The First Book of Kings, Chapter 12מלכים א 12

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֖ם שְׁכֶ֑ם כִּ֥י שְׁכֶ֛ם בָּ֥א כָל יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהַמְלִ֥יךְ אֹתֽוֹ

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

וַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן נְבָ֗ט וְהוּא֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ בְמִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּרַ֔ח מִפְּנֵ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יָרָבְעָ֖ם בְּמִצְרָֽיִם

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard , (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)

וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ וַיִּקְרְאוּ ל֔וֹ ויבאו וַיָּבֹ֥א יָרָבְעָ֖ם וְכָל קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶל רְחַבְעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר

That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

אָבִ֖יךָ הִקְשָׁ֣ה אֶת עֻלֵּ֑נוּ וְאַתָּ֡ה עַתָּ֣ה הָקֵל֩ מֵעֲבֹדַ֨ת אָבִ֜יךָ הַקָּשָׁ֗ה וּמֵעֻלּ֧וֹ הַכָּבֵ֛ד אֲשֶׁר נָתַ֥ן עָלֵ֖ינוּ וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ

Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve you.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לְכ֥וּ עֹ֛ד שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וְשׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלָ֑י וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ הָעָֽם

And he said to them, Depart yet three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.

וַיִּוָּעַ֞ץ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם אֶת הַזְּקֵנִים֙ אֲשֶׁר הָי֣וּ עֹמְדִ֗ים אֶת פְּנֵי֙ שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה אָבִ֔יו בִּֽהְיֹת֥וֹ חַ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵ֚יךְ אַתֶּ֣ם נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת הָֽעָם הַזֶּ֖ה דָּבָֽר

And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do you advise that I may answer this people?

וידבר וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם הַ֠יּוֹם תִּֽהְיֶה עֶ֜בֶד לָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֔ם וַעֲנִיתָ֕ם וְדִבַּרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם דְּבָרִ֣ים טוֹבִ֑ים וְהָי֥וּ לְךָ֛ עֲבָדִ֖ים כָּל הַיָּמִֽים

And they spake to him, saying, If you will be a servant to this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants for ever.

וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְעָצֻ֑הוּ וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ אֶת הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָעֹמְדִ֖ים לְפָנָֽיו

But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, which stood before him:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם מָ֚ה אַתֶּ֣ם נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים וְנָשִׁ֥יב דָּבָ֖ר אֶת הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבְּר֤וּ אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הָקֵל֙ מִן הָעֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר נָתַ֥ן אָבִ֖יךָ עָלֵֽינוּ

And he said to them, What counsel give you that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which your father did put upon us lighter?

וַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ כֹּֽה תֹאמַ֣ר לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֡ה אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבְּר֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ לֵאמֹ֗ר אָבִ֨יךָ֙ הִכְבִּ֣יד אֶת עֻלֵּ֔נוּ וְאַתָּ֖ה הָקֵ֣ל מֵעָלֵ֑ינוּ כֹּ֚ה תְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם קָֽטָנִּ֥י עָבָ֖ה מִמָּתְנֵ֥י אָבִֽי

And the young men that were grown up with him spake to him, saying, Thus shall you speak to this people that spake to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you lighter to us; thus shall you say to them, My little shall be thicker than my father's loins.

וְעַתָּ֗ה אָבִי֙ הֶעְמִ֤יס עֲלֵיכֶם֙ עֹ֣ל כָּבֵ֔ד וַאֲנִ֖י אוֹסִ֣יף עַֽל עֻלְּכֶ֑ם אָבִ֗י יִסַּ֤ר אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֕י אֲיַסֵּ֥ר אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים

And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father has chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

ויבו וַיָּב֨וֹא יָרָבְעָ֧ם וְכָל הָעָ֛ם אֶל רְחַבְעָ֖ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שׁ֥וּבוּ אֵלַ֖י בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִֽׁי

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

וַיַּ֧עַן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת הָעָ֖ם קָשָׁ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָצֻֽהוּ

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כַּעֲצַ֤ת הַיְלָדִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָבִי֙ הִכְבִּ֣יד אֶֽת עֻלְּכֶ֔ם וַאֲנִ֖י אֹסִ֣יף עַֽל עֻלְּכֶ֑ם אָבִ֗י יִסַּ֤ר אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֕י אֲיַסֵּ֥ר אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים

And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

וְלֹֽא שָׁמַ֥ע הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל הָעָ֑ם כִּֽי הָיְתָ֤ה סִבָּה֙ מֵעִ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה לְמַ֜עַן הָקִ֣ים אֶת דְּבָר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר יְהוָה֙ בְּיַד֙ אֲחִיָּ֣ה הַשִּׁילֹנִ֔י אֶל יָרָבְעָ֖ם בֶּן נְבָֽט

Wherefore the king hearkened not to the people; for the cause was from YHWH, that he might perform his saying, which YHWH spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

וַיַּ֣רְא כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כִּ֠י לֹֽא שָׁמַ֣ע הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ אֲלֵיהֶם֒ וַיָּשִׁ֣בוּ הָעָ֣ם אֶת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּבָ֣ר לֵאמֹ֡ר מַה לָּנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק בְּדָוִ֜ד וְלֹֽא נַחֲלָ֣ה בְּבֶן יִשַׁ֗י לְאֹהָלֶ֨יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַתָּ֕ה רְאֵ֥ה בֵיתְךָ֖ דָּוִ֑ד וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְאֹהָלָֽיו

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to your own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents.

וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם רְחַבְעָֽם

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

וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם אֶת אֲדֹרָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל הַמַּ֔ס וַיִּרְגְּמ֨וּ כָל יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל בּ֛וֹ אֶ֖בֶן וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ לַעֲל֣וֹת בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֔ה לָנ֖וּס יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who 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.

וַיִּפְשְׁע֤וּ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּבֵ֣ית דָּוִ֔ד עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה

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

וַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי שָׁ֣ב יָרָבְעָ֔ם וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֗וּ וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ עַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֹ֤א הָיָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י בֵית דָּוִ֔ד זוּלָתִ֥י שֵֽׁבֶט יְהוּדָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ

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

ויבאו וַיָּבֹ֣א רְחַבְעָם֮ יְרוּשָׁלִַם֒ וַיַּקְהֵל֩ אֶת כָּל בֵּ֨ית יְהוּדָ֜ה וְאֶת שֵׁ֣בֶט בִּנְיָמִ֗ן מֵאָ֨ה וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף בָּח֖וּר עֹשֵׂ֣ה מִלְחָמָ֑ה לְהִלָּחֵם֙ עִם בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהָשִׁיב֙ אֶת הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה לִרְחַבְעָ֖ם בֶּן שְׁלֹמֹֽה

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

וַיְהִי֙ דְּבַ֣ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶל שְׁמַעְיָ֥ה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹֽר

But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

אֱמֹ֗ר אֶל רְחַבְעָ֤ם בֶּן שְׁלֹמֹה֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶל כָּל בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ין וְיֶ֥תֶר הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר

Speak to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

כֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֡ה לֹֽא תַעֲלוּ֩ וְלֹא תִלָּ֨חֲמ֜וּן עִם אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם בְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שׁ֚וּבוּ אִ֣ישׁ לְבֵית֔וֹ כִּ֧י מֵאִתִּ֛י נִהְיָ֖ה הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ לָלֶ֖כֶת כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהוָֽה

Thus says YHWH, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of YHWH, and returned to depart, according to the word of YHWH.

וַיִּ֨בֶן יָרָבְעָ֧ם אֶת שְׁכֶ֛ם בְּהַ֥ר אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב בָּ֑הּ וַיֵּצֵ֣א מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת פְּנוּאֵֽל

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יָרָבְעָ֖ם בְּלִבּ֑וֹ עַתָּ֛ה תָּשׁ֥וּב הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה לְבֵ֥ית דָּוִֽד

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

אִֽם יַעֲלֶ֣ה הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת זְבָחִ֤ים בְּבֵית יְהוָה֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְ֠שָׁב לֵ֣ב הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ אֶל אֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם אֶל רְחַבְעָ֖ם מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַהֲרָגֻ֕נִי וְשָׁ֖בוּ אֶל רְחַבְעָ֥ם מֶֽלֶךְ יְהוּדָֽה

If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of YHWH at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

וַיִּוָּעַ֣ץ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּ֕עַשׂ שְׁנֵ֖י עֶגְלֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם רַב לָכֶם֙ מֵעֲל֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם הִנֵּ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֱל֖וּךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves gold, and said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת הָאֶחָ֖ד בְּבֵֽית אֵ֑ל וְאֶת הָאֶחָ֖ד נָתַ֥ן בְּדָֽן

And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

וַיְהִ֛י הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לְחַטָּ֑את וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֶחָ֖ד עַד דָּֽן

And this thing became a sin: for the people went before the one, to Dan.

וַיַּ֖עַשׂ אֶת בֵּ֣ית בָּמ֑וֹת וַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֹּֽהֲנִים֙ מִקְצ֣וֹת הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא הָי֖וּ מִבְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי

And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

וַיַּ֣עַשׂ יָרָבְעָ֣ם חָ֡ג בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִ֣י בַּחֲמִשָּֽׁה עָשָׂר֩ י֨וֹם לַחֹ֜דֶשׁ כֶּחָ֣ג אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּיהוּדָ֗ה וַיַּ֨עַל֙ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כֵּ֤ן עָשָׂה֙ בְּבֵֽית אֵ֔ל לְזַבֵּ֖חַ לָעֲגָלִ֣ים אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂ֑ה וְהֶעֱמִיד֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔ל אֶת כֹּהֲנֵ֥י הַבָּמ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like to the feast that in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

וַיַּ֜עַל עַֽל הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂ֣ה בְּבֵֽית אֵ֗ל בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר בָּדָ֣א מלבד מִלִּבּ֑וֹ וַיַּ֤עַשׂ חָג֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּ֥עַל עַל הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לְהַקְטִֽיר

So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast to the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.