Rehoboamרְחַבְעָםwentוַיֵּלֶךְto Shechem,שְׁכֶםforכִּיallכָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלhad comeבָּאto Shechemשְׁכֶםto make him king.לְהַמְלִיךְ וֹ
And it happenedוַיְהִיwhen Jeroboamכִּ יָרָבְעָםsonבֶּןof Nebatנְבָטheard of itשְׁמֹעַ—andוְheהוּאwas stillעוֹדֶנּוּin Egypt,בְמִצְרַיִםwhereאֲשֶׁרhe had fledבָּרַחfrom the presenceמִפְּנֵיof KingהַמֶּלֶךְSolomon,שְׁלֹמֹהand Jeroboamוַ יָרָבְעָםlivedיֵּשֶׁבin Egypt—בְּמִצְרָיִם
they sentוַיִּשְׁלְחוּand calledוַיִּקְרְאוּhim.לוֹAnd Jeroboamוַ יָרָבְעָםand allוְכָלthe assemblyקְהַלof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלcameיָּבֹאand spokeוַיְדַבְּרוּtoאֶלRehoboam,רְחַבְעָםsaying,לֵאמֹר
“Your fatherאָבִיךָhardenedהִקְשָׁהour yoke;עֻלֵּנוּnowעַתָּהyou,וְאַתָּהlightenהָקֵלthe hardהַקָּשָׁהserviceמֵעֲבֹדַתof your fatherאָבִיךָand his heavyוּמֵ הַכָּבֵדyokeעֻלּוֹthatאֲשֶׁרhe putנָתַןon us,עָלֵינוּand we will serve you.”וְנַעַבְדֶךָּ
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵיהֶם“Go awayלְכוּfor anotherעֹדthreeשְׁלֹשָׁהdays,יָמִיםand come backוְשׁוּבוּto me.”אֵלָיAnd the peopleוַ הָעָםwent away.יֵּלְכוּ
KingהַמֶּלֶךְRehoboamרְחַבְעָםsought counselוַיִּוָּעַץfromאֶתthe eldersהַזְּקֵנִיםwhoאֲשֶׁרhadהָיוּstoodעֹמְדִיםbeforeאֶת פְּנֵיSolomonשְׁלֹמֹהhis fatherאָבִיוwhile heבִּ וֹwasהְיֹתalive,חַיsaying,לֵאמֹר“Howאֵיךְdo youאַתֶּםcounsel meנוֹעָצִיםto answerלְהָשִׁיב דָּבָרthisהַזֶּהpeople?”הָעָם
They spokeוַיְדַבְּרוּto him,אֵלָיוsaying,לֵאמֹר“Ifאִםtodayהַיּוֹםyou areתִּהְיֶהa servantעֶבֶדto thisלָ הַזֶּהpeopleעָםand serve themוַעֲבַדְתָּםand answer themוַעֲנִיתָםand speakוְדִבַּרְתָּgoodטוֹבִיםwordsדְּבָרִיםto them,אֲלֵיהֶםthey will beוְהָיוּyourלְךָservantsעֲבָדִיםallכָּלthe days.”הַיָּמִים
But he abandonedוַיַּעֲזֹבthe counselעֲצַתof the eldersהַזְּקֵנִיםthatאֲשֶׁרthey had counseled him,יְעָצֻהוּand sought counselוַיִּוָּעַץfrom the young menהַיְלָדִיםwhoאֲשֶׁרhad grown upגָּדְלוּwith him,אִתּוֹwhoאֲשֶׁרstoodהָעֹמְדִיםbefore him.לְפָנָיו
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵיהֶם“Whatמָהdo youאַתֶּםcounselנוֹעָצִיםthat we answerוְנָשִׁיב דָּבָרthisהַזֶּהpeople,הָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרhave spokenדִּבְּרוּto me,אֵלַיsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Lightenהָקֵלthe yokeמִן הָעֹלthatאֲשֶׁרyour fatherאָבִיךָputנָתַןon us’?”עָלֵינוּ
The young menהַיְלָדִיםwhoאֲשֶׁרhad grown upגָּדְלוּwith himאִתּוֹspokeוַיְדַבְּרוּto him,אֵלָיוsaying,לֵאמֹר“Thusכֹּהyou shall sayתֹאמַרto thisלָ הַזֶּהpeopleעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרspokeדִּבְּרוּto you,אֵלֶיךָsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Your fatherאָבִיךָmade heavyהִכְבִּידour yoke,עֻלֵּנוּbut you,וְאַתָּהlighten itהָקֵלfrom on us’;מֵעָלֵינוּthusכֹּהyou shall speakתְּדַבֵּרto them:אֲלֵיהֶם‘My little fingerקָטָנִּיis thickerעָבָהthan the waistמִמָּתְנֵיof my father.אָבִי
And now,וְעַתָּהmy fatherאָבִיloadedהֶעְמִיסon youעֲלֵיכֶםa heavyכָּבֵדyoke,עֹלbut Iוַאֲנִיwill addאוֹסִיףtoעַלyour yoke;עֻלְּכֶםmy fatherאָבִיdisciplinedיִסַּרyouאֶתְכֶםwith whips,בַּשּׁוֹטִיםbut Iוַאֲנִיwill disciplineאֲיַסֵּרyouאֶתְכֶםwith scorpions.’”בָּעַקְרַבִּים
Jeroboamיָרָבְעָםand allוְכָלthe peopleהָעָםcameוַיָּבוֹאtoאֶלRehoboamרְחַבְעָםon the thirdבַּ הַשְּׁלִישִׁיday,יּוֹםasכַּאֲשֶׁרthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְhad spoken,דִּבֶּרsaying,לֵאמֹר“Come backשׁוּבוּto meאֵלַיon the thirdבַּ הַשְּׁלִישִׁיday.”יּוֹם
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְansweredוַיַּעַןthe peopleהָעָםharshly,קָשָׁהand abandonedוַיַּעֲזֹבthe counselעֲצַתof the eldersהַזְּקֵנִיםthatאֲשֶׁרthey had counseled him;יְעָצֻהוּ
and he spokeוַיְדַבֵּרto themאֲלֵיהֶםaccording to the counselכַּעֲצַתof the young men,הַיְלָדִיםsaying,לֵאמֹר“My fatherאָבִיmade heavyהִכְבִּידyour yoke,עֻלְּכֶםbut Iוַאֲנִיwill addאֹסִיףtoעַלyour yoke;עֻלְּכֶםmy fatherאָבִיdisciplinedיִסַּרyouאֶתְכֶםwith whips,בַּשּׁוֹטִיםbut Iוַאֲנִיwill disciplineאֲיַסֵּרyouאֶתְכֶםwith scorpions.”בָּעַקְרַבִּים
So the kingוְ הַמֶּלֶךְdid notלֹאlistenשָׁמַעtoאֶלthe people,הָעָםforכִּיit wasהָיְתָהa turn of eventsסִבָּהfromמֵעִםYHWH,יְהוָהso thatלְמַעַןhe might confirmהָקִיםhis wordדְּבָרוֹthatאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhad spokenדִּבֶּרthroughבְּיַדAhijahאֲחִיָּהthe ShiloniteהַשִּׁילֹנִיtoאֶלJeroboamיָרָבְעָםsonבֶּןof Nebat.נְבָט
When allוַ כָּלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלsawיַּרְאthatכִּיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְhad notלֹאlistenedשָׁמַעto them,אֲלֵיהֶםthe peopleוַ הָעָםansweredיָּשִׁבוּthe king,אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְsaying,דָּבָר לֵאמֹר“Whatמַהportionחֵלֶקdo we haveלָּנוּin David?בְּדָוִדWe have noוְלֹאinheritanceנַחֲלָהin the sonבְּבֶןof Jesse.יִשַׁיTo your tents,לְאֹהָלֶיךָIsrael!יִשְׂרָאֵלNowעַתָּהlook afterרְאֵהyour house,בֵיתְךָDavid!”דָּוִדSo Israelוַ יִשְׂרָאֵלwentיֵּלֶךְto his tents.לְאֹהָלָיו
But as for the sonsוּבְנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלwho livedהַיֹּשְׁבִיםin the citiesבְּעָרֵיof Judah,יְהוּדָהRehoboamרְחַבְעָםreignedוַיִּמְלֹךְover them.עֲלֵיהֶם
Kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְRehoboamרְחַבְעָםsentיִּשְׁלַחAdoram,אֲדֹרָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwas overעַלthe forced labor,הַמַּסand allוַ כָלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלstonedיִּרְגְּמוּhimבּוֹwith stones,אֶבֶןand he died.וַיָּמֹתAnd KingוְהַמֶּלֶךְRehoboamרְחַבְעָםhurriedהִתְאַמֵּץto get upלַעֲלוֹתinto the chariotבַּמֶּרְכָּבָהto fleeלָנוּסto Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלִָם
So Israelוַ יִשְׂרָאֵלrebelledיִּפְשְׁעוּagainst the houseבְּבֵיתof Davidדָּוִדuntilעַדthisהַזֶּהday.הַיּוֹם
And it happenedוַיְהִיwhen allכִּ כָּלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלheardשְׁמֹעַthatכִּיJeroboamיָרָבְעָםhad returned,שָׁבthey sentוַיִּשְׁלְחוּand calledוַיִּקְרְאוּhimאֹתוֹtoאֶלthe communityהָעֵדָהand made him kingוַיַּמְלִיכוּ וֹoverעַלallכָּלIsrael.יִשְׂרָאֵלThere was no oneלֹא הָיָהfollowingאַחֲרֵיthe houseבֵיתof Davidדָּוִדexceptזוּלָתִיthe tribeשֵׁבֶטof Judahיְהוּדָהalone.לְבַדּוֹ
Rehoboamרְחַבְעָםcameוַיָּבֹאto Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַםand assembledוַיַּקְהֵלallכָּלthe houseבֵּיתof Judahיְהוּדָהandוְthe tribeשֵׁבֶטof Benjamin,בִּנְיָמִןa hundredמֵאָהand eightyוּשְׁמֹנִיםthousandאֶלֶףchosenבָּחוּרwarriors,עֹשֵׂה מִלְחָמָהto fightלְהִלָּחֵםagainstעִםthe houseבֵּיתof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלto bring backלְהָשִׁיבthe kingdomהַמְּלוּכָהto Rehoboamלִרְחַבְעָםsonבֶּןof Solomon.שְׁלֹמֹה
But the wordוַ דְּבַרof ElohimהָאֱלֹהִיםcameיְהִיtoאֶלShemaiah,שְׁמַעְיָהthe manאִישׁof Elohim,הָאֱלֹהִיםsaying,לֵאמֹר
“SayאֱמֹרtoאֶלRehoboamרְחַבְעָםsonבֶּןof Solomon,שְׁלֹמֹהkingמֶלֶךְof Judah,יְהוּדָהand toוְאֶלallכָּלthe houseבֵּיתof Judahיְהוּדָהand Benjamin,וּבִנְיָמִיןand to the restוְיֶתֶרof the people,הָעָםsaying,לֵאמֹר
‘ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָהYou shall notלֹאgo upתַעֲלוּand you shall notוְלֹאfightתִלָּחֲמוּןagainstעִםyour brothers,אֲחֵיכֶםthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵלReturn,שׁוּבוּeach oneאִישׁto his house,לְבֵיתוֹforכִּיthisהַזֶּהthingהַדָּבָרhas come aboutנִהְיָהfrom me.’”מֵאִתִּיSo they listened toוַיִּשְׁמְעוּthe wordדְּבַרof YHWH,יְהוָהand turned backוַיָּשֻׁבוּto go home,לָלֶכֶתaccording to the wordכִּדְבַרof YHWH.יְהוָה
JeroboamיָרָבְעָםbuiltוַיִּבֶןShechemשְׁכֶםin the hill countryבְּהַרof Ephraim,אֶפְרַיִםand livedוַיֵּשֶׁבin it;בָּהּand he went outוַיֵּצֵאfrom thereמִשָּׁםand builtוַיִּבֶןPenuel.פְּנוּאֵל
Jeroboamיָרָבְעָםsaidוַיֹּאמֶרin his heart,בְּלִבּוֹ“Nowעַתָּהthe kingdomהַמַּמְלָכָהwill returnתָּשׁוּבto the houseלְבֵיתof David.דָּוִד
Ifאִםthisהַזֶּהpeopleהָעָםgoes upיַעֲלֶהto offerלַעֲשׂוֹתsacrificesזְבָחִיםin the houseבְּבֵיתof YHWHיְהוָהin Jerusalem,בִּירוּשָׁלִַםthe heartוְ לֵבof thisהַזֶּהpeopleהָעָםwill turn backשָׁבtoאֶלtheir lord,אֲדֹנֵיהֶםtoאֶלRehoboamרְחַבְעָםkingמֶלֶךְof Judah;יְהוּדָהthey will kill meוַהֲרָגֻנִיand returnוְשָׁבוּtoאֶלRehoboamרְחַבְעָםkingמֶלֶךְof Judah.”יְהוּדָה
So the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְsought counselיִּוָּעַץand madeוַיַּעַשׂtwoשְׁנֵיcalvesעֶגְלֵיof gold.זָהָבAnd he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵהֶם“Enoughרַבfor youלָכֶםof going upמֵעֲלוֹתto Jerusalem.יְרוּשָׁלִַםLook,הִנֵּהyour gods,אֱלֹהֶיךָIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלwhoאֲשֶׁרbrought you upהֶעֱלוּךָfrom the landמֵאֶרֶץof Egypt.”מִצְרָיִם
He setוַיָּשֶׂםthe oneהָאֶחָדin Bethel,בְּבֵית אֵלand the otherוְ הָאֶחָדhe putנָתַןin Dan.בְּדָן
And thisוַ הַזֶּהthingהַדָּבָרbecameיְהִיa sin;לְחַטָּאתand the peopleוַ הָעָםwentיֵּלְכוּbeforeלִפְנֵיthe oneהָאֶחָדas far asעַדDan.דָּן
He also madeוַיַּעַשׂa houseבֵּיתof high places,בָּמוֹתand madeוַיַּעַשׂpriestsכֹּהֲנִיםfrom among allמִקְצוֹתthe people,הָעָםwhoאֲשֶׁרwere notלֹא הָיוּof the sonsמִבְּנֵיof Levi.לֵוִי
Jeroboamיָרָבְעָםheldוַיַּעַשׂa festivalחָגin the eighthבַּ הַשְּׁמִינִיmonth,חֹדֶשׁon the fifteenthבַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂרdayיוֹםof the month,לַחֹדֶשׁlike the festivalכֶּחָגthatאֲשֶׁרwas in Judah,בִּיהוּדָהand he went upוַיַּעַלtoעַלthe altar.הַמִּזְבֵּחַSoכֵּןhe didעָשָׂהin Bethel,בְּבֵית אֵלsacrificingלְזַבֵּחַto the calvesלָעֲגָלִיםthatאֲשֶׁרhe had made;עָשָׂהand he stationedוְהֶעֱמִידin Bethelבְּבֵית אֵלthe priestsכֹּהֲנֵיof the high placesהַבָּמוֹתthatאֲשֶׁרhe had made.עָשָׂה
He went upוַיַּעַלtoעַלthe altarהַמִּזְבֵּחַthatאֲשֶׁרhe had madeעָשָׂהin Bethelבְּבֵית אֵלon the fifteenthבַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂרdayיוֹםin the eighthבַּ הַשְּׁמִינִיmonth,חֹדֶשׁin the monthבַּחֹדֶשׁthatאֲשֶׁרhe had devisedבָּדָאfrom his heart;מִלִּבּוֹand he heldוַיַּעַשׂa festivalחָגfor the sonsלִבְנֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand went upוַיַּעַלtoעַלthe altarהַמִּזְבֵּחַto offer up in smoke.לְהַקְטִיר