2 Chronicles 10

Israelites ask Rehoboam for lighter workload

All of Israel went to Shechem to make Rehoboam king. As soon as Jeroboam (Nebat's son) heard this, he left Egypt (where he was hiding from King Solomon) and went back to Israel. When he got there, Jeroboam and the Israelites told Rehoboam, "Your father made our burdens heavy. If you lighten our heavy load, we will serve you." Rehoboam replied, "Come back in three days," so the people left him alone.

Rehoboam increases workload

King Rehoboam sought the old men who advised his father, Solomon, and asked them, "How do you think I should answer the people?" And they told him, "If you are good to them, make them happy, and tell them good things, they will be your servants forever." But he abandoned their counsel and instead listened to his friends who were his own age. When he asked his friends, they said, "If the Israelites think that your father gave them a heavy burden, then you should tell them, 'My pinky finger is heavier than my father's thighs. Whatever sized burden my father gave you, mine will be bigger. My father disciplined you with whips, but I'll discipline you with scorpions.'"

So when Jeroboam and the Israelites came back to Rehoboam on the third day, the king answered them harshly. He ignored the old men's advice, and followed his friends' advice, saying, "Whatever sized burden my father gave you, mine will be bigger. My father disciplined you with whips, but I'll discipline you with scorpions." The king didn't listen to the people because it was a turn of events that God the Existing One brought about to fulfill his word which Ahijah (the Shilonite) told Jeroboam (Nebat's son).

Israel rebels against David’s lineage to this day

When all the Israelites realized that the king didn't listen to them, they replied, "Why should we care about David's descendants? We get no inheritance from him. Everyone go back to your own home! David's descendants can rely on themselves." So all the Israelites went back to their own homes, and Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites who continued to live in Judah's cities. Rehoboam sent Hadoram (the taskmaster over the slaves), and the Israelites stoned him to death. Then Rehoboam got in his chariot and ran away to Jerusalem. Israel has been rebelling against David's lineage ever since.

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2 Chronicles 11

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2 Chronicles 9