4 “Your|strong="H5414" father|strong="H0001" forced us|strong="H5414" to|strong="H5921" work|strong="H5656" very|strong="H6258" hard|strong="H7186". Now|strong="H6258", make|strong="H5414" it|strong="H5414" easier|strong="H7043" for|strong="H5921" us|strong="H5414". Stop the|strong="H0853" heavy|strong="H3515" work|strong="H5656" that|strong="H0834" your|strong="H5414" father|strong="H0001" forced us|strong="H5414" to|strong="H5921" do|strong="H5647" and|strong="H0001" we|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" serve|strong="H5647" you|strong="H0859".”
5 Rehoboam answered|strong="H0559", “Come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" in|strong="H0413" three|strong="H7969" days|strong="H3117", and|strong="H7725" I|strong="H3117" will|strong="H5750" answer|strong="H7725" you|strong="H3117".” So|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H5971" left|strong="H7725".
6 There|strong="H1961" were|strong="H0834" some|strong="H5971" older|strong="H2205" men|strong="H5971" who|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" helped Solomon|strong="H8010" make|strong="H7725" decisions when|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0834" was|strong="H1961" alive|strong="H2416". So|strong="H1961" King|strong="H4428" Rehoboam|strong="H7346" asked|strong="H0559" these|strong="H2088" men|strong="H5971" what|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" should|strong="H0001" do|strong="H2088". He|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559", “How|strong="H0349" do|strong="H2088" you|strong="H0859" think|strong="H0559" I|strong="H0834" should|strong="H0001" answer|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971"?”
7 They|strong="H0518" answered|strong="H0559", “If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0518" are|strong="H3117" like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" servant|strong="H5650" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413" today|strong="H3117", they|strong="H0518" will|strong="H1961" sincerely serve|strong="H5647" you|strong="H0518". If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0518" speak|strong="H1696" kindly|strong="H2896" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413", they|strong="H0518" will|strong="H1961" always|strong="H3117" work|strong="H5647" for|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0518".”
8 But|strong="H5800" Rehoboam|strong="H1431" did|strong="H0834" not listen to|strong="H6440" the|strong="H0853" advice|strong="H6098" from|strong="H6440" the|strong="H0853" older|strong="H2205" men|strong="H2205". He|strong="H0834" asked the|strong="H0853" young|strong="H3206" men|strong="H2205" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" his|strong="H0834" friends.
9 Rehoboam asked|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413", “The|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" said|strong="H0559", ‘Give|strong="H5414" us|strong="H5414" easier|strong="H7043" work|strong="H1697" than|strong="H4480" your|strong="H5414" father|strong="H0001" gave|strong="H5414" us|strong="H5414".’ How|strong="H4100" do|strong="H4100" you|strong="H0859" think|strong="H0559" I|strong="H0834" should|strong="H4100" answer|strong="H7725" them|strong="H0413"? What|strong="H4100" should|strong="H4100" I|strong="H0834" tell|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413"?”
10 Then|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0853" young|strong="H3206" men|strong="H5971" who|strong="H0834" grew|strong="H1431" up|strong="H5921" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H0413" answered|strong="H0559", “Those|strong="H0834" people|strong="H5971" came|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0859" and|strong="H0001" said|strong="H0559", ‘Your|strong="H5921" father|strong="H0001" forced us|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" work very|strong="H2088" hard. Now|strong="H2088" make|strong="H1431" our|strong="H5921" work easier|strong="H7043".’ So|strong="H3541" you|strong="H0859" should|strong="H0001" tell|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413", ‘My|strong="H5921" little|strong="H6995" finger|strong="H6995" is|strong="H0834" stronger than|strong="H5921" my|strong="H5921" father’s|strong="H0001" whole body|strong="H4975".
11 My|strong="H5921" father|strong="H0001" forced you|strong="H5921" to|strong="H5921" work hard|strong="H3515", but|strong="H6258" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H0589" make|strong="H3254" you|strong="H5921" work much|strong="H3515" harder! My|strong="H5921" father|strong="H0001" punished|strong="H3256" you|strong="H5921" with|strong="H5921" whips|strong="H7752", but|strong="H6258" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H0589" punish|strong="H3256" you|strong="H5921" with|strong="H5921" whips|strong="H7752" that|strong="H0001" have|strong="H0001" sharp metal tips.’”
12 Three|strong="H7992" days|strong="H3117" later|strong="H7992", Jeroboam|strong="H3379" and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" came|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" as|strong="H0834" Rehoboam|strong="H7346" had|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559".
13 King|strong="H4428" Rehoboam did|strong="H0834" not listen to|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" advice|strong="H6098" from|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" older|strong="H2205" men|strong="H5971", and|strong="H4428" he|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" rude to|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971".
14 He|strong="H0853" did|strong="H3254" what|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" friends told|strong="H0559" him|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H3254" and|strong="H0001" said|strong="H0559", “My|strong="H5921" father|strong="H0001" forced you|strong="H5921" to|strong="H0413" work hard, but|strong="H1696" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H0589" make|strong="H3254" you|strong="H5921" work much|strong="H5921" harder! My|strong="H5921" father|strong="H0001" punished|strong="H3256" you|strong="H5921" with|strong="H0413" whips|strong="H7752", but|strong="H1696" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H0589" punish|strong="H3256" you|strong="H5921" with|strong="H0413" whips|strong="H7752" that|strong="H0559" have|strong="H0001" sharp metal tips.”
15 So|strong="H4616" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" do|strong="H3027" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" wanted|strong="H4616". The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" caused|strong="H1961" this|strong="H3588" to|strong="H0413" happen|strong="H1961". He|strong="H0834" did|strong="H0834" this|strong="H3588" in|strong="H0413" order|strong="H4616" to|strong="H0413" keep|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0853" promise|strong="H1697" he|strong="H0834" made|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" Jeroboam|strong="H3379" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nebat|strong="H5028" when|strong="H3588" he|strong="H0834" sent|strong="H3027" the|strong="H0853" prophet|strong="H1696" Ahijah|strong="H0281" from|strong="H3027" Shiloh to|strong="H0413" speak|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413".
16 The|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" saw|strong="H7200" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" new king|strong="H4428" refused|strong="H3808" to|strong="H0413" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413", so|strong="H3808" they|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413",
17 But|strong="H5921" Rehoboam|strong="H7346" still|strong="H3427" ruled|strong="H4427" over|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" Israelites|strong="H3478" who|strong="H1121" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H5921" cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063".
18 A|strong="H7971" man|strong="H4191" named Adoniram|strong="H0151" was|strong="H0834" one|strong="H3605" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" men|strong="H3605" who|strong="H0834" directed the|strong="H3605" workers. King|strong="H4428" Rehoboam|strong="H7346" sent|strong="H7971" Adoniram|strong="H0151" to|strong="H4191" talk to|strong="H4191" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834", but|strong="H4191" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" threw stones|strong="H0068" at|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921" until|strong="H5921" he|strong="H0834" died|strong="H4191". King|strong="H4428" Rehoboam|strong="H7346" ran|strong="H5127" to|strong="H4191" his|strong="H3605" chariot|strong="H4818" and|strong="H3478" escaped|strong="H5127" to|strong="H4191" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
19 So|strong="H2088" Israel|strong="H3478" rebelled|strong="H6586" against|strong="H6586" the|strong="H5704" family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" David|strong="H1732", and|strong="H3478" this|strong="H2088" is|strong="H2088" how things|strong="H3478" are|strong="H3117" even|strong="H5704" today|strong="H3117".
20 When|strong="H3588" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" heard|strong="H8085" that|strong="H3588" Jeroboam|strong="H3379" had|strong="H1961" come|strong="H1961" back|strong="H7725", they|strong="H3588" called|strong="H7121" him|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" a|strong="H1961" meeting and|strong="H3063" made|strong="H1961" him|strong="H0413" king|strong="H4427" over|strong="H5921" all|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478". The|strong="H3605" tribe|strong="H7626" of|strong="H1004" Judah|strong="H3063" was|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" only|strong="H0905" tribe|strong="H7626" that|strong="H3588" continued|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" follow|strong="H0310" the|strong="H3605" family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" David|strong="H1732".
21 Rehoboam|strong="H7346" went|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" and|strong="H1121" gathered|strong="H6950" together|strong="H5973" an|strong="H0935" army|strong="H3389" of|strong="H1121" 180,000 men|strong="H0970" from|strong="H7725" the|strong="H3605" families|strong="H0505" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" tribe|strong="H7626" of|strong="H1121" Benjamin|strong="H1144". Rehoboam|strong="H7346" wanted to|strong="H0935" go|strong="H0935" fight|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5973" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" and|strong="H1121" take|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" his|strong="H3605" kingdom|strong="H4410".
22 But|strong="H1961" God|strong="H0430" spoke|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" a|strong="H1961" prophet|strong="H0376" named Shemaiah|strong="H8098". He|strong="H0430" said|strong="H0559",
23 “Talk to|strong="H0413" Rehoboam|strong="H7346", the|strong="H3605" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Solomon|strong="H8010", king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063", and|strong="H1121" to|strong="H0413" men|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H1121" Benjamin|strong="H1144".
24 Say|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0853", ‘The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559" that|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" must|strong="H0853" not|strong="H3808" go|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0559" war against|strong="H5973" your|strong="H3068" brothers|strong="H0251". Everyone|strong="H0376", go|strong="H5927" home|strong="H1004"! I|strong="H3588" made|strong="H1961" all|strong="H1697" this|strong="H2088" happen|strong="H1961".’” So|strong="H3541" all|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" in|strong="H3068" Rehoboam’s army|strong="H5927" obeyed|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". They|strong="H3588" went|strong="H5927" home|strong="H1004", just|strong="H1697" as|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" commanded|strong="H0559".
25 Jeroboam|strong="H3379" rebuilt|strong="H1129" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H3427" Shechem|strong="H7927", in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" hill|strong="H2022" country|strong="H2022" of|strong="H3427" Ephraim|strong="H0669", and|strong="H8033" lived|strong="H3427" there|strong="H8033". Later he|strong="H8033" went|strong="H3318" to|strong="H8033" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H3427" Penuel|strong="H6439" and|strong="H8033" rebuilt|strong="H1129" it|strong="H8033".
28 So|strong="H6213" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" asked|strong="H0559" his|strong="H0834" advisors what|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H6213". They|strong="H0834" gave|strong="H0559" him|strong="H0413" their|strong="H0834" advice|strong="H3289", and|strong="H3478" King|strong="H4428" Jeroboam made|strong="H6213" two|strong="H8147" golden|strong="H2091" calves|strong="H5695". He|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H0834", “You|strong="H0834" don’t have|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0413" go|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0413" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to|strong="H0413" worship|strong="H3478" anymore. Israel|strong="H3478", these|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0559" gods|strong="H0430" that|strong="H0834" brought|strong="H5927" you|strong="H0834" out|strong="H0413" of|strong="H4428" Egypt|strong="H4714".”
29 King Jeroboam put|strong="H5414" one|strong="H0259" golden calf in|strong="H5414" Bethel|strong="H1008" and|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" other|strong="H0259" one|strong="H0259" in|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H0259" Dan|strong="H1835".
30 What|strong="H1697" a|strong="H1961" terrible sin|strong="H2403" this|strong="H2088" was|strong="H1961", because|strong="H6440" the|strong="H6440" Israelites|strong="H2088" started|strong="H1961" going to|strong="H5704" the|strong="H6440" cities of|strong="H1697" Dan|strong="H1835" and|strong="H6440" Bethel to|strong="H5704" worship the|strong="H6440" calves.
31 Jeroboam also|strong="H0853" built|strong="H6213" temples|strong="H1004" at|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" high|strong="H1116" places|strong="H1116" and|strong="H1121" chose|strong="H6213" priests|strong="H3548" from|strong="H1121" among|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0853" different tribes of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H5971". (He|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" choose priests|strong="H3548" only from|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" tribe of|strong="H1121" Levi|strong="H3878".)
32 Then|strong="H0853" King|strong="H5921" Jeroboam|strong="H3379" started a|strong="H2076" new|strong="H2320" festival|strong="H2282" that|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" like|strong="H3651" the|strong="H0853" festival|strong="H2282" in|strong="H5921" Judah|strong="H3063", but|strong="H3651" it|strong="H5921" was|strong="H0834" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" 15th day|strong="H3117" of|strong="H3117" the|strong="H0853" eighth|strong="H8066" month|strong="H2320". At|strong="H5921" this|strong="H3651" time|strong="H3117" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H5921" offered|strong="H5927" sacrifices|strong="H2076" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" altar|strong="H4196" at|strong="H5921" Bethel|strong="H1008". He|strong="H0834" and|strong="H3063" the|strong="H0853" priests|strong="H3548" he|strong="H0834" chose|strong="H6213" offered|strong="H5927" the|strong="H0853" sacrifices|strong="H2076" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" calves|strong="H5695" that|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" set|strong="H5975" up|strong="H5927" at|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" high|strong="H1116" places|strong="H1116" he|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" made|strong="H6213".
33 So|strong="H6213" King|strong="H5921" Jeroboam chose|strong="H6213" his|strong="H5921" own time|strong="H3117" for|strong="H5921" a|strong="H0834" festival|strong="H2282" for|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" Israelites|strong="H3478", the|strong="H0834" 15th day|strong="H3117" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0834" eighth|strong="H8066" month|strong="H2320". And|strong="H1121" during|strong="H3117" that|strong="H0834" time|strong="H3117" he|strong="H0834" offered|strong="H5927" sacrifices|strong="H6999" and|strong="H1121" burned|strong="H6999" incense|strong="H6999" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0834" altar|strong="H4196" he|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" built|strong="H6213" at|strong="H5921" Bethel|strong="H1008".