1 Kings 12

1 Kings Chapter 12 KJV

1The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to make Rehoboam king, appeal to him with Jeroboam at their head for redress of grievances. 6Rehoboam slighteth the good advice of his father's old counsellors, and consulteth with the young men, who advise to answer the people roughly. 12He followeth their indiscreet counsel. 16The ten tribes revolting kill Adoram, and make Rehoboam flee. 20Jeroboam is made king over Israel. 21Rehoboam raiseth an army to reduce the revolters, but is forbidden to proceed by the prophet Shemaiah. 25Jeroboam buildeth Shechem and Penuel. 26He setteth up the idolatrous worship of the golden calves in Beth-el and Dan.
1 And 1Rehoboam went to 2Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in 1Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and 2Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
4 Thy father made our 1yoke 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.
5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
6 ¶ And king Rehoboam 1consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
7 And they spake unto him, saying, 1If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
8 But he 1forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
9 And he said unto them, 1What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, 1My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12 ¶ So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
13 And the king answered the people aroughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;
14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, 1My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was 1from the Lord, that 2he might perform his saying, which 3the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16 ¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, 1What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
17 But as for 1the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18 Then king Rehoboam sent 1Adoram, who was over the tribute; and 2all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam amade speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19 So Israel arebelled against the house of David unto this day.
20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they 1sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was 2none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
21 ¶ And 1when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22 But 1the word of God came unto Shemaiah the 2man of God, saying,
23 Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the 1remnant of the people, saying,
24 Thus saith the Lord, 1Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; 2for this thing is from me. They 3hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart, according to the word of the Lord.
25 ¶ Then Jeroboam 1built 2Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built 3Penuel.
26 And Jeroboam 1said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
27 If this people 1go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they 2shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28 Whereupon the king 1took counsel, and made 2two calves of gold, and said unto them, 3It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
29 And he set the one in 1Beth-el, and the other put he in 2Dan.
30 And this thing 1became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even 2unto Dan.
31 And he made an 1house of high places, and made priests 2of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a 1feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto 2the feast that is in Judah, and he aoffered upon the altar. So did he in 3Beth-el, bsacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made.
33 So he aoffered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had 1devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he 2offered upon the altar, band burnt incense.
1 Kings 12