3. Krallar 12

¹Kral Rehavam Şekem’e gitti; çünkü bütün İsrail onu kral yapmak üzere Şekem’e gelmekteydi.

²[Nebat oğlu Yarovam bunu duyduğunda –ki kendisi hâlâ Kral Süleyman’ın huzurundan kaçıp sığındığı Mısır’daydı– Yarovam Mısır’dan döndü.]

³[Onu çağırttılar; Yarovam ve bütün İsrail topluluğu geldi.] Ve halk Kral Rehavam’a şöyle dedi:

⁴"Baban boyunduruğumuzu ağırlaştırdı; şimdi sen babanın üzerimize yüklediği o sert kulluğu ve ağır boyunduruğu hafiflet, biz de sana kulluk edelim."

⁵Rehavam onlara, "Üç gün sonra yanıma dönmek üzere gidin" dedi. Bunun üzerine halk gitti.

⁶Kral Rehavam, babası Süleyman henüz yaşarken onun huzurunda duran yaşlılara danışarak, "Bu halka nasıl bir yanıt vermemi tavsiye edersiniz?" diye sordu.

⁷Onlar da ona şöyle dediler: "Eğer bugün bu halka kul olursan, onlara hizmet eder ve kendilerine iyi sözler söylersen, ömür boyu senin kulların olurlar."

⁸Ancak Rehavam, yaşlıların kendisine verdiği öğüdü reddetti ve kendisiyle birlikte büyüyen, huzurunda duran gençlerle danıştı.

⁹Onlara, "Bana, 'Babanın üzerimize koyduğu boyunduruğu hafiflet' diyen bu halka nasıl bir yanıt vermemi tavsiye edersiniz?" diye sordu.

¹⁰Kendisiyle birlikte büyüyen ve huzurunda duran gençler ona şöyle dediler: "Sana, 'Baban boyunduruğumuzu ağırlaştırdı, ama sen onu üzerimizden hafiflet' diyen bu halka şöyle söyleyeceksin; onlara de ki: 'Benim küçüklüğüm babamın belinden daha kalındır.

¹¹Babam size ağır bir boyunduruk yüklediyse, ben boyunduruğunuzu daha da ağırlaştıracağım. Babam sizi kırbaçlarla eğitti, bense sizi akreplerle eğiteceğim.'"

¹²Kralın, "Üçüncü gün yanıma dönün" dediği gibi, Yarovam ve bütün İsrail halkı üçüncü günde Kral Rehavam’ın yanına geldi.

¹³Kral halka sert bir yanıt verdi; Rehavam yaşlıların kendisine verdiği öğüdü reddetti.

¹⁴Gençlerin öğüdüne uyarak onlara şöyle dedi: "Babam boyunduruğunuzu ağırlaştırdı, bense boyunduruğunuzu daha da ağırlaştıracağım. Babam sizi kırbaçlarla eğitti, bense sizi akreplerle eğiteceğim."

¹⁵Kral halkı dinlemedi; çünkü RAB’bin Şilolu Ahiya aracılığıyla Nebat oğlu Yarovam’a söylediği sözü yerine getirmesi için bu olay RAB’den kaynaklanan bir yön değiştirme idi.

¹⁶Bütün İsrail, kralın kendilerini dinlemediğini görünce, halk krala şu yanıtı verdi: "Davut’ta ne payımız var? İşay oğlunda mirasımız yok! Ey İsrail, çadırlarına dön! Şimdi kendi evini güt, ey Davut!" Böylece İsrail kendi çadırlarına döndü.

¹⁸Kral Rehavam, vergi işlerinden sorumlu Adoniram’ı gönderdi; ama bütün İsrail onu taşlayarak öldürdü. Bunun üzerine Kral Rehavam hemen arabasına binip Yeruşalim’e kaçtı.

¹⁹Böylece İsrail, bugüne dek Davut hanedanına karşı isyan içinde kaldı.

²⁰Bütün İsrail, Yarovam’ın Mısır’dan döndüğünü duyunca, haber gönderip onu topluluğa çağırdılar ve onu bütün İsrail’e kral yaptılar. Yahuda ve Benyamin oymaklarından başka Davut hanedanının ardınca giden kimse kalmadı.

²¹Rehavam Yeruşalim’e varınca, İsrail hanedanıyla savaşmak ve krallığı Süleyman oğlu Rehavam’a geri getirmek amacıyla bütün Yahuda topluluğunu ve Benyamin oymağını, yüz yirmi bin seçkin savaşçıyı topladı.

²²Ancak Tanrı adamı Şemaya’ya RAB’bin şu sözü geldi:

²³"Süleyman oğlu Yahuda Kralı Rehavam’a, bütün Yahuda ve Benyamin hanedanına ve halkın geri kalanına de ki:

²⁴'RAB şöyle diyor: Yukarı çıkmayın, kardeşleriniz İsraillilerle savaşmayın. Herkes evine dönsün, çünkü bu olay benden kaynaklandı.'" Onlar da RAB’bin sözünü dinlediler ve RAB’bin sözü uyarınca gitmekten vazgeçtiler.

⁰24α Kral Süleyman ölüp atalarına kavuştu ve Davut kentinde atalarının yanına gömüldü. Yerine oğlu Rehavam kral oldu; kral olduğunda on altı yaşındaydı ve Yeruşalim’de on iki yıl krallık yaptı. Annesinin adı Naanan’dı; Ammonluların kralı Naaş’ın oğlu Hanun’un kızıydı. Rehavam RAB’bin gözünde kötü olanı yaptı ve babası Davut’un yolunda yürümedi.

⁰24β Efrayim dağlık bölgesinden, Süleyman’ın hizmetkârı olan bir adam vardı; adı Yarovam’dı, annesinin adı ise fahişe bir kadın olan Serira’ydı. Süleyman onu Yusuf hanedanının yük taşıma işlerinin başına memur etmişti. Yarovam, Süleyman için Efrayim dağındaki Serira kentini inşa etti. Kendisinin üç yüz atlı arabası vardı. Efrayim hanedanının yük taşıyanlarıyla kaleyi inşa etti, Davut kentini surlarla çevirdi ve krallığa göz dikti.

⁰24γ Süleyman onu öldürmek isteyince Yarovam korktu ve Mısır Kralı Şişak’ın yanına kaçtı; Süleyman ölünceye dek onun yanında kaldı.

⁰24δ Yarovam Mısır’dayken Süleyman’ın öldüğünü duyunca, Mısır Kralı Şişak’a, "Beni salıver, kendi ülkeme gideyim" dedi. Şişak ona, "Benden ne dilersen dile, sana vereceğim" dedi.

⁰24ε Şişak, karısı Tahpenes’in büyük kız kardeşi Ano’yu Yarovam’a eş olarak verdi. Ano, kralın kızları arasında büyük bir saygınlığa sahipti ve Yarovam’a oğlu Aviya’yı doğurdu.

⁰24ζ Yarovam Şişak’a, "Beni gerçekten salıver ki gideyim" dedi. Böylece Yarovam Mısır’dan çıkıp Efrayim dağındaki Serira topraklarına geldi; bütün Efrayim oymağı orada toplandı ve Yarovam orada bir kale inşa etti.

⁰24η Yarovam’ın küçük çocuğu çok ağır bir hastalığa yakalandı. Yarovam çocuk hakkında bilgi almak için gitti ve karısı Ano’ya şöyle dedi: "Kalk git, Tanrı’ya bu çocuk hakkında danış, bu hastalıktan kurtulup yaşayacak mı öğren."

⁰24θ Şilo’da Ahiya adında bir adam vardı; altmış yaşındaydı ve RAB’bin sözü onunlaydı. Yarovam karısına şöyle dedi: "Kalk, Tanrı adamına götürmek üzere yanına ekmekler, çocukları için çörekler, kuru üzüm ve bir küp bal al." Kadın kalktı,

⁰24ι Ahiya’ya götürmek üzere yanına ekmek, iki çörek, kuru üzüm ve bir küp bal aldı. Adam yaşlanmıştı ve gözleri zayıfladığından göremiyordu.

⁰24κ Kadın Serira’dan kalkıp yola çıktı. Şilolu Ahiya’nın bulunduğu kente girdiğinde, Ahiya hizmetkârına şöyle dedi: "Dışarı çık, Yarovam’ın karısı Ano’yu karşıla ve ona de ki: 'İçeri gir, dışarıda durma; çünkü RAB sana kötü haberler göndermemi buyuruyor.'"

⁰24λ Ano Tanrı adamının yanına girdiğinde, Ahiya ona şöyle dedi: "Bana neden ekmek, kuru üzüm, çörek ve bir küp bal getirdin? RAB şöyle diyor: İşte, yanımdan ayrılıp Serira kentine girdiğinde, hizmetçi kızların seni karşılamaya çıkacak ve sana, 'Çocuk öldü' diyecekler.

⁰24μ Çünkü RAB şöyle diyor: 'İşte, Yarovam’ın soyundan duvara işeyen her erkeği yok edeceğim. Yarovam’ın kentte ölenlerini köpekler yiyecek, kırda ölenlerini ise gökteki kuşlar yiyecek.' Çocuk için yas tutulacak; ne yazık, ey Efendimiz! Çünkü Yarovam’ın ailesinde RAB’be yönelik iyi bir söz sadece bu çocukta bulundu."

⁰24ν Kadın bu sözleri duyunca gitti. Serira’ya girdiğinde çocuk öldü ve onu karşılamak üzere bir feryat yükseldi.

⁰24ξ Yarovam Efrayim dağındaki Şekem’e gitti ve İsrail oymaklarını orada topladı; Süleyman oğlu Rehavam da oraya çıktı. RAB’bin sözü Elamlı Şemaya’ya şöyle geldi: "Kendine suya girmemiş yeni bir giysi al, onu on iki parçaya böl, Yarovam’a ver ve ona de ki: 'RAB şöyle diyor: Örtünmek için kendine on parça al.'" Yarovam parçaları aldı. Şemaya, "RAB, İsrail’in on oymağı hakkında böyle diyor" dedi.

⁰24ο Halk, Süleyman oğlu Rehavam’a şöyle dedi: "Baban üzerimize ağır bir boyunduruk koydu ve sofrasının yiyeceklerini ağırlaştırdı; şimdi bunları üzerimizden hafifletirsen sana kulluk ederiz." Rehavam halka, "Üç gün sonra size yanıt vereceğim" dedi.

⁰24π Rehavam, "Yaşlıları yanıma çağırın, üçüncü günde halka ne yanıt vereceğimi onlara danışayım" dedi. Rehavam, halkın kendisine ilettiği talebi onların kulaklarına söyledi. Halkın yaşlıları, "Halk sana böyle söyledi" dediler.

⁰24ρ Ancak Rehavam onların öğüdünü reddetti, bu öğüt onun hoşuna gitmedi. Kendisiyle birlikte büyüyen arkadaşlarını çağırttı ve onlara, "Halk bana böyle böyle haber gönderdi" dedi. Arkadaşları ona, "Halka şöyle söyleyeceksin: 'Benim küçüklüğüm babamın belinden daha kalındır. Babam sizi kırbaçlarla kamçıladıysa, ben sizi akreplerle yöneteceğim'" dediler.

⁰24σ Bu söz Rehavam’ın hoşuna gitti ve kendisiyle birlikte büyüyen gençlerin tavsiye ettiği gibi halka yanıt verdi.

⁰24τ Bütün halk tek bir adam gibi birbirine seslendi ve hep birlikte bağırarak şöyle dediler: "Davut’ta payımız yok, İşay oğlunda mirasımız yok! Ey İsrail, herkes kendi çadırına! Çünkü bu adam bizim üzerimize ne bir önder ne de bir yöneticidir."

⁰24υ Böylece bütün halk Şekem’den dağıldı ve herkes kendi çadırına gitti. Rehavam ise kendini güçlü göstererek arabasına bindi ve Yeruşalim’e kaçtı; bütün Yahuda ve Benyamin oymakları onun ardınca gitti.

⁰24φ Yıl başında Rehavam bütün Yahuda ve Benyamin adamlarını topladı ve Şekem’de Yarovam’la savaşmak üzere yukarı çıktı.

⁰24χ Tanrı adamı Şemaya’ya RAB’bin şu sözü geldi: "Yahuda Kralı Rehavam’a, bütün Yahuda ve Benyamin hanedanına ve halkın geri kalanına de ki: 'RAB şöyle diyor: Yukarı çıkmayın, kardeşleriniz İsraillilerle savaşmayın. Herkes evine dönsün, çünkü bu olay benden kaynaklandı.'"

⁰24ψ Onlar da RAB’bin sözünü dinlediler ve RAB’bin sözü uyarınca gitmekten vazgeçtiler.

²⁵Yarovam Efrayim dağlık bölgesindeki Şekem’i inşa edip orada yaşadı; oradan çıkıp Penuel’i inşa etti.

²⁶Yarovam yüreğinden şöyle dedi: "İşte, şimdi krallık Davut hanedanına geri dönecek.

²⁷Eğer bu halk Yeruşalim’deki RAB’bin tapınağında kurban sunmak için yukarı giderse, halkın yüreği efendileri olan Yahuda Kralı Rehavam’a dönecek ve beni öldürecekler."

²⁸Bunun üzerine kral danıştıktan sonra iki altın düve yaptı ve halka, "Yeruşalim’e gitmeniz artık yeter; ey İsrail, işte seni Mısır toprağından çıkaran ilahların!" dedi.

²⁹Düvelerden birini Beytel’e yerleştirdi, diğerini ise Dan’a koydu.

³⁰Bu olay günaha yol açtı; halk düvelerden birinin önünde tapınmak için Dan’a kadar gitti ve RAB’bin tapınağını bıraktı.

³¹Yarovam yüksek yerlerde tapınaklar yaptı ve Levi oğullarından olmayan, halkın sıradan kesiminden kâhinler atadı.

³²Yarovam, Yahuda’daki bayram gibi, sekizinci ayın on beşinci gününde bir bayram düzenledi. Beytel’de yaptığı sunakta, kendi yaptırdığı düvelere kurban sunmak üzere sunağa çıktı. Yaptırdığı yüksek yerlerin kâhinlerini Beytel’de görevlendirdi.

³³Kendi yüreğinden şekillendirdiği sekizinci ayın on beşinci günündeki bayramda, Beytel’de yaptığı sunağa çıktı. İsrailliler için bir bayram düzenledi ve buhur yakmak üzere sunağa çıktı.

¹ΚΑΙ πορεύεται βασιλεὺς Ῥοβοὰμ εἰς Σίκιμα, ὅτι εἰς Σίκιμα ἤρχοντο πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ βασιλεῦσαι αὐτόν. [2 Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν Ἱεροβοὰμ υἱὸς Ναβὰτ καὶ αὐτοῦ ἔτι ὄντος ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ ἔφυγεν ἐκ προσώπου τοῦ βασιλέως Σαλωμὼν καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου,

³καὶ ἀπέστειλαν καὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτὸν καὶ ἦλθεν Ἱεροβοὰμ καὶ πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία Ἰσραήλ.]

³καὶ ἐλάλησεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Ῥοβοὰμ λέγοντες·

⁴ὁ πατήρ σου ἐβάρυνε τὸν κλοιὸν ἡμῶν, καὶ σὺ νῦν κούφισον ἀπὸ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ πατρός σου τῆς σκληρᾶς καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ κλοιοῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ βαρέως, οὗ ἔδωκεν ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς, καὶ δουλεύσομέν σοι.

⁵καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· ἀπέλθετε ἕως ἡμερῶν τριῶν καὶ ἀναστρέψατε πρός με· καὶ ἀπῆλθον.

⁶καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις, οἳ ἦσαν παρεστῶτες ἐνώπιον Σαλωμὼν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἔτι ζῶντος αὐτοῦ λέγων· πῶς ὑμεῖς βουλεύεσθε καὶ ἀποκριθῶ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ λόγον;

⁷καὶ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγοντες· εἰ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ταύτῃ ἔσῃ δοῦλος τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ καὶ δουλεύσεις αὐτοῖς καὶ λαλήσεις πρὸς αὐτοὺς λόγους ἀγαθούς, καὶ ἔσονταί σοι δοῦλοι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας.

⁸καὶ ἐγκατέλιπε τὴν βουλὴν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ἃ συνεβουλεύσαντο αὐτῷ, καὶ συνεβουλεύσατο μετὰ τῶν παιδαρίων τῶν ἐκτραφέντων μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ τῶν παρεστηκότων πρὸς προσώπου αὐτοῦ

⁹καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί ὑμεῖς συμβουλεύετε, καὶ τί ἀποκριθῶ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ τοῖς λέγουσι πρός με λεγόντων· κούφισον ἀπὸ τοῦ κλοιοῦ, οὗ ἔδωκεν ὁ πατήρ σου ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς;

¹⁰καὶ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς αὐτὸν τὰ παιδάρια τὰ ἐκτραφέντα μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ, οἱ παρεστηκότες πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· τάδε λαλήσεις τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ τοῖς λαλήσασι πρός σε λέγοντες· ὁ πατήρ σου ἐβάρυνε τὸν κλοιὸν ἡμῶν καὶ σὺ νῦν κούφισον ἀφ᾿ ἡμῶν, τάδε λαλήσεις πρὸς αὐτούς· ἡ μικρότης μου παχυτέρα τῆς ὀσφύος τοῦ πατρός μου·

¹¹καὶ νῦν ὁ πατήρ μου ἐπεσάσσετο ὑμᾶς κλοιῷ βαρεῖ, κἀγὼ προσθήσω ἐπὶ τὸν κλοιὸν ὑμῶν· ὁ πατήρ μου ἐπαίδευσεν ὑμᾶς ἐν μάστιξιν, ἐγὼ δὲ παιδεύσω ὑμᾶς ἐν σκορπίοις.

¹²καὶ παρεγένοντο πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα Ῥοβοὰμ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ, καθότι ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς ὁ βασιλεὺς λέγων· ἀναστράφητε πρός με τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ.

¹³καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς τὸν λαὸν σκληρά, καὶ ἐγκατέλιπε Ῥοβοὰμ τὴν βουλὴν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ἃ συνεβουλεύσαντο αὐτῷ,

¹⁴καὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τῶν παιδαρίων λέγων· ὁ πατήρ μου ἐβάρυνε τὸν κλοιὸν ὑμῶν, κἀγὼ προσθήσω ἐπὶ τὸν κλοιὸν ὑμῶν· ὁ πατήρ μου ἐπαίδευσεν ὑμᾶς ἐν μάστιξι, κἀγὼ παιδεύσω ὑμᾶς ἐν σκορπίοις.

¹⁵καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ λαοῦ, ὅτι ἦν μεταστροφὴ παρὰ Κυρίου, ὅπως στήσῃ τὸ ῥῆμα αὐτοῦ, ὃ ἐλάλησεν ἐν χειρὶ Ἀχιὰ τοῦ Σηλωνίτου περὶ Ἱεροβοὰμ υἱοῦ Ναβάτ.

¹⁶καὶ εἶδον πᾶς Ἰσραήλ, ὅτι οὐκ ἤκουσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ λαὸς τῷ βασιλεῖ λέγων· τίς ἡμῖν μερὶς ἐν Δαυίδ; καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν κληρονομία ἐν υἱῷ Ἰεσσαί· ἀπότρεχε, Ἰσραήλ, εἰς τὰ σκηνώματά σου· νῦν βόσκε τὸν οἶκόν σου, Δαυίδ. [17] καὶ ἀπῆλθεν Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὰ σκηνώματα αὐτοῦ.

¹⁸καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸν Ἀδωνιρὰμ τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ φόρου, καὶ ἐλιθοβόλησαν αὐτὸν ἐν λίθοις καὶ ἀπέθανε· καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ῥοβοὰμ ἔφθασεν ἀναβῆναι τοῦ φυγεῖν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

¹⁹καὶ ἠθέτησεν Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὸν οἶκον Δαυὶδ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.

²⁰καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσε πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ ὅτι ἀνέκαμψεν Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἀπέστειλαν καὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν καὶ ἐβασίλευσαν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ Ἰσραήλ· καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὀπίσω οἴκου Δαυὶδ πάρεξ σκήπτρου Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμὶν μόνοι.

²¹καὶ Ῥοβοὰμ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἐξεκκλησίασε τὴν συναγωγὴν Ἰούδα καὶ σκῆπτρον Βενιαμὶν ἑκατὸν καὶ εἴκοσι χιλιάδας νεανιῶν ποιούντων πόλεμον, τοῦ πολεμεῖν πρὸς οἶκον Ἰσραήλ, ἐπιστρέψαι τὴν βασιλείαν Ῥοβοὰμ υἱῷ Σαλωμών.

²²καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Σαμαίαν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ λέγων·

²³εἰπὸν τῷ Ῥοβοὰμ υἱῷ Σαλωμὼν βασιλεῖ Ἰούδα καὶ πρὸς πάντα οἶκον Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμὶν καὶ τῷ καταλοίπῳ τοῦ λαοῦ λέγων·

²⁴τάδε λέγει Κύριος· οὐκ ἀναβήσεσθε οὐδὲ πολεμήσετε μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ· ἀποστρεφέτω ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν οἶκον ἑαυτοῦ, ὅτι παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ γέγονε τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο. καὶ ἤκουσαν τοῦ λόγου Κυρίου καὶ κατέπαυσαν τοῦ πορευθῆναι κατὰ τὸ ρῆμα Κυρίου. 24α Καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Σαλωμὼν κοιμᾶται μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ καὶ θάπτεται μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ ἐν πόλει Δαυίδ. καὶ ἐβασίλευσε Ῥοβοὰμ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ υἱὸς ὢν ἑκκαίδεκα ἐτῶν ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτόν, καὶ δώδεκα ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ. καὶ ὄνομα τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Ναανάν, θυγάτηρ Ἀνὰν υἱοῦ Ναὰς βασιλέως υἱῶν Ἀμμών· καὶ ἐποίησε τὸ πονηρὸν ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, καὶ οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ἐν ὁδῷ Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ. 24β καὶ ἦν ἄνθρωπος ἐξ ὄρους Ἐφραὶμ δοῦλος τῷ Σαλωμών, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἱεροβοάμ, καὶ ὄνομα τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Σαριρά, γυνὴ πόρνη· καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν Σαλωμὼν εἰς ἄρχοντα σκυτάλης ἐπὶ ἄρσεις οἴκου Ἰωσήφ, καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε τῷ Σαλωμὼν τὴν Σαριρὰ τὴν ἐν ὄρει Ἐφραίμ, καὶ ἦσαν αὐτῶ τριακόσια ἅρματα ἵππων· οὗτος ᾠκοδόμησε τὴν ἄκραν ἐν ταῖς ἄρσεσιν οἴκου Ἐφραὶμ, οὗτος συνέκλεισε τὴν πόλιν Δαυὶδ καὶ ἦν ἐπαιρόμενος ἐπὶ τὴν βασιλείαν. 24γ καὶ ἐζήτει Σαλωμὼν θανατῶσαι αὐτόν, καὶ ἐφοβήθη καὶ ἀπέδρα αὐτὸς πρὸς Σουσακὶμ βασιλέα Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἦν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἕως ἀπέθανε Σαλωμών. 24δ καὶ ἤκουσεν Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ὅτι τέθνηκε Σαλωμών, καὶ ἐλάλησεν εἰς τὰ ὦτα Σουσακὶμ βασιλέως Αἰγύπτου λέγων· ἐξαπόστειλόν με καὶ ἀπελεύσομαι ἐγὼ εἰς τὴν γῆν μου· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Σουσακίμ· αἴτησαί τι αἴτημα καὶ δώσω σοι. 24ε καὶ Σουσακὶμ ἔδωκε τῷ Ἱεροβοὰμ τὴν Ἀνώ, ἀδελφὴν Θεκεμίνας τὴν πρεσβυτέραν τῆς γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ αὐτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα· αὕτη ἦν μεγάλη ἐν μέσῳ τῶν θυγατέρων τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἔτεκε τῷ Ἱεροβοὰμ τὸν Ἀβιὰ υἱὸν αὐτοῦ. 24ζ καὶ εἶπεν Ἱεροβοὰμ πρὸς Σουσακίμ· ὄντως ἐξαπόστειλόν με καὶ ἀπελεύσομαι. καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς γῆν Σαριρὰ τὴν ἐν ὄρει Ἐφραίμ· καὶ συνάγεται ἐκεῖ πᾶν σκῆπτρον Ἐφραίμ· καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν ἐκεῖ Ἱεροβοὰμ χάρακα. 24η Καὶ ἠρρώστησε τὸ παιδάριον αὐτοῦ ἀρρωστίαν κραταιὰν σφόδρα, καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐρωτῆσαι περὶ τοῦ παιδαρίου· καὶ εἶπε πρὸς Ἀνὼ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ· ἀνάστηθι καὶ πορεύου, ἐπερώτησον τὸν Θεὸν περὶ τοῦ παιδαρίου, εἰ ζήσεται ἐκ τῆς ἀρρωστίας αὐτοῦ. 24θ καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἦν ἐν Σηλὼμ καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἀχιά, καὶ οὗτος ἦν υἱὸς ἑξήκοντα ἐτῶν, καὶ ρῆμα Κυρίου μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ. καὶ εἶπεν Ἱεροβοὰμ πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ· ἀνάστηθι καὶ λαβὲ εἰς τὴν χεῖρά σου τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἄρτους καὶ κολλύρια τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτοῦ καὶ σταφυλὴν καὶ στάμνον μέλιτος. καὶ ἀνέστη ἡ γυνὴ 24ι καὶ ἔλαβεν εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτῆς ἄρτους καὶ δύο κολλύρια καὶ σταφυλὴν καὶ στάμνον μέλιτος τῷ Ἀχιά· καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος πρεσβύτερος, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἠμβλυώπουν τοῦ ἰδεῖν, 24κ καὶ ἀνέστη ἐκ Σαριρὰ καὶ πορεύεται, καὶ ἐγένετο ἐλθούσης αὐτῆς εἰς τὴν πόλιν πρὸς Ἀχιὰ τὸν Σηλωνίτην καὶ εἶπεν Ἀχιὰ τῷ παιδαρίῳ αὐτοῦ· ἔξελθε δὴ εἰς ἀπαντὴν Ἀνὼ τῇ γυναικὶ Ἱεροβοὰμ καὶ ἐρεῖς αὐτῇ· εἴσελθε καὶ μὴ στῇς, ὅτι τάδε λέγει Κύριος· σκληρὰ ἐγὼ ἐπαποστέλλω ἐπὶ σέ. 24λ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ἀνὼ πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Ἀχιά· ἱνατί ἐνήνοχάς μοι ἄρτους καὶ σταφυλὴν καὶ κολλύρια καὶ στάμνον μέλιτος; τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ἰδοὺ σὺ ἀπελεύσῃ ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἔσται εἰσελθούσης σου τὴν πόλιν εἰς Σαριρὰ καὶ τὰ κοράσιά σου ἐξελεύσονταί σοι εἰς συνάντησιν καὶ ἐροῦσί σοι· τὸ παιδάριον τέθνηκεν. 24μ ὅτι τάδε λέγει Κύριος· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξολοθρεύσω τοῦ Ἱεροβοὰμ οὐροῦντα πρὸς τοῖχον, καὶ ἔσονται οἱ τεθνηκότες τοῦ Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐν τῇ πόλει καταφάγονται οἱ κύνες, καὶ τὸν τεθνηκότα ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ καταφάγεται τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ τὸ παιδάριον κόψονται· οὐαὶ Κύριε, ὅτι εὑρέθη ἐν αὐτῷ ρῆμα καλὸν περὶ τοῦ Κυρίου. 24ν καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἡ γυνή, ὡς ἤκουσε, καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν Σαριρά, καὶ τὸ παιδάριον ἀπέθανε, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἡ κραυγὴ εἰς ἀπαντήν. 24ξ Καὶ ἐπορεύθη Ἱεροβοὰμ εἰς Σίκιμα τὴν ἐν ὄρει Ἐφραὶμ καὶ συνήθροισεν ἐκεῖ τὰς φυλὰς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ἀνέβη ἐκεῖ Ῥοβοὰμ υἱὸς Σαλωμών. καὶ λόγος Κυρίου ἐγένετο πρὸς Σαμαίαν τὸν Ἐλαμὶ λέγων· λαβὲ σεαυτῷ ἱμάτιον καινὸν τὸ οὐκ εἰσεληλυθὸς εἰς ὕδωρ καὶ ρῆξον αὐτὸ δώδεκα ρήγματα καὶ δώσεις τῷ Ἱεροβοὰμ καὶ ἐρεῖς αὐτῷ· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· λάβε σεαυτῷ δέκα ρήγματα τοῦ περιβαλέσθαι σε. καὶ ἔλαβεν Ἱεροβοάμ· καὶ εἶπε Σαμαίας· τάδε λέγει Κύριος ἐπὶ τὰς δέκα φυλὰς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. 24ο Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Ῥοβοὰμ υἱὸν Σαλωμών· ὁ πατήρ σου ἐβάρυνε τὸν κλοιὸν αὐτοῦ ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐβάρυνε τὰ βρώματα τῆς τραπέζης αὐτοῦ· καὶ νῦν εἰ κουφιεῖς ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς καὶ δουλεύσομέν σοι. καὶ εἶπε Ῥοβοὰμ πρὸς τὸν λαόν· ἔτι τριῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ ἀποκριθήσομαι ὑμῖν ρῆμα. 24π καὶ εἶπε Ῥοβοάμ· εἰσαγάγετέ μοι τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ συμβουλεύσομαι μετ᾿ αὐτῶν τί ἀποκριθῶ τῷ λαῷ ρῆμα ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ. καὶ ἐλάλησε Ῥοβοὰμ εἰς τὰ ὦτα αὐτῶν καθὼς ἀπέστειλεν ὁ λαὸς πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπον οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ· οὕτως ἐλάλησε πρός σε ὁ λαός. 24ρ καὶ διεσκέδασε Ῥοβοὰμ τὴν βουλὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἤρεσεν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀπέστειλε καὶ εἰσήγαγε τοὺς συντρόφους αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοῖς· ταῦτα καὶ ταῦτα ἀπέσταλκεν ὁ λαὸς πρός με λέγων. καὶ εἶπαν οἱ σύντροφοι αὐτοῦ· οὕτως λαλήσεις πρὸς τὸν λαὸν λέγων· ἡ μικρότης μου παχυτέρα ὑπὲρ τὴν ὀσφὺν τοῦ πατρός μου· ὁ πατήρ μου ἐμαστίγου ὑμᾶς μάστιξιν, ἐγὼ δὲ κατάρξω ὑμᾶς ἐν σκορπίοις. 24σ καὶ ἤρεσε τὸ ρῆμα ἐνώπιον Ῥοβοάμ, καὶ ἀπεκρίθη τῷ λαῷ καθὼς συνεβούλευσαν αὐτῷ οἱ σύντροφοι αὐτοῦ τά παιδάρια. 24τ καὶ εἶπε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὡς ἀνὴρ εἷς, ἕκαστος τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέκραξαν ἅπαντες λέγοντες· οὐ μερὶς ἡμῖν ἐν Δαυὶδ οὐδὲ κληρονομία ἐν υἱῷ Ἰεσσαί· ἕκαστος εἰς τὰ σκηνώματά σου Ἰσραήλ, ὅτι ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος οὐκ εἰς ἄρχοντα οὐδὲ εἰς ἡγούμενον. 24υ καὶ διεσπάρη πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἐκ Σικίμων, καὶ ἀπῆλθον ἕκαστος εἰς τὸ σκήνωμα αὐτοῦ. καὶ κατεκράτησε Ῥοβοὰμ καὶ ἀπῆλθε καὶ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸ ἅρμα αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ πορεύονται ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ πᾶν σκῆπτρον Ἰούδα καὶ πᾶν σκῆπτρον Βενιαμίν. 24φ καὶ ἐγένετο ἐνισταμένου τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ καὶ συνήθροισε Ῥοβοὰμ πάντα ἄνδρα Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμὶν καὶ ἀνέβη τοῦ πολεμεῖν πρὸς Ἱεροβοὰμ εἰς Σίκιμα. 24χ καὶ ἐγένετο ρῆμα Κυρίου πρὸς Σαμαίαν ἄνθρωπον τοῦ Θεοῦ λέγων· εἰπὸν τῷ Ῥοβοὰμ βασιλεῖ Ἰούδα καὶ πρὸς πάντα οἶκον Ἰούδα καὶ Βενιαμὶν καὶ πρὸς τὸ κατάλειμμα τοῦ λαοῦ λέγων· τάδε λέγει Κύριος· οὐκ ἀναβήσεσθε οὐδὲ πολεμήσετε πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν υἱοὺς Ἰσραήλ· ἀναστρέφετε ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, ὅτι παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ γέγονε τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο. 24ψ καὶ ἤκουσαν τοῦ λόγου Κυρίου καὶ ἀνέσχον μὴ πορευθῆναι κατὰ τὸ ρῆμα Κυρίου.

²⁵Καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν Ἱεροβοὰμ τὴν Σίκιμα τὴν ἐν ὄρει Ἐφραὶμ καὶ κατῴκει ἐν αὐτῇ· καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐκεῖθεν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε τὴν Φανουήλ.

²⁶καὶ εἶπεν Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· ἰδοὺ νῦν ἐπιστρέψει ἡ βασιλεία εἰς οἶκον Δαυίδ·

²⁷ἐὰν ἀναβῇ ὁ λαὸς οὗτος ἀναφέρειν θυσίαν ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἐπιστραφήσεται καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ πρὸς Κύριον καὶ κύριον αὐτῶν, πρὸς Ῥοβοὰμ βασιλέα Ἰούδα, καὶ ἀποκτενοῦσί με.

²⁸καὶ ἐβουλεύσατο ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ἐπορεύθη καὶ ἐποίησε δύο δαμάλεις χρυσᾶς· καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν λαόν· ἱκανούσθω ὑμῖν ἀναβαίνειν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ· ἰδοὺ θεοί σου, Ἰσραήλ, οἱ ἀναγαγόντες σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου.

²⁹καὶ ἔθετο τὴν μίαν ἐν Βαιθὴλ καὶ τὴν μίαν ἔδωκεν ἐν Δάν.

³⁰καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ λόγος οὗτος εἰς ἁμαρτίαν· καὶ ἐπορεύετο ὁ λαὸς πρὸ προσώπου τῆς μιᾶς ἕως Δάν. καὶ εἴασαν τὸν οἶκον Κυρίου.

³¹καὶ ἐποίησεν οἴκους ἐφ᾿ ὑψηλῶν καὶ ἐποίησεν ἱερεῖς μέρος τι ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ, οἳ οὐκ ἦσαν ἐκ τῶν υἱῶν Λευί.

³²καὶ ἐποίησεν Ἱεροβοὰμ ἑορτὴν ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τῷ ὀγδόῳ ἐν τῇ πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ μηνὸς κατὰ τὴν ἑορτὴν τὴν ἐν γῇ Ἰούδα καὶ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, ὃ ἐποίησεν ἐν Βαιθήλ, τοῦ θύειν ταῖς δαμάλεσιν, αἷς ἐποίησε, καὶ παρέστησεν ἐν Βαιθὴλ τοὺς ἱερεῖς τῶν ὑψηλῶν, ὧν ἐποίησε.

³³καὶ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον, ὃ ἐποίησε, τῇ πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τῷ ὀγδόῳ ἐν τῇ ἑορτῇ, ᾗ ἐπλάσατο ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐποίησεν ἑορτὴν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἀνέβη ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τοῦ ἐπιθῦσαι.

¹And king Roboam goes to Sikima; for all Israel were coming to Sikima to make him king. [2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nabat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt, and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came.]

³And the people spoke to king Roboam, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy;

⁴but do thou now lighten somewhat of the hard service of thy father, and of his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

⁵And he said to them, Depart for three days, and return to me. And they departed.

⁶And the king referred [the matter] to the elders, who stood before Solomon his father while he was yet living, saying, How do ye advise that I should answer this people?

⁷And they spoke to him, saying, If thou wilt this day be a servant to this people, and wilt serve them, and wilt speak to them good words, then will they be thy servants continually.

⁸But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they gave him, and consulted with the young men who were brought up with him, who stood in his presence.

⁹And he said to them, What counsel do ye give? And what shall I answer to this people who speak to me, saying, Lighten somewhat of the yoke which thy father has put upon us?

¹⁰And the young men who had been brought up with him, who stood before his face, spoke to him, saying, Thus shalt thou say to this people who have spoken to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and do thou now lighten it from off us: thus shalt say to them, My little [finger shall be] thicker than my father’s loins.

¹¹And whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I also will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹²And all Israel came to king Roboam on the third day, as the king spoke to them, saying, Return to me on the third day.

¹³And the king answered the people harshly; and Roboam forsook the counsel of the old men which they counseled him.

¹⁴And he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹⁵And the king hearkened not to the people, because the change was from the Lord, that he might establish his word which he spoke by Achia the Selonite concerning Jeroboam the son of Nabat.

¹⁶And all Israel saw that the king did not hearken to them: and the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jessae. Depart, O Israel, to thy tents: now feed thine own house, David. [17] So Israel departed to his tents.

¹⁸And the king sent Adoniram who was over the tribute; and they stoned him with stones, and he died: and king Roboam made haste to rise to flee to Jerusalem.

¹⁹So Israel rebelled against the house of David until this day.

²⁰And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned out of Egypt, that they sent and called him to the assembly, and they made him king over Israel: and none followed the house of David except the tribe of Juda and Benjamin only.

²¹And Roboam went into Jerusalem, and he assembled the congregation of Juda, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and twenty thousand young men, warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to recover the kingdom to Roboam the son of Solomon.

²²And the word of the Lord came to Samaia the man of God, saying,

²³Speak to Roboam the son of Solomon, king of Juda, and to all the house of Juda and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

²⁴Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, neither shall ye fight with your brethren the sons of Israel: return each man to his own home; for this thing is from me; and they hearkened to the word of the Lord, and they ceased from going up, according to the word of the Lord. 24α So king Solomon sleeps with his fathers, and is buried with his fathers in the city of David; and Roboam his son reigned in his stead in Jerusalem, being sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twelve years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name [was] Naanan, daughter of Ana son of Naas king of the children of Ammon. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked not in the way of David his father. 24β And there was a man of mount Ephraim, a servant to Solomon, and his name [was] Jeroboam; and the name of his mother [was] Sarira, a harlot; and Solomon made him head of the levies of the house of Joseph: and he built for Solomon Sarira in mount Ephraim; and he had three hundred chariots of horses: he built the citadel with the levies of the house of Ephraim; he fortified the city of David, and aspired to the kingdom. 24γ And Solomon sought to kill him; and he was afraid, and escaped to Susakim king of Egypt, and was with him until Solomon died. 24δ And Jeroboam heard in Egypt that Solomon was dead; and he spoke in the ears of Susakim king of Egypt, saying, Let me go, and I will depart into my land; and Susakim said to him, Ask any request, and I will grant it thee. 24ε And Susakim gave to Jeroboam Ano the eldest sister of Thekemina his wife, to be his wife: she was great among the daughters of the king, and she bore to Jeroboam Abia his son: 24ζ and Jeroboam said to Susakim, Let me indeed go, and I will depart. And Jeroboam departed out of Egypt, and came into the land of Sarira that was in mount Ephraim, and thither the whole tribe of Ephraim assembles, and Jeroboam built a fortress there. 24η And his young child was sick with a very severe sickness; and Jeroboam went to enquire concerning the child: and he said to Ano his wife, Arise, go, enquire of God concerning the child, whether he shall recover from his sickness. 24θ Now there was a man in Selom, and his name [was] Achia: and he was sixty years old, and the word of the Lord [was] with him. And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, and take in thine hand loaves for the man of God, and cakes for his children, and grapes and a pot of honey. And the woman arose, 24ι and took in her hand bread, and two cakes, and grapes, and a pot of honey, for Achia: and the man [was] old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see. 24κ And she arose up from Sarira and went; and it came to pass when she had come into the city of Achia the Selonite, that Achia said to his servant, Go out now to meet Ano the wife of Jeroboam, and thou shalt say to her, Come in, and stand not [still]: for thus saith the Lord, I send grievous tidings to thee. 24λ And Ano went in to the man of God; and Achia said to her, Why hast thou brought me bread and grapes, and cakes, and a pot of honey? Thus saith the Lord, Behold, thou shalt depart from me, and it shall come to pass when thou hast entered into the city, [even] into Sarira, that thy maidens shall come out to meet thee, and shall say to thee, The child is dead: 24μ for thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will destroy every male of Jeroboam, and there shall be the dead of Jeroboam in the city, [them] the dogs shall eat, and him that has died in the field shall the birds of the air eat, and he shall lament for the child, [saying], Woe is [me], Lord! for there has been found in him some good thing touching the Lord. 24ν And the woman departed, when she heard this: and it came to pass as she entered into Sarira, that the child died; and there came forth a wailing to meet [her]. 24ξ And Jeroboam went to Sikima in mount Ephraim, and assembled there the tribes of Israel; and Roboam the son of Solomon went up thither. And the word of the Lord came to Samaias son of Enlami, saying, Take to thyself a new garment which has not gone into the water, and rend it [into] twelve pieces; and thou shalt give [some] to Jeroboam, and shalt say to him, Thus saith the Lord, Take to thyself ten pieces to cover thee: and Jeroboam took [them]: and Samaias said, Thus saith the Lord concerning the ten tribes of Israel. 24ο And the people said to Roboam the son of Solomon, Thy father made his yoke heavy upon us, and made the meat of his table heavy; and now thou shalt lighten them upon us, and we will serve thee. And Roboam said to the people, Wait three days, and I will return an answer: 24π and Roboam said, Bring in to me the elders, and I will take counsel with them what I shall answer to the people on the third day. So Roboam spoke in their ears, as the people sent to him to [say]: and the elders of the people said, Thus the people have spoken to thee. 24ρ And Roboam rejected their counsel, and it pleased him not: and he sent and brought in those who had been brought up with him; and he said to them, Thus and thus has the people sent to me to say: and they that had been brought up with him said, Thus shalt thou speak to the people, saying, My little [finger] shall be thicker than my father’s loins; my father scourged you with whips, but I will rule you with scorpions. 24σ And the saying pleased Roboam, and he answered the people as the young men, they that were brought up with him, counseled him: 24τ and all the people spoke as one man, every one to his neighbor, and they cried out all together, saying, We have no part in David, nor inheritance in the son of Jessae: to thy tents, O Israel, every one; for this man [is] not for a prince or a ruler over us. 24υ And all the people was dispersed from Sikima, and they departed every one to his tent: and Roboam strengthened himself and departed, and mounted his chariot, and entered into Jerusalem: and there follow him the whole tribe of Juda, and the whole tribe of Benjamin. 24φ And it came to pass at the beginning of the year, that Roboam gathered all the men of Juda and Benjamin, and went up to fight with Jeroboam at Sikima. 24χ And the word of the Lord came to Samaeas the man of God, saying, Speak to Roboam king of Juda, and to all the house of Juda and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not go up, neither shall ye fight with your brethren the sons of Israel: return every man to his house, for this thing is from me. 24ψ And they hearkened to the word of the Lord, and forbore to go up, according to the word of the Lord.

²⁵And Jeroboam built Sikima in mount Ephraim and dwelt in it, and went forth thence and built Phanuel.

²⁶And Jeroboam said in his heart, Behold, now the kingdom will return to the house of David.

²⁷If this people shall go up to offer sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of the people will return to the Lord, and to their master, to Roboam king of Juda, and they will slay me.

²⁸And the king took counsel, and went, and made two golden heifers, and said to the people, Let it suffice you to have gone [hitherto] to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

²⁹And he put one in Bethel, and he put the other in Dan.

³⁰And this thing became a sin; and the people went before one as far as Dan, and left the house of the Lord.

³¹And he made houses on the high places, and made priests of any part of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.

³²And Jeroboam appointed a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, according to the feast in the land of Juda;

³³and went up to the altar which he made in Baethel to sacrifice to the heifers which he made, and he placed in Baethel the priests of the high places which he had made. And he went up to the altar which he had made, on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, at the feast which he devised out of his own heart; and he made a feast to the children of Israel, and went up to the altar to sacrifice.