Study Desk

The young men he had grown up with said to him, "These people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy; but you, make it lighter for us' — here's the answer you should give them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!

When all Isra'el saw that the king wasn't listening to them, the people answered the king, "Do we have any share in David? We have no heritage in the son of Yishai! Go to your tents, Isra'el! Care for your own house, David!" So Isra'el left for their tents.

But as for the people of Isra'el living in the cities of Y'hudah, Rechav‘am ruled over them.

For if these people continue going up to offer sacrifices in the house of Adonai in Yerushalayim, their hearts will turn back to their lord, Rechav‘am king of Y'hudah. Then they will kill me and return to Rechav‘am king of Y'hudah."

and the affair became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one [in Beit-El and] all the way to Dan [to worship the other].

Yarov‘am instituted a festival in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, similar to the festival held in Y'hudah; he went up to the altar in Beit-El to sacrifice to the calves he had made; and he placed in Beit-El the cohanim he had appointed for the high places.

He went up to the altar which he had set up in Beit-El on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had chosen on his own, and instituted a festival for the people of Isra'el; he went up to the altar to burn incense.

The king then responded to the man of God. "Ask now the favor of Adonai your God," he said, "and pray for me, that my hand will be restored to me." The man of God prayed to Adonai , and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it had been before.

For this is the order I received through the word of Adonai : ‘Don't eat food or drink water, and don't return by the road you took when you came.'"

Their father asked them, "Which way did he go?" For his sons had seen what road the man of God from Y'hudah had taken.

He then said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him; and, riding on it,

After he had eaten food and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet he had brought back.

To his sons he said, "Saddle the donkey for me," and they saddled it.

For the thing he cried by the word of Adonai against the altar in Beit-El and against all the temples on the high places near the cities of Shomron will surely happen."

After this, Yarov‘am did not turn back from his evil way but continued appointing cohanim for the high places from among all the people; he consecrated anyone who wanted to be a cohen of the high places.

When Achiyah heard the sound of her feet as she came in the door, he said, "Enter, wife of Yarov‘am! Why pretend you are someone else? I've been given bad news for you.

Rather, you have committed more evil than anyone before you! You went and made other gods for yourself and images of cast metal to make me angry, but me you shoved behind your back!

If someone from the line of Yarov‘am dies in the city, the dogs will eat him; if he dies in the countryside, the vultures will eat him. For Adonai has said it.'

Moreover, Adonai will raise up for himself a king over Isra'el who at that time will cut off the house of Yarov‘am. And what will God do now?

Adonai will strike Isra'el until it shakes like a reed in the water; he will uproot Isra'el from this good land, which he gave to their ancestors, and scatter them beyond the [Euphrates] River; because they made sacred poles for themselves, thus making Adonai angry.