1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2 Now it came to pass that when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard this—for he was in Egypt where he had fled from King Solomon—Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
3 So they sent and summoned him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came to Rehoboam and spoke to Rehoboam saying,
4 “Your father made our yoke grievous but now lighten the harsh labor of your father and his heavy yoke that he put on us—then we will serve you.”
5 He answered them, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed.
6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”
7 They answered 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.”