Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all of Israel had gathered to make him king. When Jeroboam, who was in Egypt after fleeing from King Solomon, heard about Rehoboam's appointment, he returned out of Egypt.

They sent and called him; so Jeroboam and all Israel came to speak to Rehoboam, saying, "Your father made our yoke burdensome; now lighten the heavy service of your father that he imposed on us, and we will serve you. Your father made our yoke extremely burdensome; now, ease somewhat the heavy servitude of your father and his oppressive yoke that he imposed on us, and we will serve you."

King Rehoboam said to them, "Come back to me after three days." And the people departed. King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had stood before his father Solomon while he was still alive, asking them, "What advice do you give me to respond to this people?" They spoke to him, saying, "If you are kind to these people and please them by speaking well to them, they will be your servants forever."

But he rejected the counsel of the older men and took advice from the young men who had grown up with him, serving as his attendants. Rehoboam said to them, "What advice do you give? The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "This is how you should respond to the people: 'Your father made our yoke heavy; lighten it a bit for us.' Say to them, 'My little finger will be thicker than my father's loins.'"

For whereas my father laid upon you a heavy burden, I will add to your load; my father disciplined you with rods, but I will discipline you with scorpions. So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had instructed.

The king responded harshly, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." The king refused to listen to the people, because God had brought about this situation. When all Israel saw that King Rehoboam would not listen to them, they answered him, saying, "What share do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel; now see to thine own house, David."

So all Israel went to their tents. But Rehoboam ruled over those Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah. King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of collecting tribute, but the Israelites stoned him to death with stones; and King Rehoboam quickly got into his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.

Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.