1 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2 When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
3 So they sent and summoned him. When Jeroboam and all Israel came, they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
4 "Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."
5 He said to them, "Return to me again in three days." So the people departed.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, "How do you counsel me to answer this people?"
7 They spoke to him, saying, "If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."