1 Kings 12:1–5

¹AND Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.

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

³And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

⁴Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

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

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?

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

⁸But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

⁹And he 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?

¹⁰And 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.

¹¹For 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.

¹²So 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.

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

¹⁴And 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.

¹⁵So 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.

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

¹⁸Then 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.

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

¹¶ And ^*Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.

²And it came to passe when Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat (who was in Egypt, whither hee had fled from the presence of Solomon the king) heard it, that Ieroboam returned out of Egypt.

³And they sent and called him. So Ieroboam and all Israel came, and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

⁴Thy father made our yoke grieuous, nowe therefore ease thou somewhat the grieuous seruitude of thy father, and his heauy yoke that he put vpon vs, and we will serue thee.

⁵And hee said vnto them, Come againe vnto me after three dayes. And the people departed.

⁶¶ And king Rehoboam tooke counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father, while hee yet liued, saying, What counsell giue ye me, to returne answere to this people?

⁷And they spake vnto him, saying, If thou bee kinde to this people, and please them, and speake good words to them, they will be thy seruants for euer.

⁸But he forsooke the counsel which the old men gaue him, and tooke counsell with the yong men, that were brought vp with him, that stood before him.

⁹And he said vnto them, What aduice giue ye, that wee may returne answere to this people, which haue spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put vpon vs?

¹⁰And the yong men that were brought vp with him, spake vnto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answere the people that spake vnto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heauy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for vs: thus shalt thou say vnto them, My litle finger shall be thicker then my fathers loynes.

¹¹For where as my father ^†put a heauy yoke vpon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹²So Ieroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the King bade, saying, Come againe to me on the third day.

¹³And the king answered them roughly, and king Rehoboam forsooke the counsell of the old men,

¹⁴And answered them after the aduice of the yong men, saying, My father made your yoke heauy, but I will adde thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹⁵So the king hearkened not vnto the people, for the cause was of God, that the LORD might performe his word, which he spake by the ^*hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat.

¹⁶¶ And when all Israel sawe that the king would not hearken vnto them, the people answered the king saying, What portion haue wee in Dauid? and wee haue none inheritance in the sonne of Iesse: Euery man to your tents, O Israel: and now Dauid, see to thine owne house. So all Israel went to their tents.

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

¹⁸Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was ouer the tribute, and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died: but king Rehoboam ^†made speed to get him vp to his charet, to flee to Ierusalem.

¹⁹And Israel rebelled against the house of Dauid vnto this day.

⁶And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

⁶And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech King, ^‖by the plaine of the pillar that was in Shechem.

⁴³And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

⁴³And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the citie of Dauid his father: and ^*Rehoboam his sonne reigned in his stead.

⁶¶ And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

⁶¶ And Abram passed through the land, vnto the place of Sichem, vnto the plaine of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

¹⁸¶ And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.

¹⁹And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.

¹⁸¶ And Iacob came to Shalem, a citie of ^*Shechem, which is the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram, and pitched his tent before the Citie.

¹⁹And he bought a parcell of a field where hee had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of ^*Hamor Shechems father, for an hundred ^‖pieces of money.

⁷¶ And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.

⁷¶ And they ^†appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (which is Hebron) in the mountaine of Iudah.

¹AND Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

¹¶ And Ioshua gathered all the Tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the Elders of Israel, and for their Heads, and for their Iudges, and for their Officers, and they presented themselues before God.

³²¶ And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

³²¶ And ^*the bones of Ioseph, which the children of Israel brought vp out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcell of ground which Iacob bought of ^*the sonnes of Hamor the father of Shechem, for an hundred ^‖pieces of siluer; and it became the inheritance of the children of Ioseph.

¹AND Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

¹¶ And Abimelech the sonne of Ierubbaal went to Shechem, vnto his mothers brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mothers father, saying;

⁶God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

⁶God hath spoken in his holinesse, I wil reioyce: I will diuide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

¹⁶And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.

¹⁶And were caried ouer into Sichem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a summe of money of the sonnes of Emor the father of Sichem.

⁴⁰Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

⁴⁰Solomon sought therefore to kill Ieroboam, and Ieroboam arose, and fledde into Egypt, vnto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt vntill the death of Solomon.

²⁶¶ And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.

²⁷And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

²⁸And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

²⁹And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

³⁰And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

³¹And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

²⁶¶ And ^*Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomons seruant, (whose mothers name was Zeruah a widow woman) euen he lift vp his hand against the king.

²⁷And this was the cause that hee lift vp his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and ^†repaired the breaches of the citie of Dauid his father.

²⁸And the man Ieroboam was a mightie man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he ^†was industrious, hee made him ruler ouer all the ^†charge of the house of Ioseph.

²⁹And it came to passe at that time when Ieroboam went out of Ierusalem, that the Prophet Ahiiah the Shilonite found him in the way: and hee had clad himselfe with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field.

³⁰And Ahiiah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelue pieces.

³¹And he said to Ieroboam, Take thee tenne pieces: for thus sayth the LORD the God of Israel, Behold, I will rent the kingdome out of the hand of Solomon, and will giue ten tribes to thee:

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

³And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

²And it came to passe when Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat (who was in Egypt, whither hee had fled from the presence of Solomon the king) heard it, that Ieroboam returned out of Egypt.

³And they sent and called him. So Ieroboam and all Israel came, and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

¹¹And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

¹²And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

¹³And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

¹⁴And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

¹⁵And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

¹⁶And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

¹⁷He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

¹⁸And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

¹¹And hee sayd, This will be the maner of the king that shall reigne ouer you: Hee will take your sonnes, and appoint them for himselfe for his charets, and to bee his horsemen, and some shall runne before his charets.

¹²And hee will appoint him Captaines ouer thousands, and captaines ouer fifties, and will set them to eare his ground, and to reape his haruest, and to make his instruments of warre, and instruments of his charets.

¹³And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cookes, and to be bakers.

¹⁴And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliue-yards, euen the best of them, and giue them to his seruants.

¹⁵And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and giue to his ^†officers, and to his seruants.

¹⁶And hee will take your men seruants, and your mayd seruants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his worke.

¹⁷Hee will take the tenth of your sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.

¹⁸And ye shall cry out in that day, because of your king which ye shall haue chosen you; and the LORD will not heare you in that day.

⁷¶ And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.

⁷¶ And Solomon had twelue officers ouer all Israel, which prouided victuals for the king and his houshold: each man his moneth in a yeere made prouision.

²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

²⁹Take my yoke vpon you, and learne of me, for I am meeke and lowly in heart: ^*and yee shall find rest vnto your soules.

^30*For my yoke is easie, and my burden is light.

²⁰¶ Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.

²¹And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.

²²¶ And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,

²³Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

²⁴For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

²⁵And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.

²⁰¶ Iudah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merrie.

²¹And ^*Solomon reigned ouer all kingdoms from the riuer vnto the land of the Philistines, and vnto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and serued Solomon all the dayes of his life.

²²¶ And Solomons ^†prouision for one day, was thirtie measures of fine floure, and threescore ^†measures of meale,

²³Ten fat oxen, and twentie oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheepe, beside Harts, and Roe-buckes, and fallow Deere, and fatted foule.

²⁴For he had dominion ouer all the region on this side the Riuer, from Tiphsah euen to Azzah ouer all the kings on this side the Riuer: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

²⁵And Iudah and Israel dwelt ^†safely, euery man vnder his Uine, and vnder his Figtree, from Dan euen to Beer-sheba, all the dayes of Solomon.

⁴Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

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

⁴Thy father made our yoke grieuous, nowe therefore ease thou somewhat the grieuous seruitude of thy father, and his heauy yoke that he put vpon vs, and we will serue thee.

⁵And hee said vnto them, Come againe vnto me after three dayes. And the people departed.

⁴For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

^4*For they binde heauie burdens, and grieuous to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders, but they themselues will not mooue them with one of their fingers.

³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

³For this is the loue of God, that we keepe his commandements, and his commandements are not grieuous.

¹⁵¶ And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the Lord, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.

¹⁵¶ And this is the reason of the leuie which king Solomon raised, for to build the house of the LORD, and his owne house, and Millo, and the wall of Ierusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.

²²But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.

²³These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon’s work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.

²²But of the children of Israel did Solomon ^*make no bondmen: but they were men of warre, and his seruants, and his princes, and his captaines, and rulers of his charets, and his horsemen.

²³These were the chiefe of the officers that were ouer Solomons worke, fiue hundred and fiftie, which bare rule ouer the people that wrought in the worke.

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.

¹²¶ So Ieroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me againe the third day.