1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all Israel had come to make him king.
2 When Jeroboam, son of Nebat, heard about it, he was still in Egypt. He had fled from King Solomon and remained in Egypt,
3 and they sent for him.Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and they said to Rehoboam,
4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. If you now lighten the harsh servitude and the heavy yoke your father imposed on us, we will be your servants.”
5 He answered them, “Come back to me in three days,” and the people went away.
6 King Rehoboam asked advice of the elders who had been in his father Solomon’s service while he was alive, and asked, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”
7 They replied, “If today you become the servant of this people and serve them, and give them a favorable answer, they will be your servants forever.”