1 Kings 12 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

The Northern Tribes Revolt

(2Ch 10:1–19; 11:1–4 )

1Ki 12:1Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had gathered to make him king.

1Ki 12:2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he returned from Egypt,[fn] for he had fled to Egypt to escape from King Solomon.

1Ki 12:3

1Ki 12:3The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam.

1Ki 12:4

1Ki 12:4“Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.”

1Ki 12:5

1Ki 12:5Rehoboam replied, “Give me three days to think this over. Then come back for my answer.” So the people went away.

1Ki 12:6

1Ki 12:6Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?”

1Ki 12:7

1Ki 12:7The older counselors replied, “If you are willing to be a servant to these people today and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”

1Ki 12:8

1Ki 12:8But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.

1Ki 12:9

1Ki 12:9“What is your advice?” he asked them. “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?”

1Ki 12:10

1Ki 12:10The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!

1Ki 12:11

1Ki 12:11Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”

1Ki 12:12

1Ki 12:12Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to hear Rehoboam’s decision, just as the king had ordered.

1Ki 12:13

1Ki 12:13But Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors

1Ki 12:14

1Ki 12:14and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”

1Ki 12:15

1Ki 12:15So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of the LORD, for it fulfilled the LORD’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.

1Ki 12:16

1Ki 12:16When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded,
“Down with the dynasty of David!
We have no interest in the son of Jesse.
Back to your homes, O Israel!
Look out for your own house, O David!” So the people of Israel returned home.

1Ki 12:17

1Ki 12:17But Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah.

1Ki 12:18

1Ki 12:18King Rehoboam sent Adoniram,[fn] who was in charge of the labor force, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.

1Ki 12:19

1Ki 12:19And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David.

1Ki 12:20

1Ki 12:20When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam’s return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the family of David.

Shemaiah’s Prophecy

1Ki 12:21

1Ki 12:21When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin—180,000 select troops—to fight against the men of Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.

1Ki 12:22

1Ki 12:22But God said to Shemaiah, the man of God,

1Ki 12:23

1Ki 12:23“Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,

1Ki 12:24

1Ki 12:24‘This is what the LORD says: Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of the LORD and went home, as the LORD had commanded.

Jeroboam Makes Gold Calves

1Ki 12:25

1Ki 12:25Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel.[fn]

1Ki 12:26

1Ki 12:26Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David.

1Ki 12:27

1Ki 12:27When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the LORD, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.”

1Ki 12:28

1Ki 12:28So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people,[fn] “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!”

1Ki 12:29

1Ki 12:29He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan—at either end of his kingdom.

1Ki 12:30

1Ki 12:30But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.

1Ki 12:31

1Ki 12:31Jeroboam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people—those who were not from the priestly tribe of Levi.

1Ki 12:32

1Ki 12:32And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month,[fn] in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah. There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices to the calves he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made.

1Ki 12:33

1Ki 12:33So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense.

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NLT Footnotes

(12:2)

As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Chr 10:2); Hebrew reads he lived in Egypt.

(12:18)

As in some Greek manuscripts and Syriac version (see also 4:6; 5:14); Hebrew reads Adoram.

(12:25)

Hebrew Penuel, a variant spelling of Peniel.

(12:28)

Hebrew to them.

(12:32)

This day of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late October or early November, exactly one month after the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah (see Lev 23:34).

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