1 Kings 12 מְלָכִים א פרק י״ב

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Kings 12 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיֵּלֶךְand wentרְחַבְעָםRehoboamשְׁכֶםShechemכִּיforשְׁכֶםShechemבָּאcameכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵלall Israelלְהַמְלִיךְto make kingאֹתוֹ׃him

   And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.

2. 2

   וַיְהִיand it came to passכִּשְׁמֹעַwhen heardיָרׇבְעָםJeroboamבֶּן־נְבָטson of Nebatוְהוּאand heעוֹדֶנּוּwhile he stillבְמִצְרַיִםin Egyptאֲשֶׁרwhichבָּרַחhad fledמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingשְׁלֹמֹהSolomonוַיֵּשֶׁבand he satיָרׇבְעָםJeroboamבְּמִצְרָיִם׃in Egypt

   And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)

3. 3

   וַיִּשְׁלְחוּand sentוַיִּקְרְאוּ־לוֹand they called him(ויבאו)[וַיָּבֹא]and cameיָרׇבְעָםJeroboamוְכׇל־קְהַלand all assembly ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelוַיְדַבְּרוּand spokeאֶל־רְחַבְעָםto Rehoboamלֵאמֹר׃saying

   That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,

4. 4

   אָבִיךָyour fatherהִקְשָׁהhe hardenedאֶת־עֻלֵּנוּour yokeוְאַתָּהand youעַתָּהnowהָקֵלlightenמֵעֲבֹדַתsome of the service ofאָבִיךָyour fatherהַקָּשָׁהthe hardוּמֵעֻלּוֹand some of his yokeהַכָּבֵדthe heavyאֲשֶׁר־נָתַןwhich gaveעָלֵינוּover usוְנַעַבְדֶךָּ׃and we will serve you

   Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.

5. 5

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵיהֶםto themלְכוּ־עֹדgo againשְׁלֹשָׁהthreeיָמִיםdaysוְשׁוּבוּand returnאֵלָיunto meוַיֵּלְכוּand wentהָעָם׃the people

   And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.

6. 6

   וַיִּוָּעַץand consultedהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingרְחַבְעָםRehoboamאֶת־הַזְּקֵנִיםthe eldersאֲשֶׁר־הָיוּwhich wereעֹמְדִיםstandingאֶת־פְּנֵיface ofשְׁלֹמֹהSolomonאָבִיוhis fatherבִּהְיֹתוֹwhen he wasחַיlivingלֵאמֹרsayingאֵיךְhowאַתֶּםyou areנוֹעָצִיםcounselingלְהָשִׁיבto answerאֶת־הָעָם־הַזֶּהthe people thisדָּבָר׃word

   And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?

7. 7

   (וידבר)[וַיְדַבְּרוּ]and they spokeאֵלָיוto himלֵאמֹרsayingאִם־הַיּוֹםif the dayתִּהְיֶה־עֶבֶדshall be servant ofלָעָםto the peopleהַזֶּהthisוַעֲבַדְתָּםand you will serve themוַעֲנִיתָםand you will answer themוְדִבַּרְתָּand you will speakאֲלֵיהֶםto themדְּבָרִיםwordsטוֹבִיםgoodוְהָיוּthen they shall beלְךָfor youעֲבָדִיםservantsכׇּל־הַיָּמִים׃all the days

   And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

8. 8

   וַיַּעֲזֹבand he shall forsakeאֶת־עֲצַתthe plan ofהַזְּקֵנִיםthe eldersאֲשֶׁרwhichיְעָצֻהוּthey had counseled himוַיִּוָּעַץand he consultedאֶת־הַיְלָדִיםthe childrenאֲשֶׁרwhichגָּדְלוּhad grown upאִתּוֹwith himאֲשֶׁרwhichהָעֹמְדִיםthe ones standingלְפָנָיו׃before him

   But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:

9. 9

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵיהֶםto themמָהwhatאַתֶּםyou areנוֹעָצִיםcounselingוְנָשִׁיבand we may bring backדָּבָרa wordאֶת־הָעָםthe peopleהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבְּרוּhave spokenאֵלַיto meלֵאמֹרsayingהָקֵלlightenמִן־הָעֹלfrom the yokeאֲשֶׁר־נָתַןwhich gaveאָבִיךָyour fatherעָלֵינוּ׃over us

   And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

10. 10

    וַיְדַבְּרוּand spokeאֵלָיוto himהַיְלָדִיםthe little childrenאֲשֶׁרwhichגָּדְלוּgreat wereאִתּוֹwith himלֵאמֹרsayingכֹּה־תֹאמַרthus you sayלָעָםto the peopleהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבְּרוּhave spokenאֵלֶיךָto youלֵאמֹרsayingאָבִיךָyour fatherהִכְבִּידdid more grievously afflictאֶת־עֻלֵּנוּour yokeוְאַתָּהand youהָקֵלlightenמֵעָלֵינוּfrom upon usכֹּהthusתְּדַבֵּרyou shall speakאֲלֵיהֶםto themקׇטׇנִּיthe small ofעָבָהit is thickמִמׇּתְנֵיmore than the loins ofאָבִי׃my father

    And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

11. 11

    וְעַתָּהand nowאָבִיmy fatherהֶעְמִיסhe loadedעֲלֵיכֶםover youעֹלyokeכָּבֵדheavyוַאֲנִיand Iאוֹסִיףmoreעַל־עֻלְּכֶםupon your yokeאָבִיmy fatherיִסַּרhe disciplinedאֶתְכֶםyouבַּשּׁוֹטִיםwith the whipsוַאֲנִיand IאֲיַסֵּרI will disciplineאֶתְכֶםyouבָּעַקְרַבִּים׃with scorpions

    And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

12. 12

    וַיָּבוֹand comeיָרׇבְעָםJeroboamוְכׇל־הָעָםand all the peopleאֶל־רְחַבְעָםto Rehoboamבַּיּוֹםin the dayהַשְּׁלִישִׁיthe thirdכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֶּרspokeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingלֵאמֹרsayingשׁוּבוּreturnאֵלַיto meבַּיּוֹםin the dayהַשְּׁלִישִׁי׃the third

    So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

13. 13

    וַיַּעַןand answeredהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֶת־הָעָםthe peopleקָשָׁהhardוַיַּעֲזֹבand he shall forsakeאֶת־עֲצַתthe plan ofהַזְּקֵנִיםthe eldersאֲשֶׁרwhichיְעָצֻהוּ׃they had counseled him

    And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

14. 14

    וַיְדַבֵּרand spokeאֲלֵיהֶםto themכַּעֲצַתaccording to the counsel ofהַיְלָדִיםthe little childrenלֵאמֹרsayingאָבִיmy fatherהִכְבִּידdid more grievously afflictאֶת־עֻלְּכֶםyour yokeוַאֲנִיand IאֹסִיףI will addעַל־עֻלְּכֶםupon your yokeאָבִיmy fatherיִסַּרhe disciplinedאֶתְכֶםyouבַּשּׁוֹטִיםwith the whipsוַאֲנִיand IאֲיַסֵּרI will disciplineאֶתְכֶםyouבָּעַקְרַבִּים׃with scorpions

    And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

15. 15

    וְלֹא־שָׁמַעand not heardהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֶל־הָעָםto the peopleכִּי־הָיְתָהthat wasסִבָּהreasonמֵעִםfromיְהֹוָהthe LORDלְמַעַןin order thatהָקִיםset upאֶת־דְּבָרוֹhis sayingאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבֶּרspokeיְהֹוָהthe LORDבְּיַדin the hand ofאֲחִיָּהAhijahהַשִּׁילֹנִיthe Shiloniteאֶל־יָרׇבְעָםto Jeroboamבֶּן־נְבָט׃son of Nebat

    Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

16. 16

    וַיַּרְאand sawכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלall Israelכִּיthatלֹא־שָׁמַעnot heardהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲלֵהֶםunto themוַיָּשִׁבוּand brought backהָעָםthe peopleאֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְthe kingדָּבָרwordלֵאמֹרsayingמַה־לָּנוּwhat weחֵלֶקpartבְּדָוִדon Davidוְלֹא־נַחֲלָהand not inheritanceבְּבֶן־יִשַׁיin son of Jesseלְאֹהָלֶיךָto your tentsיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelעַתָּהnowרְאֵהbeholdבֵיתְךָyour householdדָּוִדDavidוַיֵּלֶךְand wentיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלְאֹהָלָיו׃to their tents

    So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

17. 17

    וּבְנֵיand sons ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelהַיֹּשְׁבִיםthe inhabitantsבְּעָרֵיin the cities ofיְהוּדָהJudahוַיִּמְלֹךְand he did reignעֲלֵיהֶםupon themרְחַבְעָם׃Rehoboam

    But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.

18. 18

    וַיִּשְׁלַחand sentהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingרְחַבְעָםRehoboamאֶת־אֲדֹרָםAdoramאֲשֶׁרwhichעַל־הַמַּסupon the tributeוַיִּרְגְּמוּand they stonedכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵלall Israelבּוֹin itאֶבֶןstoneוַיָּמֹתand he diedוְהַמֶּלֶךְand the kingרְחַבְעָםRehoboamהִתְאַמֵּץhe proved himself strongלַעֲלוֹתto ascendבַּמֶּרְכָּבָהin the chariotלָנוּסto fleeיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃Jerusalem

    Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.

19. 19

    וַיִּפְשְׁעוּand have rebelledיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelבְּבֵיתin the house ofדָּוִדDavidעַדuntilהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּה׃this

    So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

20. 20

    וַיְהִיand it came to passכִּשְׁמֹעַwhen heardכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלall Israelכִּי־שָׁבthat returnedיָרׇבְעָםJeroboamוַיִּשְׁלְחוּand sentוַיִּקְרְאוּand they calledאֹתוֹhimאֶל־הָעֵדָהto the congregationוַיַּמְלִיכוּand they made kingאֹתוֹhimעַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלupon all Israelלֹאnotהָיָהwasאַחֲרֵיafterבֵית־דָּוִדhouse of Davidזוּלָתִיexceptשֵׁבֶט־יְהוּדָהtribe of Judahלְבַדּוֹ׃alone

    And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

21. 21

    (ויבאו)[וַיָּבֹא]and cameרְחַבְעָםRehoboamיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemוַיַּקְהֵלand he assembledאֶת־כׇּל־בֵּיתall house ofיְהוּדָהJudahוְאֶת־שֵׁבֶטand the tribe ofבִּנְיָמִןBenjaminמֵאָהa hundredוּשְׁמֹנִיםand eightyאֶלֶףthousandבָּחוּרchosenעֹשֵׂהthat doesמִלְחָמָהwarלְהִלָּחֵםto fightעִם־בֵּיתwith the house ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלְהָשִׁיבto bring backאֶת־הַמְּלוּכָהthe kingdomלִרְחַבְעָםto Rehoboamבֶּן־שְׁלֹמֹה׃son of Solomon

    And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

22. 22

    וַיְהִיand it came to passדְּבַרthe word ofהָאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶל־שְׁמַעְיָהto Shemaiahאִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִיםthe man of Godלֵאמֹר׃saying

    But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

23. 23

    אֱמֹרsayאֶל־רְחַבְעָםto Rehoboamבֶּן־שְׁלֹמֹהson of Solomonמֶלֶךְthe king ofיְהוּדָהJudahוְאֶל־כׇּל־בֵּיתand all house ofיְהוּדָהJudahוּבִנְיָמִיןand Benjaminוְיֶתֶרand the rest ofהָעָםthe peopleלֵאמֹר׃saying

    Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,

24. 24

    כֹּהthusאָמַרsaidיְהֹוָהthe LORDלֹא־תַעֲלוּnot shall you go upוְלֹא־תִלָּחֲמוּןand not you shall do battleעִם־אֲחֵיכֶםwith your brethrenבְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵלsons of Israelשׁוּבוּreturnאִישׁevery manלְבֵיתוֹto his houseכִּיforמֵאִתִּיfrom meנִהְיָהhas it occurredהַדָּבָרthe thingהַזֶּהthisוַיִּשְׁמְעוּand they heardאֶת־דְּבַרword ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDוַיָּשֻׁבוּand they returnedלָלֶכֶתto goכִּדְבַרaccording to the word ofיְהֹוָה׃the LORD

    Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.

25. 25

    וַיִּבֶןand builtיָרׇבְעָםJeroboamאֶת־שְׁכֶםShechemבְּהַרon the mount ofאֶפְרַיִםEphraimוַיֵּשֶׁבand he satבָּהּin itוַיֵּצֵאand went outמִשָּׁםfrom thereוַיִּבֶןand builtאֶת־פְּנוּאֵל׃Penuel

    Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

26. 26

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיָרׇבְעָםJeroboamבְּלִבּוֹin his heartעַתָּהnowתָּשׁוּבreturnהַמַּמְלָכָהthe kingdomלְבֵיתto the house ofדָּוִד׃David

    And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

27. 27

    אִם־יַעֲלֶהif goes upהָעָםthe peopleהַזֶּהthisלַעֲשׂוֹתto doזְבָחִיםsacrificesבְּבֵית־יְהֹוָהin the house of the LORDבִּירוּשָׁלַ͏ִםin Jerusalemוְשָׁבand shall returnלֵבheartהָעָםthe peopleהַזֶּהthisאֶל־אֲדֹנֵיהֶםto their masterאֶל־רְחַבְעָםto Rehoboamמֶלֶךְthe king ofיְהוּדָהJudahוַהֲרָגֻנִיand they will kill meוְשָׁבוּand they shall returnאֶל־רְחַבְעָםto Rehoboamמֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה׃king of Judah

    If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

28. 28

    וַיִּוָּעַץand consultedהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוַיַּעַשׂand he madeשְׁנֵיtwoעֶגְלֵיcalves ofזָהָבgoldוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵהֶםunto themרַב־לָכֶםenough for youמֵעֲלוֹתfor going upיְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִםJerusalemהִנֵּהbeholdאֱלֹהֶיךָyour godsיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאֲשֶׁרwhichהֶעֱלוּךָthey brought up youמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofמִצְרָיִם׃Egypt

    Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

29. 29

    וַיָּשֶׂםand he setאֶת־הָאֶחָדthe oneבְּבֵית־אֵלin Beth-elוְאֶת־הָאֶחָדand the oneנָתַןgaveבְּדָן׃in Dan

    And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.

30. 30

    וַיְהִיand it came to passהַדָּבָרthe thingהַזֶּהthisלְחַטָּאתa sinוַיֵּלְכוּand wentהָעָםthe peopleלִפְנֵיbeforeהָאֶחָדthe oneעַד־דָּן׃until Dan

    And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

31. 31

    וַיַּעַשׂand he madeאֶת־בֵּיתhouse ofבָּמוֹתhigh placesוַיַּעַשׂand he madeכֹּהֲנִיםpriestsמִקְצוֹתfrom all ranks ofהָעָםthe peopleאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־הָיוּnot wereמִבְּנֵיthe sons ofלֵוִי׃Levi

    And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

32. 32

    וַיַּעַשׂand he madeיָרׇבְעָםJeroboamחָגa festivalבַּחֹדֶשׁin the monthהַשְּׁמִינִיthe eighthבַחֲמִשָּׁה־עָשָׂרon the fifteenthיוֹםdayלַחֹדֶשׁof the monthכֶּחָגlike the festivalאֲשֶׁרwhichבִּיהוּדָהin Judahוַיַּעַלand he offeredעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַupon the altarכֵּןthusעָשָׂהhe didבְּבֵית־אֵלin Beth-elלְזַבֵּחַto sacrificeלָעֲגָלִיםto the calvesאֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂהwhich didוְהֶעֱמִידand he will stationבְּבֵיתin Beth-אֵלelאֶת־כֹּהֲנֵיthose priests ofהַבָּמוֹתthe high placesאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשָׂה׃he did

    And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made.

33. 33

    וַיַּעַלand he offeredעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַupon the altarאֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂהwhich didבְּבֵית־אֵלin Beth-elבַּחֲמִשָּׁה־עָשָׂרon the fifteenthיוֹםdayבַּחֹדֶשׁin the monthהַשְּׁמִינִיthe eighthבַּחֹדֶשׁin the monthאֲשֶׁר־בָּדָאwhich he had devised(מלבד)[מִלִּבּוֹ]of his own heartוַיַּעַשׂand he madeחָגa festivalלִבְנֵיunto the sons ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelוַיַּעַלand he offeredעַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַupon the altarלְהַקְטִיר׃to burn

    So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.