A reading from the book of first kings.

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

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

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

And Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel

came and said to Rehoboam, Your father made our yoke heavy, now therefore lighten the hard

service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you. He said to them,

go away for three days, then come again to me, so the people went away. Then King Rea Bohum took counsel with the old man,

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 a servant to this people today and serve them,

and speak good words to them when you answer 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 this people who said to you, your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us.

Thus shall you say to them. My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs, and now whereas my

father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said,

Come to me again the third day.

And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him.

He spoke to them according to the

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