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1. Jeroboam son of Nebat was still in Egypt where he had run away from Solomon. When he heard about Solomon's death, he returned to his city, Zeredah, in the hills of Ephraim. Rehoboam and all of the Israelites went to Shechem to make him the king. The people said to Rehoboam,
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1. And Rehoboam H7346 went H1980 to Shechem H7927 : for H3588 all H3605 Israel H3478 were come H935 to Shechem H7927 to make him king H4427 H853 .
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2. vnumber="2">
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2. And it came to pass H1961 , when Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat H5028 , who H1931 was yet H5750 in Egypt H4714 , heard H8085 of it , ( for H834 he was fled H1272 from the presence H4480 H6440 of king H4428 Solomon H8010 , and Jeroboam H3379 dwelt H3427 in Egypt H4714 ;)
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3. vnumber="3">
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3. That they sent H7971 and called H7121 him . And Jeroboam H3379 and all H3605 the congregation H6951 of Israel H3478 came H935 , and spoke H1696 unto H413 Rehoboam H7346 , saying H559 ,
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4. "Your father forced us to work very hard. Now, make it easier for us. Stop the heavy work that your father forced us to do and we will serve you."
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4. Thy father H1 made H853 our yoke H5923 grievous H7185 : now H6258 therefore make thou H859 the grievous H7186 service H4480 H5656 of thy father H1 , and his heavy H3515 yoke H4480 H5923 which H834 he put H5414 upon H5921 us, lighter H7043 , and we will serve H5647 thee.
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5. Rehoboam answered, "Come back to me in three days, and I will answer you." So the people left.
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5. And he said H559 unto H413 them, Depart H1980 yet H5750 for three H7969 days H3117 , then come again H7725 to H413 me . And the people H5971 departed H1980 .
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6. There were some older men who had helped Solomon make decisions when he was alive. So King Rehoboam asked these men what he should do. He said, "How do you think I should answer the people?"
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6. And king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 consulted H3289 with H854 the old men H2205 , that H834 stood H5975 H853 before H6440 Solomon H8010 his father H1 while H1961 he yet lived H2416 , and said H559 , How H349 do ye H859 advise H3289 that I may answer H7725 H1697 H853 this H2088 people H5971 ?
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7. They answered, "If you are like a servant to them today, they will sincerely serve you. If you speak kindly to them, they will always work for you."
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7. And they spoke H1696 unto H413 him, saying H559 , If H518 thou wilt be H1961 a servant H5650 unto this H2088 people H5971 this day H3117 , and wilt serve H5647 them , and answer H6030 them , and speak H1696 good H2896 words H1697 to H413 them , then they will be H1961 thy servants H5650 forever H3605 H3117 .
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8. But Rehoboam did not listen to the advice from the older men. He asked the young men who were his friends.
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8. But he forsook H5800 H853 the counsel H6098 of the old men H2205 , which H834 they had given H3289 him , and consulted H3289 with H854 the young men H3206 that H834 were grown up H1431 with H854 him, and which H834 stood H5975 before H6440 him:
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9. Rehoboam asked them, "The people said, 'Give us easier work than your father gave us.' How do you think I should answer them? What should I tell them?"
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9. And he said H559 unto H413 them, What H4100 counsel H3289 give ye H859 that we may answer H7725 H1697 H853 this H2088 people H5971 , who H834 have spoken H1696 to H413 me, saying H559 , Make the yoke H5923 which H834 thy father H1 did put H5414 upon H5921 us lighter H7043 ?
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10. Then the young men who grew up with him answered, "Those people came to you and said, 'Your father forced us to work very hard. Now make our work easier.' So you should tell them, 'My little finger is stronger than my father's whole body.
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10. And the young men H3206 that H834 were grown up H1431 with H854 him spoke H1696 unto H413 him, saying H559 , Thus H3541 shalt thou speak H559 unto this H2088 people H5971 that H834 spoke H1696 unto H413 thee, saying H559 , Thy father H1 made H853 our yoke H5923 heavy H3513 , but make thou H859 it lighter H7043 unto H4480 H5921 us; thus H3541 shalt thou say H1696 unto H413 them , My little H6995 finger shall be thicker H5666 than my father H1 's loins H4480 H4975 .
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11. My father forced you to work hard, but I will make you work much harder! My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with whips that have sharp metal tips.'"
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11. And now H6258 whereas my father H1 did lade H6006 H5921 you with a heavy H3515 yoke H5923 , I H589 will add H3254 to H5921 your yoke H5923 : my father H1 hath chastised H3256 you with whips H7752 , but I H589 will chastise H3256 you with scorpions H6137 .
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12. Three days later, Jeroboam and all the people came back as Rehoboam had said.
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12. So Jeroboam H3379 and all H3605 the people H5971 came H935 to H413 Rehoboam H7346 the third H7992 day H3117 , as H834 the king H4428 had appointed H1696 , saying H559 , Come H7725 to H413 me again the third H7992 day H3117 .
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13. King Rehoboam did not listen to the advice from the older men, and he was rude to the people.
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13. And the king H4428 answered H6030 H853 the people H5971 roughly H7186 , and forsook H5800 H853 the old men H2205 's counsel H6098 that H834 they gave H3289 him;
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14. He did what his friends told him to do and said, "My father forced you to work hard, but I will make you work much harder! My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with whips that have sharp metal tips."
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14. And spoke H1696 to H413 them after the counsel H6098 of the young men H3206 , saying H559 , My father H1 made H853 your yoke H5923 heavy H3513 , and I H589 will add H3254 to H5921 your yoke H5923 : my father H1 also chastised H3256 you with whips H7752 , but I H589 will chastise H3256 you with scorpions H6137 .
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15. So the king did not do what the people wanted. The Lord caused this to happen. He did this in order to keep the promise he made to Jeroboam son of Nebat when he sent the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh to speak to him.
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15. Wherefore the king H4428 hearkened H8085 not H3808 unto H413 the people H5971 ; for H3588 the cause H5438 was H1961 from H4480 H5973 the LORD H3068 , that H4616 he might perform H6965 H853 his saying H1697 , which H834 the LORD H3068 spoke H1696 by H3027 Ahijah H281 the Shilonite H7888 unto H413 Jeroboam H3379 the son H1121 of Nebat H5028 .
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16. The Israelites saw that the new king refused to listen to them, so they said to him, "We are not part of David's family are we? We don't get any of Jesse's land do we? So people of Israel, let's go home and let David's son rule his own people!" So the Israelites went home.
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16. So when all H3605 Israel H3478 saw H7200 that H3588 the king H4428 hearkened H8085 not H3808 unto H413 them , the people H5971 answered H7725 H1697 H853 the king H4428 , saying H559 , What H4100 portion H2506 have we in David H1732 ? neither H3808 have we inheritance H5159 in the son H1121 of Jesse H3448 : to your tents H168 , O Israel H3478 : now H6258 see H7200 to thine own house H1004 , David H1732 . So Israel H3478 departed H1980 unto their tents H168 .
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17. But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.
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17. But as for the children H1121 of Israel H3478 which dwelt H3427 in the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 , Rehoboam H7346 reigned H4427 over H5921 them.
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18. A man named Adoniram was one of the men who directed the workers. King Rehoboam sent Adoniram to talk to the people, but the Israelites threw stones at him until he died. King Rehoboam ran to his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem.
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18. Then king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 sent H7971 H853 Adoram H151 , who H834 was over H5921 the tribute H4522 ; and all H3605 Israel H3478 stoned H7275 him with stones H68 , that he died H4191 . Therefore king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 made speed H553 to get him up H5927 to his chariot H4818 , to flee H5127 to Jerusalem H3389 .
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19. So Israel rebelled against the family of David, and this is how things are even today.
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19. So Israel H3478 rebelled H6586 against the house H1004 of David H1732 unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 .
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20. When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had come back, they called him to a meeting and made him king over all Israel. The tribe of Judah was the only tribe that continued to follow the family of David.
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20. And it came to pass H1961 , when all H3605 Israel H3478 heard H8085 that H3588 Jeroboam H3379 was come again H7725 , that they sent H7971 and called H7121 him unto H413 the congregation H5712 , and made him king H4427 H853 over H5921 all H3605 Israel H3478 : there was H1961 none H3808 that followed H310 the house H1004 of David H1732 , but H2108 the tribe H7626 of Judah H3063 only H905 .
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21. Rehoboam went back to Jerusalem and gathered together an army of 180,000 men from the families of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin. Rehoboam wanted to go fight against the Israelites and take back his kingdom.
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21. And when Rehoboam H7346 was come H935 to Jerusalem H3389 , he assembled H6950 H853 all H3605 the house H1004 of Judah H3063 , with H854 the tribe H7626 of Benjamin H1144 , a hundred H3967 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 chosen H977 men , which were warriors H6213 H4421 , to fight H3898 against H5973 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 , to bring H7725 H853 the kingdom H4410 again to Rehoboam H7346 the son H1121 of Solomon H8010 .
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22. But the Lord spoke to a man of God named Shemaiah. He said,
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22. But the word H1697 of God H430 came H1961 unto H413 Shemaiah H8098 the man H376 of God H430 , saying H559 ,
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23. "Talk to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to men of Judah and Benjamin.
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23. Speak H559 unto H413 Rehoboam H7346 , the son H1121 of Solomon H8010 , king H4428 of Judah H3063 , and unto H413 all H3605 the house H1004 of Judah H3063 and Benjamin H1144 , and to the remnant H3499 of the people H5971 , saying H559 ,
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24. Say to them, 'The Lord says that you must not go to war against your brothers. Everyone, go home! I made all this happen.'" So all the men in Rehoboam's army obeyed the Lord and went home.
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24. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , Ye shall not H3808 go up H5927 , nor H3808 fight H3898 against H5973 your brethren H251 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 : return H7725 every man H376 to his house H1004 ; for H3588 this H2088 thing H1697 is H1961 from H4480 H854 me . They hearkened H8085 therefore H853 to the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 , and returned H7725 to depart H1980 , according to the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 .
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25. Jeroboam rebuilt the city of Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. Later he went to the city of Penuel and rebuilt it.
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25. Then Jeroboam H3379 built H1129 H853 Shechem H7927 in mount H2022 Ephraim H669 , and dwelt H3427 therein ; and went out H3318 from thence H4480 H8033 , and built H1129 H853 Penuel H6439 .
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26. Jeroboam said to himself, "If the people keep going to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Lord's Temple, someday they will want to be ruled by their old masters. They will want to be ruled by King Rehoboam of Judah. And then they will kill me."
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26. And Jeroboam H3379 said H559 in his heart H3820 , Now H6258 shall the kingdom H4467 return H7725 to the house H1004 of David H1732 :
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27. vnumber="27">
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27. If H518 this H2088 people H5971 go up H5927 to do H6213 sacrifice H2077 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 at Jerusalem H3389 , then shall the heart H3820 of this H2088 people H5971 turn again H7725 unto H413 their lord H113 , even unto H413 Rehoboam H7346 king H4428 of Judah H3063 , and they shall kill H2026 me , and go again H7725 to H413 Rehoboam H7346 king H4428 of Judah H3063 .
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28. So the king asked his advisors what to do. They gave him their advice, and King Jeroboam made two golden calves. He said to the people, "You don't have to go to Jerusalem to worship anymore. Israel, these are the gods that brought you out of Egypt."
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28. Whereupon the king H4428 took counsel H3289 , and made H6213 two H8147 calves H5695 of gold H2091 , and said H559 unto H413 them , It is too much H7227 for you to go up H4480 H5927 to Jerusalem H3389 : behold H2009 thy gods H430 , O Israel H3478 , which H834 brought H5927 thee up out of the land H4480 H776 of Egypt H4714 .
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29. King Jeroboam put one golden calf in Bethel and the other one in the city of Dan.
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29. And he set H7760 H853 the one H259 in Bethel H1008 , and the other H259 put H5414 he in Dan H1835 .
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30. What a terrible sin this was, because the Israelites started going to the cities of Dan and Bethel to worship the calves.
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30. And this H2088 thing H1697 became H1961 a sin H2403 : for the people H5971 went H1980 to worship before H6440 the one H259 , even unto H5704 Dan H1835 .
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31. Jeroboam also built temples at the high places and chose priests from among the different tribes of Israel. (He did not choose priests only from the tribe of Levi.)
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31. And he made H6213 H853 a house H1004 of high places H1116 , and made H6213 priests H3548 of the lowest H4480 H7098 of the people H5971 , which H834 were H1961 not H3808 of the sons H4480 H1121 of Levi H3878 .
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32. Then King Jeroboam started a new festival that was like the festival in Judah, but it was on the 15 day of the eighth month. At this time the king offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He and the priests he chose offered the sacrifices to the calves that he had set up at the high places he had made.
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32. And Jeroboam H3379 ordained H6213 a feast H2282 in the eighth H8066 month H2320 , on the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the month H2320 , like unto the feast H2282 that H834 is in Judah H3063 , and he offered H5927 upon H5921 the altar H4196 . So H3651 did H6213 he in Bethel H1008 , sacrificing H2076 unto the calves H5695 that H834 he had made H6213 : and he placed H5975 in Bethel H1008 H853 the priests H3548 of the high places H1116 which H834 he had made H6213 .
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33. So King Jeroboam chose his own time for a festival for the Israelites, the 15 day of the eighth month. And during that time he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the altar he had built at Bethel.
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33. So he offered H5927 upon H5921 the altar H4196 which H834 he had made H6213 in Bethel H1008 the fifteenth H2568 H6240 day H3117 of the eighth H8066 month H2320 , even in the month H2320 which H834 he had devised H908 of his own heart H4480 H3820 ; and ordained H6213 a feast H2282 unto the children H1121 of Israel H3478 : and he offered H5927 upon H5921 the altar H4196 , and burnt incense H6999 .
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