusalem.

4  And he seized the most fortified cities in Judah, and he went even to Jerusalem.

12:5  Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them: 'Thus saith YHWH: Ye have forsaken Me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.'

5  And Samaias the prophet came to Roboam, and to the princes of Juda that were gathered to Jerusalem for fear of Susakim, and said to them, Thus said the Lord, Ye have left me, and I will leave you in the hand of Susakim.

5  Then Shemaiah, the prophet, entered to Rehoboam, and to the leaders of Judah who had gathered together in Jerusalem while fleeing from Shishak, and he said to them: “Thus says the Lord: You have abandoned me, and so I have abandoned you into the hand of Shishak.”

12:6  Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said: 'YHWH is righteous.'

6  And the leaders of Israel, and the king, being in consternation, said, “The Lord is just.”

12:7  And when YHWH saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the YHWH came to Shemaiah, saying: 'They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.

7  And when the Lord saw that they repented, then came the word of the Lord to Samaias, saying, They have repented; I will not destroy them, but I will set them in safety for a little while, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem.

12:8  Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know My service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.'

8  Yet truly, they shall serve him, so that they may know the difference between my servitude, and the servitude of a kingdom of the lands.”

12:9  So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of YHWH, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all away; he took away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

9  So Susakim king of Egypt went up against Jerusalem, and took the treasures that were in the house of the Lord, and the treasures that were in the king’s house: he took all; and he took the golden shields which Solomon had made.

9  And so Shishak, the king of Egypt, withdrew from Jerusalem, taking up the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the house of the king. And he took away everything with him, even the gold shields that Solomon had made.

12:10  And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, that kept the door of the king's house.

10  In place of these, the king made bronze ones, and he delivered them to the leaders of the shield bearers, who were guarding the vestibule of the palace.

12:11  And it was so, that as oft as the king entered into the house of YHWH, the guard came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard-chamber.

11  And it came to pass, when the king went into the house of the Lord, the guards and the footmen went in, and they that returned to meet the footmen.

11  And when the king would enter into the house of the Lord, the shield bearers would arrive and take them, and they would carry them back to their armory.

12:12  And when he humbled himself, the anger of YHWH turned from him, that He would not destroy him altogether; and moreover in Judah there were good things found.

12  And when he repented, the anger of the Lord turned from him, and did not destroy him utterly; for there were good things in Juda.

12  Yet truly, because they were humbled, the wrath of the Lord turned away from them, and so they were not utterly destroyed. And indeed, good works were also found in Judah.

12:13  So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned; for Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which YHWH had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there; and his mother's name was Naamah the Ammonitess.

12:14  And he did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek YHWH.

14  But he did evil, and he did not prepare his heart so as to seek the Lord.

14  And he did evil before the LORD, for he did not prepare his heart to worship the LORD and to seek him with all his heart.

12:15  Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after the manner of genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

15  And the acts of Roboam, the first and the last, behold, are they not written in the book of Samaia the prophet, and Addo the seer, with his achievements.

12:16  And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David; and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

16  And Roboam made war with Jeroboam all his days. And Roboam died with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abia his son reigned in his stead.