The Kingdom Divided
2 Chronicles 10
Roboam rejects the counsel of the elders and follows the young men in answering the people harshly, refusing to lighten the burdens his father Solomon had placed on them, and Israel rebels against the house of David so that only Juda remains loyal to Roboam.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW Jeroboam son of Nabat had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and taken up his abode in Egypt. But receiving intelligence in Egypt, and being sent for he had returned from Egypt. So when Roboam went to Sychem (for to Sychem all Israel went to make him king),
BrentonAnd Roboam came to Sychem: for all Israel came to Sychem to make him king.
GreekΚαὶ ἦλθε Ῥοβοὰμ εἰς Συχὲμ, ὅτι εἰς Συχὲμ ἤρχετο πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ βασιλεῦσαι αὐτόν.
KJVAnd Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
JPSAnd Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
2
Thomson—
BrentonAnd it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nabat heard it, (now he was in Egypt, forasmuch as he had fled thither from the face of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,) that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἤκουσεν Ἱεροβοὰμ υἱὸς Ναβὰτ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, ὡς ἔφυγεν ἀπὸ προσώπου Σαλωμὼν τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ κατῴκησεν Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν Ἱεροβοὰμ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου.
KJVAnd it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
JPSAnd it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it—for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon—that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
3
ThomsonJeroboam and all the congregation came to Roboam and said,
BrentonAnd they sent and called him: and Jeroboam and all the congregation came to Roboam, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλαν καὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτόν· καὶ ἦλθεν Ἱεροβοὰμ καὶ πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία πρὸς Ῥοβοὰμ, λέγοντες,
KJVAnd they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,
JPSAnd they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying:
4
ThomsonThy father made our yoke heavy, now therefore abate something of the grievous service of thy father, and of his heavy yoke, which he laid on us, and we will serve thee.
BrentonThy father made our yoke grievous: now then abate somewhat of thy father's grievous rule, and of his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
Greekὁ πατήρ σου ἐσκλήρυνε τὸν ζυγὸν ἡμῶν, καὶ νῦν ἄφες ἀπὸ τῆς δουλείας τοῦ πατρός σου τῆς σκληρᾶς, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ζυγοῦ αὐτοῦ τοῦ βαρέος, οὗ ἔδωκεν ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς, καὶ δουλεύσομέν σοι.
KJVThy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
JPS’Thy father made our yoke grievous; now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.’
5
ThomsonThereupon he said to them, Go away for three days and then come to me. And when the people were gone,
BrentonAnd he said to them, Go away for three days, and then come to me. So the people departed.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, πορεύεσθε ἕως τριῶν ἡμερῶν, καὶ ἔρχεσθε πρὸς μέ· καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ὁ λαός.
KJVAnd he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
JPSAnd he said unto them: ‘Come again unto me after three days.’ And the people departed.
6
Thomsonking Roboam assembled the elders who had stood before his father Solomon in his lifetime, and said to them, How do you advise me to answer this people?
BrentonAnd king Roboam assembled the elders that stood before his father Solomon in his life-time, saying, How do ye counsel me to return an answer to this people?
GreekΚαὶ συνήγαγεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ῥοβοὰμ τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τοὺς ἑστηκότας ἐναντίον τοῦ Σαλωμὼν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ζῇν αὐτὸν, λέγων, πῶς ὑμεῖς βουλεύεσθε τοῦ ἀποκριθῆναι τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ λόγον;
KJVAnd king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
JPSAnd king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying: ‘What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?’
7
ThomsonAnd they spoke to him saying, If thou indulge the people this day, and soothe them, and speak kindly to them, they will be thy servants forever.
BrentonAnd they spoke to him, saying, If thou wouldest this day befriend this people, and be kind to them, and speak to them good words, then will they be thy servants for ever.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησαν αὐτῷ, λέγοντες, ἐὰν ἐν τῇ σήμερον γένῃ εἰς ἀγαθὸν τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ, καὶ εὐδοκήσῃς, καὶ λαλήσῃς αὐτοῖς λόγους ἀγαθοὺς, καὶ ἔσονταί σοι παῖδες πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας.
KJVAnd they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
JPSAnd they spoke unto him, saying: ‘If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.’
8
ThomsonBut he slighted the counsel which the elders gave him, and consulted the young men, who had been brought up with him, and who waited on him,
BrentonBut he forsook the advice of the old men, who took counsel with him, and he took counsel with the young men who had been brought up with him, who stood before him.
GreekΚαὶ κατέλιπε τὴν βουλὴν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, οἳ συνεβουλεύσαντο αὐτῷ· καὶ συνεβουλεύσατο μετὰ τῶν παιδαρίων τῶν συνεκτραφέντων μετʼ αὐτοῦ τῶν ἑστηκότων ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ.
KJVBut he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
JPSBut he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him.
9
Thomsonand said to them, What answer do you advise me to give to this people, who have spoken to me saying, Abate something of the yoke, which thy father laid upon us.
BrentonAnd he said to them, What do ye advise that I should answer this people, who spoke to me, saying, Ease somewhat of the yoke which thy father laid upon us?
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, τί ὑμεῖς βουλεύεσθε, καὶ ἀποκριθήσομαι λόγον τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ, οἳ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς μὲ, λέγοντες, ἄνες ἀπὸ τοῦ ζυγοῦ οὗ ἔδωκεν ὁ πατήρ σου ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς;
KJVAnd he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
JPSAnd he said unto them: ‘What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying: Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?’
10
ThomsonAnd the young men, who had been brought up with him, spoke to him saying, Thus shalt thou speak to this people, who hath spoken to thee saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, do thou therefore lighten it for us—thus thou shalt say, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
BrentonAnd the young men that had been brought up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak to the people that spoke to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and do thou lighten somewhat of it from us; thus shalt thou say, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησαν αὐτῷ τὰ παιδάρια τὰ ἐκτραφέντα μετʼ αὐτοῦ, λέγοντες, οὕτως λαλήσεις τῷ λαῷ τῷ λαλήσαντι πρὸς σὲ, λέγων, ὁ πατήρ σου ἐβάρυνε τὸν ζυγὸν ἡμῶν, καὶ σὺ ἄφες ἀφʼ ἡμῶν· οὕτως ἐρεῖς, ὁ μικρὸς δάκτυλός μου παχύτερος τῆς ὀσφύος τοῦ πατρός μου.
KJVAnd the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
JPSAnd the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him, saying: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the people that spoke unto thee, saying: Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them: My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.
11
ThomsonNow therefore my father chastened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips; but I will chastise you with scorpions.
BrentonAnd whereas my father chastised you with a heavy yoke, I will also add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, and I will chastise you with scorpions.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ὁ πατήρ μου ἐπαίδευσεν ὑμᾶς ζυγῷ βαρεῖ, κᾀγὼ προσθήσω ἐπὶ τὸν ζυγὸν ὑμῶν· ὁ πατήρ μου ἐπαίδευσεν ὑμᾶς ἐν μάστιξι, κᾀγὼ παιδεύσω ὑμᾶς ἐν σκορπίοις.
KJVFor whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
JPSAnd now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’
12
ThomsonSo when Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam on the third day, as the king had spoken saying, Come again to me on the third day,
BrentonAnd Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, Return to me on the third day.
GreekΚαὶ ἦλθεν Ἱεροβοὰμ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς πρὸς Ῥοβοὰμ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ, ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς, λέγων, ἐπιστρέψατε πρὸς μὲ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ.
KJVSo Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
JPSSo Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying: ‘Come to me again the third day.’
13
Thomsonthe king answered them roughly. King Roboam slighted the counsel of the elders,
BrentonAnd the king answered harshly; and king Roboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
GreekΚαὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ βασιλεὺς σκληρὰ, καὶ ἐγκατέλιπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Ῥοβοὰμ τὴν βουλὴν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων,
KJVAnd the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
JPSAnd the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
14
Thomsonand spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Brentonand spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
Greekκαὶ ἐλάλησε πρὸς αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τῶν νεωτέρων, λέγων, ὁ πατήρ μου ἐβάρυνε τὸν ζυγὸν ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐγὼ προσθήσω ἐπʼ αὐτόν· ὁ πατήρ μου ἐπαίδευσεν ὑμᾶς ἐν μάστιξι, καὶ ἐγὼ παιδεύσω ὑμᾶς ἐν σκορπίοις.
KJVAnd answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
JPSand spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying: ‘[My father] made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’
15
ThomsonSo the king did not hearken to the people; for the revolution [about to be] was from God. And upon one’s saying, The Lord hath established his word which he spoke by the ministry of Achia the Selonite concerning Jeroboam son of Nabat,
BrentonAnd the king hearkened not to the people, for there was a change of their minds from God, saying, The Lord has confirmed his word, which he spoke by the hand of Achia the Selonite concerning Jeroboam the son of Nabat, and concerning all Israel;
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἤκουσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ λαοῦ, ὅτι ἦν μεταστροφὴ παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, λέγων, ἀνέστησε Κύριος τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ, ὃν ἐλάλησεν ἐν χειρὶ Ἀχία τοῦ Σηλωνίτου περὶ Ἱεροβοὰμ υἱοῦ Ναβὰτ
KJVSo the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
JPSSo the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was brought about of God, that the LORD might establish His word, which He spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16
Thomsonand all Israel; for the king hath not hearkened,——the people answered the king, and said, What portion have we in David? And what inheritance in the son of Jessai? To your tents O Israel! Now David, look thou to thine own house. So Israel went away to their habitations;
Brentonfor the king did not hearken to them. And the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David, or inheritance in the son of Jessæ? to thy tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel went to their tents.
Greekκαὶ παντὸς Ἰσραὴλ, ὅτι οὐκ ἤκουσεν ὁ βασιλεὺς αὐτῶν· καὶ ἀπεκρίθη ὁ λαὸς πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, λέγων, τίς ἡμῶν ἡ μερὶς ἐν Δαυὶδ καὶ κληρονομία ἐν υἱῷ Ἰεσσαί; εἰς τὰ σκηνώματά σου, Ἰσραήλ· νῦν βλέπε τὸν οἶκόν σου, Δαυίδ. καὶ ἐπορεύθη πᾶς Ἰσραὴλ εἰς τὰ σκηνώματα αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
JPSAnd when all Israel [saw] that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying: ‘What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to your tents, O Israel; now see to thine own house, David.’ So all Israel departed unto their tents.
17
Thomsonand when some men of Israel and they who dwelt in the cities of Juda, had made Roboam king over them,
BrentonBut the men of Israel, even those who dwelt in the cities of Juda, remained and made Roboam king over them.
GreekΚαὶ ἄνδρες Ἰσραὴλ καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν πόλεσιν Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐβασίλευσαν ἐπʼ αὐτῶν Ῥοβοάμ.
KJVBut as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
JPSBut as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18
Thomsonand Roboam the king sent to them Adoniram, who was over the tribute, the sons of Israel stoned him with stones, till he died. Upon which the king Roboam hastened to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem;
BrentonAnd king Roboam sent to them Adoniram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. And king Roboam hasted to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς Ῥοβοὰμ ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸν Ἀδωνιρὰμ τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ φόρου, καὶ ἐλιθοβόλησαν αὐτὸν οἱ υἱοὶ Ἰσραὴλ λίθοις, καὶ ἀπέθανε· καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ῥοβοὰμ ἔσπευσε τοῦ ἀναβῆναι εἰς τὸ ἅρμα, τοῦ φυγεῖν εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVThen king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
JPSThen king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the levy; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, so that he died. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19
Thomsonand Israel revolted from the house of David to this day.
BrentonSo Israel rebelled against the house of David until this day.
GreekΚαὶ ἠθέτησεν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Δαυὶδ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.
KJVAnd Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
JPSSo Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.