Chapter 12

1

AND Rechav'am went to Shekem: for all Yashar'el were come to Shekem to make him king.

2

And it came to pass, when Yarov'am the son of Nevat, who was yet in Mitsrayim, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of King Shalomah, and Yarov'am dwelt in Mitsrayim;)

3

That they sent and called him. And Yarov'am and all the assembly of Yashar'el came, and spoke unto Rechav'am, saying,

4

Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve you.

5

And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.

6

And King Rechav'am consulted with the old men, that stood before Shalomah his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?

7

And they spoke unto him, saying, If you will be a servant unto this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.

8

But he forsook 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, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which your father did put upon us lighter?

10

And the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shall you speak unto this people that spoke unto you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter unto us; thus shall you say unto them, My 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 has chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

12

So Yarov'am and all the people came to Rechav'am the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

13

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

14

And spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My 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 from Yahuah, that he might perform his saying, which Yahuah spoke by Achiyahu the Shiyloniy unto Yarov'am the son of Nevat.

16

So when all Yashar'el saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Yishai: to your tents, O Yashar'el: now see to your own house, David. So Yashar'el departed unto their tents.

17

But as for the children of Yashar'el which dwelt in the cities of Yahudah, Rechav'am reigned over them.

18

Then King Rechav'am sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Yashar'el stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore King Rechav'am made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Yerushalayim.

19

So Yashar'el rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

20

And it came to pass, when all Yashar'el heard that Yarov'am was come again, that they sent and called him unto the assembly, and made him king over all Yashar'el: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Yahudah only.

21

And when Rechav'am was come to Yerushalayim, he assembled all the house of Yahudah, with the tribe of Binyamiyn, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Yashar'el, to bring the kingdom again to Rechav'am the son of Shalomah.

22

But the Word of Elohiym came unto Shema'yahu the man of Elohiym, saying,

23

Speak unto Rechav'am, the son of Shalomah, king of Yahudah, and unto all the house of Yahudah and Binyamiyn, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

24

Thus says Yahuah, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Yashar'el: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the Word of Yahuah, and returned to depart, according to the Word of Yahuah.

25

Then Yarov'am built Shekem in Mount Ephrayim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penu'el.

26

And Yarov'am said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

27

If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of Yahuah at Yerushalayim, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their adoniy, even unto Rechav`am king of Yahudah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rechav`am king of Yahudah.

28

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Yerushalayim: behold your elohiym, O Yashar'el, which brought you up out of the land of Mitsrayim.

29

And he set the one in Beyt-El, and the other put he in Dan.

30

And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

31

And he made a house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Leviy.

32

And Yarov'am ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Yahudah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beyt-El, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beyt-El the priests of the high places which he had made.

33

So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beyt-El the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Yashar'el: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.



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