1st Kings — 12

The Northern Tribes Revolt

1 Rahubuam went to Shacham, where all Yashar'AL had gathered to make him king. 

2 When Yarubuam son of Nabat heard of this, he returned from Mitzraym, for he had fled to Mitzraym to escape from King Shalumah. 

3 The leaders of Yashar'AL summoned him, and Yarubuam and the whole assembly of Yashar'AL went to speak with Rahubuam. 

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 Rahubuam replied, “Give me three days to think this over. Then come back for my answer.” So the people went away.

6 Then King Rahubuam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Shalumah. And he asked them “What is your advice? “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 Rahubuam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. 

9 “And he asked them; What is your advice? “How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?”

10 The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 

11 Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I am going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”

12 Three days later Yarubuam and all the people returned to hear Rahubuam’s decision, just as the king had ordered. 

13 But Rahubuam spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors 

14 and followed the counsel of his younger advisers, he told the people, “My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”

15 So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of   𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, for it fulfilled  the message of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH to Yarubuam son of Nabat through the Nabym (prophet) Ahiyahu from Shiluh.

16 When all Yashar'AL realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded, “Down with the dynasty of Daud! We have no interest in the son of Yassa. Back to your homes, O Yashar'AL! Look out for your own house, So the people of Yashar'AL returned home. 

17 But Rahubuam continued to rule over the Yasharalym who lived in the towns of Yahudah.

18 King Rahubuam sent Aduniram, who was in charge of forced labor, to restore order, but the people of Yashar'AL stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rahubuam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Yahushalam. 

19 And to this day the northern tribes of Yashar'AL have refused to be ruled by a descendant of Daud.

20 When the people of Yashar'AL learned of Yarubuam’s return from Mitzraym, they called an assembly and made him king over all Yashar'AL. So only the tribe of Yahudah remained loyal to the family of Daud.

Shamayahu’s Prophecy

21 When Rahubuam arrived at Yahushalam, he mobilized the men of Yahudah and the tribe of Banyamin 180,000 select troops—to fight against the men of Yashar'AL and to restore the kingdom to himself.

22 But 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar to Shamayahu, the servant of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, 

23 “Say to Rahubuam son of Shalumah, king of Yahudah, and to all the people of Yahudah and Banyamin, and to the rest of the people, 

24 ‘This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: Do not fight against your relatives, the Yasharalym. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’” So they obeyed the message of   𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and went home, as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH commanded.

Yarubuam Makes Gold Calves

25 Yarubuam then built up the city of Shacham in the hill country of Aphraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Panial.

26 Yarubuam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of Daud. 

27 When these people go to Yahushalam to offer sacrifices at the Temple of  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, they will again give their allegiance to King Rahubuam of Yahudah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.”

28 So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves, and he said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Yahushalam. Look, O Yashar'AL, these are the idols who brought you out of Mitzraym!”

29 Yarubuam placed these calf idols in Bathal and in Dan, at either end of his kingdom. 

30 But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.

31 Yarubuam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people, those who were not from the Kuhanym (priestly) tribe of Lauym. 

32 And Yarubuam instituted a religious festival in Bathal, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Yahudah. There at Bathal he himself offered sacrifices to the calves idols he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made. 

33 So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Yarubuam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bathal, he instituted a religious festival for Yashar'AL, and he went up to the altar to burn incense.