Study Desk

God raised up [another] adversary to him, Rezon the son of Elyada, who had fled from his lord Hadad`ezer king of Tzovah.

Yarov`am the son of Nevat, an Efratite of Tzeredata, a servant of Shlomo, whose mother's name was Tzeru`ah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king.

This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Shlomo built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father.

because that they have forsaken me, and have worshiped `Ashoret the goddess of the Tzidonim, Kemosh the god of Mo'av, and Milkom the god of the children of `Ammon; and they have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my eyes, and [to keep] my statutes and my ordinances, as did David his father.

However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake whom I chose, who kept my mitzvot and my statutes;

but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it to you, even ten tribes.

To his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Yerushalayim, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

Now the rest of the acts of Shlomo, and all that he did, and his wisdom, aren't they written in the book of the acts of Shlomo?

Shlomo slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rechav`am his son reigned in his place.

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

King Rechav`am took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Shlomo his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give you me to return answer to this people?

So the king didn't listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about of the LORD, that he might establish his word, which the LORD spoke by Achiyah the Shiloni to Yarov`am the son of Nevat.

Then king Rechav`am sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Yisra'el stoned him to death with stones. King Rechav`am made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Yerushalayim.

Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers the children of Yisra'el: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they listened to the word of the LORD, and returned and went their way, according to the word of the LORD.

Yarov`am said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David:

He went up to the altar which he had made in Beit-El on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Yisra'el, and went up to the altar, to burn incense.

It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Beit-El, that Yarov`am put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. His hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to him.

Now there lived an old prophet in Beit-El; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beit-El: the words which he had spoken to the king, them also they told to their father.

Their father said to them, Which way did he go? Now his sons had seen which way the man of God went, who came from Yehudah.

He said to his sons, Saddle me the donkey. So they saddled him the donkey; and he rode thereon.