A reading from the book of Second Chronicles.

Rehoboam went to Shackham, for all Israel had come to Shackham to make him king.

And as soon as Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, heard of it, for he was in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon.

Then Jeroboam returned from Egypt, and they sent and called him.

And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam,

Your father made our yoke heavy.

Now therefore lightened the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and

we will serve you.

He said to them, come to me again in three days.

So the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men,

who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive,

saying,

How do you advise me to answer this people?

And they said to him,

if you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them,

then they will be your servants forever.

But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him,

and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

And he said to them, What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me,

lighten the yoke that your father put on us?

And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, Thus shall you speak to the people

...