Melachim I 12:1-17 מלכים א י״ב:א׳-י״ז

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.