1 And Roboam went to Sichem: for thither all Israel were assembled, to make him king.
2 And when Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who was in Egypt, (for he was fled thither from Solomon,) heard it, forthwith he returned.
3 And they sent for him, and he came with all Israel, and they spoke to Roboam, saying:
4 Thy father oppressed us with a most grievous yoke, do thou govern us with a lighter hand than thy father, who laid upon us a heavy servitude, and ease some thing of the burden, that we may serve thee.
5 And he said to them: Come to me again after three days. And when the people were gone,
6 He took counsel with the ancients, who had stood before his father Solomon, while he yet lived, saying: What counsel give you to me, that I may answer the people?