7. They answered, “If you want them to serve and obey you, then you should do what they ask today. Tell them you will make their work easier.”
8. But Rehoboam refused their advice and went to the younger men who had grown up with him and were now his officials.
9. He asked, “What do you think I should say to these people who asked me to make their work easier?”
10. His younger advisers said:Here's what we think you should say to them: “Compared to me, my father was weak.
11. He made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!”
12. Three days later, Jeroboam and the others came back.
13. Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older advisers.
14. He spoke bluntly and told them exactly what his own advisers had suggested: “My father made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!”
20. When the Israelites heard that Jeroboam was back, they called everyone together. Then they sent for Jeroboam and made him king of Israel. Only the people from the tribe of Judah remained loyal to David's family.
21. After Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he decided to attack Israel and take control of the whole country. So he called together one hundred and eighty thousand soldiers from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
22. Meanwhile, God told Shemaiah the prophet