said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to
me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
[10] And the young men that were
brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee,
saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say
unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
[11] For whereas my father put a heavy
yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you
with scorpions.
[12] So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king
bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
[13] And the king answered them roughly; and king
Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
[14] And answered them after the advice 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.
[15] So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was
of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to
Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
[16] And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them,
the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance
in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all
Israel went to their tents.
[17] But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam
reigned over them.
[18] Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children
of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his
chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
[19] And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
2Chr.11
[1] And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin
an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he
might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
[2] But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man
of God, saying,
[3] Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah
and Benjamin, saying,
[4] Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return
every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned
from going against Jeroboam.
[5] And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
[6]
He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
[7] And Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
[8] And Gath,
and Mareshah, and Ziph,
[9] And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
[10] And Zorah, and Aijalon, and
Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
[11] And he fortified the strong holds, and put
captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
[12] And in every several city he put shields
and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
[13] And the
priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
[14] For the Levites
left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons
had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:
[15] And he ordained him priests
for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
[16] And after them out
of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to
sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.
[17] So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made
Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and
Solomon.
[18] And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and
Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
[19] Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and
Zaham.
[20] And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai,
and Ziza, and Shelomith.
[21] And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his
wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and
eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
[22] And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief,
to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
[23] And he dealt wisely, and dispersed
of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he
gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.