2 Now when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it, he was still in Egypt where he had fled from the face of King Solomon and settled in Egypt.
3 They summoned him, so Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam saying:
4 “Your father made our yoke burdensome. Now therefore lighten the harsh labor of your father and his heavy yoke which he laid on us and we will serve you.”
5 He said to them: “Go away for three more days and then come back to me.” 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 advise me to respond to these people?”
7 They spoke to him, saying: “If you will be a servant to this people today, serving them, granting them their petition, and speaking favorably to them, then they will be your servants forever.”
8 But he rejected the counsel the elders had given him, instead consulting with the young men who grew up with him and stood before him.