Chapter 12

1And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.   אוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֖ם שְׁכֶ֑ם כִּ֥י שְׁכֶ֛ם בָּ֥א כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְהַמְלִ֥יךְ אֹתֽוֹ:
2And it was when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of this when he was yet in Egypt where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam had settled in Egypt.   בוַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ | יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־נְבָ֗ט וְהוּא֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ בְמִצְרַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּרַ֔ח מִפְּנֵ֖י הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יָרָבְעָ֖ם בְּמִצְרָֽיִם:
3And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam saying,   גוַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ וַיִּקְרְאוּ־ל֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֥א (כתיב וַיָּבֹ֥או) יָרָבְעָ֖ם וְכָל־קְהַ֣ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶל־רְחַבְעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר:
4"Your father made our yoke hard. Now you lighten your father's hard work and his heavy yoke which he placed upon us, and we shall serve you."   דאָבִ֖יךָ הִקְשָׁ֣ה אֶת־עֻלֵּ֑נוּ וְאַתָּ֡ה עַתָּ֣ה הָקֵל֩ מֵעֲבֹדַ֨ת אָבִ֜יךָ הַקָּשָׁ֗ה וּמֵעֻלּ֧וֹ הַכָּבֵ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן עָלֵ֖ינוּ וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ:
5And he said to them "Go away for three days, then return again to me." And the people departed.   הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לְכ֥וּ עֹ֛ד שְׁלשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וְשׁ֣וּבוּ אֵלָ֑י וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ הָעָֽם:
6And king Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had attended Solomon his father while he was yet alive saying: "What counsel do you give me to reply to this people?"   ווַיִּוָּעַ֞ץ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם אֶת־הַזְּקֵנִים֙ אֲשֶׁר־הָי֣וּ עֹמְדִ֗ים אֶת־פְּנֵי֙ שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה אָבִ֔יו בִּֽהְיֹת֥וֹ חַ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵיךְ אַתֶּ֣ם נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־הָֽעָם־הַזֶּ֖ה דָּבָֽר:
7And they spoke to him saying, "If you will be a servant to this people today, and you will minister to them and you will respond to them and speak kind words to them, then they will be your servants for all times.   זוַיְדַבְּרוּ֙ (כתיב וַיְדַבְּרֻ֙) אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־הַ֠יּוֹם תִּֽהְיֶה־עֶ֜בֶד לָעָ֚ם הַזֶּה֙ וַֽעֲבַדְתָּ֔ם וַעֲנִיתָ֕ם וְדִבַּרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם דְּבָרִ֣ים טוֹבִ֑ים וְהָי֥וּ לְךָ֛ עֲבָדִ֖ים כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים:
8But He disregarded the counsel of the elders who advised him, and he took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and who were attending him.   חוַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת־עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְעָצֻ֑הוּ וַיִּוָּעַ֗ץ אֶת־הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָעֹמְדִ֖ים לְפָנָֽיו:
9And he said to them: "What do you advise that we reply to this people who have spoken to me saying, 'Lighten the burden which your father has placed upon us'?"   טוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם מָה אַתֶּ֣ם נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים וְנָשִׁ֥יב דָּבָ֖ר אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבְּר֚וּ אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הָקֵל֙ מִן־הָעֹ֔ל אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן אָבִ֖יךָ עָלֵֽינוּ:
10And the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him saying: "So shall you say to this people who have spoken to you saying, 'Your father has made our yoke heavy, and you make it lighter for us,' thus shall you speak to them, My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.   יוַיְדַבְּר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו הַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר גָּדְל֣וּ אִתּוֹ֘ לֵאמֹר֒ כֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֣ר לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֡ה אֲשֶׁר֩ דִּבְּר֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ לֵאמֹ֗ר אָבִ֙יךָ֙ הִכְבִּ֣יד אֶת־עֻלֵּ֔נוּ וְאַתָּ֖ה הָקֵ֣ל מֵעָלֵ֑ינוּ כֹּה תְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם קָֽטֳנִּ֥י עָבָ֖ה מִמָּתְנֵ֥י אָבִֽי:
My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins: Heb. קטני, my little finger.   קָטָנִּי עָבָה: אֶצְבַּע קְטַנָּה שֶׁלִּי.
11And now, where my father did burden you with a heavy yoke, I shall add to your yoke; my father flogged you with whips, but I will flog you with scorpions."   יאוְעַתָּ֗ה אָבִי֙ הֶעְמִ֚יס עֲלֵיכֶם֙ עֹ֣ל כָּבֵ֔ד וַאֲנִ֖י אֹסִ֣יף עַֽל־עֻלְּכֶ֑ם אָבִ֗י יִסַּ֚ר אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֕י אֲיַסֵּ֥ר אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים:
scorpions: aiguillon in French, a goad or sting [called so] because they sting like scorpions.   עַקְרַבִּים: אשגלנטי"ר בְּלַעַ"ז (עֵץ וֶרֶד–הַבָּר שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ קוֹצִים), שֶׁעוֹקְצִין כְּעַקְרָב.
12Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, "Return to me on the third day."   יבוַיָּב֨וֹא (כתיב וַיָּב֨וֹ) יָרָבְעָ֧ם וְכָל־הָעָ֛ם אֶל־רְחַבְעָ֖ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֑י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֚ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר שׁ֥וּבוּ אֵלַ֖י בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִֽׁי:
13The king replied to the people harshly, and he disregarded the counsel of the elders which they had advised him.   יגוַיַּ֧עַן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־הָעָ֖ם קָשָׁ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב אֶת־עֲצַ֥ת הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְעָצֻֽהוּ:
14And he spoke to them as the counsel of the young men saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, and I shall add to your yoke; my father flogged you with whips, and I shall flog you with scorpions."   ידוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם כַּעֲצַ֚ת הַיְלָדִים֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אָבִי֙ הִכְבִּ֣יד אֶֽת־עֻלְּכֶ֔ם וַאֲנִ֖י אֹסִ֣יף עַֽל־עֻלְּכֶ֑ם אָבִ֗י יִסַּ֚ר אֶתְכֶם֙ בַּשּׁוֹטִ֔ים וַאֲנִ֕י אֲיַסֵּ֥ר אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַקְרַבִּֽים:
15The king did not listen to the people, for it was something brought about by the Lord, in order to fulfill His word, that the Lord had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat.   טווְלֹֽא־שָׁמַ֥ע הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־הָעָ֑ם כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֚ה סִבָּה֙ מֵעִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה לְמַ֜עַן הָקִ֣ים אֶת־דְּבָר֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֚ר יְהֹוָה֙ בְּיַד֙ אֲחִיָּ֣ה הַשִּׁילֹנִ֔י אֶל־יָרָבְעָ֖ם בֶּן־נְבָֽט:
16And all of Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, and they replied to the king saying: "What share do we have in David? And no heritage in Jesse's son. To your homes, O Israel! Now see your house, David," and the Israelites went to their homes.   טזוַיַּ֣רְא כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כִּ֠י לֹֽא־שָׁמַ֣ע הַמֶּלֶךְ֘ אֲלֵהֶם֒ וַיָּשִׁ֣בוּ הָעָ֣ם אֶת־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּבָ֣ר | לֵאמֹ֡ר מַה־לָּנוּ֩ חֵ֨לֶק בְּדָוִ֜ד וְלֹֽא־נַחֲלָ֣ה בְּבֶן־יִשַׁ֗י לְאֹהָלֶ֙יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַתָּ֕ה רְאֵ֥ה בֵיתְךָ֖ דָּוִ֑ד וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְאֹהָלָֽיו:
Now see your house: The Temple that you built, will be for you alone.   רְאֵה בֵיתְךָ: בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ שֶׁבָּנִיתָ, לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ יִהְיֶה.
17[As regards] the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam ruled over them.   יזוּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּשְׁבִ֖ים בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם רְחַבְעָֽם:
18And king Rehoboam sent Adoram who was in charge of the tax, and all of Israel pelted him with stones, and he died, and king Rehoboam exerted himself to get up into his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.   יחוַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם אֶת־אֲדֹרָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הַמַּ֔ס וַיִּרְגְּמ֨וּ כָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל בּ֛וֹ אֶ֖בֶן וַיָּמֹ֑ת וְהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ רְחַבְעָ֗ם הִתְאַמֵּץ֙ לַעֲל֣וֹת בַּמֶּרְכָּבָ֔ה לָנ֖וּס יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ:
And King Rehoboam sent Adoram: He was Adoniram [mentioned above in 5:28].   אֲדוֹרָם: הוּא אֲדוֹנִירָם.
19So Israel revolted against the House of David until this day.   יטוַיִּפְשְׁע֚וּ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּבֵ֣ית דָּוִ֔ד עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
20And it came to be when all of Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, that they sent and called him to the assembly, and they made him king over all Israel; there was none that followed the House of David except the tribe of Judah alone.   כוַיְהִ֞י כִּשְׁמֹ֚עַ כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־שָׁ֣ב יָרָבְעָ֔ם וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֗וּ וַיִּקְרְא֚וּ אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַיַּמְלִ֥יכוּ אֹת֖וֹ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לֹ֚א הָיָה֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י בֵית־דָּוִ֔ד זוּלָתִ֥י שֵֽׁבֶט־יְהוּדָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ:
21And Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, and he assembled all the House of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors, to wage war with the House of Israel, to return the kingdom to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.   כאוַיָּבֹ֣א (כתיב וַיָּבֹ֣או) רְחַבְעָם֘ יְרוּשָׁלִַם֒ וַיַּקְהֵל֩ אֶת־כָּל־בֵּ֨ית יְהוּדָ֜ה וְאֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט בִּנְיָמִ֗ן מֵאָ֨ה וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֛לֶף בָּח֖וּר עֹשֵֹ֣ה מִלְחָמָ֑ה לְהִלָּחֵם֙ עִם־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה לִרְחַבְעָ֖ם בֶּן־שְׁלֹמֹֽה:
and the tribe of Benjamin: Who were situated on the border, for the boundaries of Judah and Benjamin were adjacent.   וְאֶת שֵׁבֶט בִּנְיָמִן: הָעוֹמְדִים עַל הַגְּבוּל, שֶׁיְּהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִין הָיָה גְּבוּלָם סָמוּךְ זֶה לָזֶה.
22And the word of God was to Shemiah, the man of God, saying,   כבוַיְהִי֙ דְּבַ֣ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶל־שְׁמַעְיָ֥ה אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹֽר:
23"Speak to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, King of Judah, and to all of the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people, saying,   כגאֱמֹ֗ר אֶל־רְחַבְעָ֚ם בֶּן־שְׁלֹמֹה֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶל־כָּל־בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה וּבִנְיָמִ֑ין וְיֶ֥תֶר הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר:
24"Thus said the Lord: 'You shall not go up and you shall not war with your brothers, the children of Israel; return each man to his home for this thing has been brought about by Me.' " And they heeded the word of the Lord, and they returned to go [home], in accordance with the word of the Lord.   כדכֹּ֣ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֡ה לֹֽא־תַעֲלוּ֩ וְלֹא־תִלָּ֨חֲמ֜וּן עִם־אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל שׁוּבוּ אִ֣ישׁ לְבֵית֔וֹ כִּ֧י מֵאִתִּ֛י נִהְיָ֖ה הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיָּשֻׁ֥בוּ לָלֶ֖כֶת כִּדְבַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה:
25And Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountain of Ephraim and lived there, and he went from there and built the city of Penuel.   כהוַיִּ֨בֶן יָרָבְעָ֧ם אֶת־שְׁכֶ֛ם בְּהַ֥ר אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב בָּ֑הּ וַיֵּצֵ֣א מִשָּׁ֔ם וַיִּ֖בֶן אֶת־פְּנוּאֵֽל:
26Jeroboam then said to himself, "Now, the kingdom may return to the House of David.   כווַיֹּ֥אמֶר יָרָבְעָ֖ם בְּלִבּ֑וֹ עַתָּ֛ה תָּשׁ֥וּב הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה לְבֵ֥ית דָּוִֽד:
27When this people goes up to offer sacrifices in the Temple of the Lord, in Jerusalem, the hearts of this people will turn to their master to Rehoboam the king of Judah, and they shall kill me and return to Rehoboam, the king of Judah."   כזאִֽם־יַעֲלֶ֣ה | הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֗ה לַעֲשֹ֨וֹת זְבָחִ֚ים בְּבֵית־יְהֹוָה֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔םִ וְ֠שָׁב לֵ֣ב הָעָ֚ם הַזֶּה֙ אֶל־אֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם אֶל־רְחַבְעָ֖ם מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַהֲרָגֻ֕נִי וְשָׁ֖בוּ אֶל־רְחַבְעָ֥ם מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָֽה:
When this people goes: Sitting in the Temple court is not permitted except for the kings of the house of David only. Therefore, he [Rehoboam] will be seated and I will be standing. Moreover, in the year following the Sabbatical Year, at the time of the Assembly, he will read the portion relating to the king, for he is the king of his province, whereas I will be like the rest of the people, and will, therefore, find myself degraded.   אִם יַעֲלֶה הָעָם הַזֶּה וְגוֹ': אֵין יְשִׁיבָה בָּעֲזָרָה אֶלָּא לְמַלְכֵי בֵּית דָּוִד בִּלְבַד, וְיִהְיֶה הוּא יוֹשֵׁב וַאֲנִי עוֹמֵד, וּבְמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית בִּזְמַן הַקְהֵל, יִקְרָא אֶת פָּרָשַׁת הַמֶּלֶךְ, שֶׁהוּא רֹאשׁ בִּמְדִינָתוֹ, וַאֲנִי כִּשְׁאָר הָעָם, נִמְצֵאתִי בָּזוּי.
28The king took counsel and made two golden calves, and he said to them, saying, "It is far for you to go up to Jerusalem; here are your gods, O Israel, that have brought you up from the land of Egypt."   כחוַיִּוָּעַ֣ץ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּ֕עַשׂ שְׁנֵ֖י עֶגְלֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם רַב־לָכֶם֙ מֵעֲל֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֔םִ הִנֵּ֚ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֱל֖וּךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
29And he placed one in Beth El and the other he placed in Dan.   כטוַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הָאֶחָ֖ד בְּבֵֽית־אֵ֑ל וְאֶת־הָאֶחָ֖ד נָתַ֥ן בְּדָֽן:
30And this thing became a sin, and the people went before the one even until Dan.   לוַיְהִ֛י הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לְחַטָּ֑את וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם לִפְנֵ֥י הָאֶחָ֖ד עַד־דָּֽן:
even until Dan: at the end of the boundary of the land.   עַד דָּן: בְּסוֹף גְּבוּל הָאָרֶץ.
31And he made the house of high places (i.e. houses of altars) and he made priests of some of the people who were not of the sons of Levi.   לאוַיַּ֖עַשׂ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית בָּמ֑וֹת וַיַּ֚עַשׂ כֹּֽהֲנִים֙ מִקְצ֣וֹת הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הָי֖וּ מִבְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי:
32And Jeroboam made a festival in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month like the festival which was in Judah, and he brought up offerings on the altar; so he did in Beth El to slaughter the calves which he had made, and he placed in Beth El the priests of the high places which he had made.   לבוַיַּ֣עַשׂ יָרָבְעָ֣ם חָ֡ג בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִ֣י בַּחֲמִשָּֽׁה־עָשָׂר֩ י֨וֹם | לַחֹ֜דֶשׁ כֶּחָ֣ג | אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּיהוּדָ֗ה וַיַּ֙עַל֙ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כֵּ֚ן עָשָׂה֙ בְּבֵֽית־אֵ֔ל לְזַבֵּ֖חַ לַעֲגָלִ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־עָשָֹ֑ה וְהֶעֱמִיד֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔ל אֶת־כֹּהֲנֵ֥י הַבָּמ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֹֽה:
33And he brought up offerings on the altar which he has made in Beth El on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month that he had fabricated from his heart, and he made a festival for the children of Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn the incense.   לגוַיַּ֜עַל עַֽל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֣חַ | אֲשֶׁר־עָשָֹ֣ה בְּבֵֽית־אֵ֗ל בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה עָשָֹ֥ר יוֹם֙ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּדָ֣א מִלִּבּ֑וֹ (כתיב מִלִּבֹּ֑ד) וַיַּ֚עַשׂ חָג֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיַּ֥עַל עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לְהַקְטִֽיר:
in the eighth month: He expounded to them that this was the month of ingathering, and was, therefore, the proper time for the festival to be [celebrated].   בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁמִינִי: דָּרַשׁ לָהֶם הוּא חֹדֶשׁ הָאָסִיף, וּבוֹ רָאוּי הֶחָג לִהְיוֹת.
that he had fabricated from his heart: Heb. אשר בדא מלבו, an expression of falsehood (controver in O.F., to invent).   בָּדָא מִלִּבּוֹ: לְשׁוֹן כָּזָב, קונטרובי"ר בְּלַעַ"ז: