2 Chronicles 10:1-11

Rehoboam’s Reign of Foolishness

¹Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. ²When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard about it (he was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned from Egypt. ³So they sent word and summoned him. When Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam, saying, ⁴“Your father made our yoke hard; but now, lighten the hard labor imposed by your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.” ⁵He said to them, “Return to me again in three days.” So the people departed.

⁶And then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” ⁷They spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to this people and please them and speak pleasant words to them, then they will be your servants always.” ⁸But he ignored the advice of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and served him. ⁹He said to them, “What advice do you give, so that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?” ¹⁰The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “This is what you should say to the people who spoke to you, saying: ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us!’ You should speak this way to them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! ¹¹Now then, my father loaded you with a heavy yoke; yet I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions!’ ”