Melachim I 12 מלכים א י״ב

Rechavom went to Shechem because all Yisroel had come to Shechem, to crown him king.

When Yerovam ben Nevot heard [about this], he was still in Egypt where he had fled from Shlomo ha Melech; and Yerovom continued to live in Egypt.

They sent and called him. Yerovom and all the congregation of Yisroel came, and they spoke to Rechavom, saying,

“Your father made our yoke burdensome. Now, [if] you [agree] to lighten the hard work [placed on us] by your father, and the heavy yoke that he put on us, we will serve you.”

And he said to them, “Go away for three days and return to me, and the people left.

And king Rechavom consulted the elders who used to stand before Shlomo, his father, when he was alive, saying, “How do you advise [me] to reply to this people?”

And they spoke to him saying, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and you will serve them and respond to them, and speak good words to them; they will be your servants all the days.”

But he rejected the advice of the elders that they had given him, and [instead] consulted the young men that had grown up with him, and who [now] stood before him.

And he said to them, “What do you advise? Then we will answer something to this people who spoke to me saying, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us.’”

And the young men spoke to him, who had grown up with him, saying, “This is what you should say to this people, who spoke to you, saying ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, and you make it lighter for us.’ This is what you should speak to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.

Now, my father loaded upon you a heavy yoke [burden], and I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with rods, and I will chastise you with thorns.’ ”

And Yerovom and all the people came to Rechavom on the third day, as the king spoke to them, saying, “Return to me on the third day.”

The king replied to the people harshly and he rejected the advice of the elders that they had advised him.

And he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke [burden] heavy, and I will add onto your yoke. My father chastised you with rods, and I will chastise you with thorns.”

Thus, the king did not listen to the people, for ti had been ordained by Adonoy in order to establish His word that Adonoy had spoken through the hand of Achiyoh ha Shiloni to Yerovom ben Nevot.

And all Yisroel realized that the king did not listen to them, and the people answered the king with this; saying, “What part do we have in Dovid, nor do we have a heritage in the son of Yishai. [Go] to your tents Oh Yisroel. Now look after your own house, Dovid.” And Yisroel went [back] to their tents.

But as for the Bnei Yisroel, who lived in the cities of Yehudah, Rechavom reigned over them.

Then king Rechavom sent Adoram who was in charge of [collecting] the tax, and all Yisroel hurled stones at him and he died; and king Rechavom strengthened himself to go up into [his] carriage to flee [escape] to Yerushalayim.

So Yisroel revolted against the House of Dovid until this day.

And when all [of] Yisroel heard that Yerovom had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly, and they proclaimed him king over all Yisroel. There were none that followed the House of Dovid except the tribe of Yehudah alone.

Rechavom came to Yerushalayim, and assembled the entire House of Yehudah, and the tribe of Binyomin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men of war to fight with the House of Yisroel, to return the kingdom to Rechavom, the son of Shlomo.

Then the word of God was transmitted to Shemayoh, the man of God, saying,

“Speak to Rechavom, son of Shlomo, king of Yehudah, and to all the House of Yehudah and Binyomim; and the rest of the people, saying,

‘So has Adonoy spoken, “Do not go up and do not fight with your brothers, the Bnei Yisroel; let each man return to his house, for this occurence was ordained by Me.’” They listened to the word of Adonoy, and they returned to go [home], according to the word of Adonoy.

Yerovom built [up] Shechem in the mountain of Ephrayim and lived there; and he went from there and built Penuel.

And Yerovom said to himself, “Now the kingdom will return to the House of Dovid.

If this people will go up to offer sacrifices in the House of Adonoy, in Yerushalayim; the heart of the this people will turn to their master; to Rechavom, king of Yehudah, and they will kill me and return to Rechavom, king of Yehudah.

The king sought advice, and he made two golden calves, and said to them [to Bnei Yisroel] “It is too much for you to go up to Yerushalayim, these are your gods, Yisroel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

He placed one of them [the calves] in Beis Eil, and one he placed in Don.

This was a sinful deed, but the people traveled to be before the one, even as far as Don.

And he made the house of altars, and he appointed as priests some of the people, who were not of the sons [tribe] of Leivi.

And Yerovom made a festival in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival that was held in Yehudah, and he brought up [sacrifices] on the altar. He did the same in Beis Eil, to offer [sacrifices] to the calves that he made; and he established at Beis Eil the priest of the altars, that he had made.

He brought up [offerings] on the altar that he made in Beis Eil, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the month that he thought up out of his own heart; and, he made a festival for the Bnei Yisroel and he went up to the altar to burn incense.