2 Chronicles

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

1Rehoboam went to a town called Shechem. All Israel had gone there 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.

2Jeroboam, son of Nebat, heard about this. He had run away to Egypt to get away from King Solomon. Now he came back from Egypt.

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

3The people sent for Jeroboam. So he and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam. They said:

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.

4"Your father made us work very hard. Make our work easier than he did. Then we will serve you as our king."

NoteThe old word here is "yoke." A yoke is a heavy wooden bar put on oxen to make them pull. People used it to mean hard work and heavy taxes.

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

5Rehoboam said, "Come back to me in three days." So the people went away.

6And 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?

6King Rehoboam talked with the older men who had helped his father Solomon. He asked, "What should I say to these 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.

7They said, "Be kind to these people. Speak kind words to them and make them glad. Then they will serve you always."

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.

8But Rehoboam said no to the older men's advice. He asked the young men he had grown up with, who now worked for 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?

9He asked them, "What should we tell these people? They asked me to make their work lighter than my father did."

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.

10The young men he grew up with said, "Tell them this. They say your father made their work heavy. Say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!'

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.

11'My father gave you heavy work. I will give you even more. My father beat you with whips. I will beat you with scorpions.'"

Note"Scorpions" here probably means whips with sharp points on them.

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.

12Three days later, Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam. The king had told them to come back on the third day.

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

13The king spoke to them in a hard, unkind way. He would not follow what the older men had said.

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.

14He said what the young men told him to say. "My father gave you heavy work. I will give you even more. My father beat you with whips. I will beat 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.

15So the king did not listen to the people. This happened because God had planned it. Long ago the LORD spoke through a man named Ahijah from Shiloh. Ahijah told Jeroboam, son of Nebat, what would happen. Now those words came true.

16And 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.

16All Israel saw the king would not listen. So the people said to the king, "We have no share in David. We get nothing from the son of Jesse. Israel, let us all go home! David, take care of your own family." So all Israel went home.

NoteJesse was David's father. So "the son of Jesse" means David.

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

17But some people of Israel lived in the towns of Judah. Rehoboam stayed king 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.

18King Rehoboam sent out a man named Hadoram. Hadoram made the people do hard work for the king. The people of Israel threw stones at him until he died. King Rehoboam jumped into his chariot fast. He ran away to Jerusalem.

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

19So Israel turned against David's family. They are still turned against it today.