Summary
Rehoboam meets the Israelite leaders at Shechem and asks counsel. He consults the old men, who advise him to be kind and soften the yoke, but he rejects their wisdom and instead follows younger counselors who propose making the yoke even heavier. Rehoboam declares that his father’s heavy yoke will be increased with scorpions, causing the people to break away and appoint Jeroboam as king of the northern tribes. Jeroboam establishes religious centers in Bethel and Dan, creates golden calves, and sets up non-Levitical priests and high places, turning Israel into an idolatrous kingdom. The southern tribes remain under Rehoboam’s rule, and God later intervenes to halt the conflict. The chapter concludes with the enduring division of Israel.