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1 KINGS 12
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went to Pharaoh, who gave them a home, food,
and some land. 19 Pharaoh grew very fond of
Hadad, and he gave him his wife’s sister in
marriage—the sister of Queen Tahpenes. 20 She
bore him a son named Genubath. Tahpenes
raised him* in Pharaoh’s palace among Pharaoh’s own sons.
21 When the news reached Hadad in Egypt
that David and his commander Joab were both
dead, he said to Pharaoh, “Let me return to my
own country.”
22 “Why?” Pharaoh asked him. “What do you
lack here that makes you want to go home?”
“Nothing,” he replied. “But even so, please
let me return home.”
23 God also raised up Rezon son of Eliada as
Solomon’s adversary. Rezon had fled from his
master, King Hadadezer of Zobah, 24 and had
become the leader of a gang of rebels. After David conquered Hadadezer, Rezon and his men
fled to Damascus, where he became king. 25 Rezon was Israel’s bitter adversary for the rest of
Solomon’s reign, and he made trouble, just as
Hadad did. Rezon hated Israel intensely and
continued to reign in Aram.
Jeroboam Rebels against Solomon
26 Another rebel leader was Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon’s own officials. He came
from the town of Zeredah in Ephraim, and his
mother was Zeruah, a widow.
27 This is the story behind his rebellion. Solomon was rebuilding the supporting terraces*
and repairing the walls of the city of his father,
David. 28 Jeroboam was a very capable young
man, and when Solomon saw how industrious
he was, he put him in charge of the labor force
from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the
descendants of Joseph.
29 One day as Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him
along the way. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak.
The two of them were alone in a field, 30 and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing
and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 Then he said to
Jeroboam, “Take ten of these pieces, for this is
what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am
about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you!
32 But I will leave him one tribe for the sake of
my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes
of Israel. 33 For Solomon has* abandoned me
and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the
Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and
Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not
11:20 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads weaned him.
11:27 Hebrew the millo. The meaning of the Hebrew is
uncertain. 11:33 As in Greek, Syriac, and Latin Vulgate;
Hebrew reads For they have. 12:2 As in Greek version and
Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Chr 10:2); Hebrew reads he lived
in Egypt.
followed my ways and done what is pleasing
in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and
regulations as David his father did.
34 “‘But I will not take the entire kingdom from
Solomon at this time. For the sake of my servant
David, the one whom I chose and who obeyed
my commands and decrees, I will keep Solomon
as leader for the rest of his life. 35 But I will take
the kingdom away from his son and give ten
of the tribes to you. 36 His son will have one tribe
so that the descendants of David my servant will
continue to reign, shining like a lamp in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen to be the place for my
name. 37 And I will place you on the throne of Israel, and you will rule over all that your heart desires. 38 If you listen to what I tell you and follow
my ways and do whatever I consider to be right,
and if you obey my decrees and commands, as
my servant David did, then I will always be with
you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for you
as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you.
39 Because of Solomon’s sin I will punish the descendants of David—though not forever.’”
40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he fled
to King Shishak of Egypt and stayed there until
Solomon died.
Summary of Solomon’s Reign
41 The rest of the events in Solomon’s reign,
including all his deeds and his wisdom, are
recorded in The Book of the Acts of Solomon.
42 Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for
forty years. 43 When he died, he was buried in
the City of David, named for his father. Then his
son Rehoboam became the next king.
The Northern Tribes Revolt
Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all
Israel had gathered to make him king.
2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this, he
returned from Egypt,* for he had fled to Egypt
to escape from King Solomon. 3 The leaders of
Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the
whole assembly of Israel went to speak with
Rehoboam. 4 “Your father was a hard master,”
they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands
and heavy taxes that your father imposed on
us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.”
5 Rehoboam replied, “Give me three days to
think this over. Then come back for my answer.”
So the people went away.
6 Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter
with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked.
“How should I answer these people?”
7 The older counselors replied, “If you are
willing to be a servant to these people today and
give them a favorable answer, they will always
be your loyal subjects.”
8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the
older men and instead asked the opinion of the
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