Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Chronicles 9
³¹ When he died, he was buried in the City of David, named for his father. Then his son Rehoboam became the next king.
2 Chronicles 10
¹ 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 all 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, “Come back in three days 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 good to these people and do your best to please them 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 young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.
⁹ “What is your advice?” he asked them. “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!