Adoram

13Then King Solomon called men from all over Israel to work for him. There were thirty thousand of these workers.

And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

NoteThe king did not ask these men. He ordered them to come and work for him.

14He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand men each month, taking turns. Each man worked one month, then stayed home two months. A man named Adoniram was in charge of all these workers.

And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

15Solomon had seventy thousand men who carried heavy loads. He had eighty thousand more men who cut stone in the hills.

And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

NoteThe men cut the stones right out of the rocky hills. A place where people cut stone like this is called a quarry.

16He also had three thousand three hundred head workers. They watched over the men and told them what to do.

Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

17The king gave an order, and the men dug out huge stones. These stones cost a lot. Workers cut them smooth and square for the bottom of the house.

And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

NoteThe bottom part of a building is called the foundation. It holds up everything above it. Stones cut smooth and square sit together tightly and do not wobble.

18Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders shaped these stones. Men from the town of Gebal helped them too. Together they got the wood and stone ready to build the house.

And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

NoteGebal was a town on the seashore near Tyre. Its men were famous for shaping stone.

16All Israel saw that the king would not listen. So they said, "We have no share in David's family. Go home, Israel! David, take care of your own family." So the people of Israel went home.

So when all Israel 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 Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

NoteDavid was a famous king long ago. He was Rehoboam's grandfather.

17But some people of Israel lived in the towns of Judah. Rehoboam was still their king.

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

NoteJudah was the land in the south. Rehoboam still ruled the people who lived there.

18King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, the man in charge of forced work. All Israel threw stones at him until he died. King Rehoboam hurried into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.

Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

NoteForced work means work people had to do without pay. Adoram was the man who made them do it.

19So Israel turned against David's family, and they are still apart today.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

NoteFrom this day the land was split in two. The north was called Israel. The south was called Judah.

20All Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back. They called him to the meeting and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah stayed with David's family.

And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

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.

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.

NoteDavid was a famous king long ago. He was Rehoboam's great-grandfather. Jesse was David's father, so "the son of Jesse" means David. "Every man to your tents" was an old way of saying, "Let's all go home."

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

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

NoteJudah was the part of the land around Jerusalem. From now on the people were split into two groups.

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.

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.

NoteHadoram's job was making people work for the king. Throwing stones at someone was how angry crowds killed a person. A chariot is a small cart pulled by horses.

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

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

Note"The house of David" means David's family and the kings who came from it. "Unto this day" means the time when this story was written down.