of Moab, in the hill opposite to Jerusalem; and for Molech, the idol of the Ammonites. 8. He did so for all his strange wives, who burnt incense, and sacrificed to their own gods.

9. So the Eternal was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Eternal God of Israel, who appeared to him twice, 10.. And expressly commanded him, not to go after other gods; but he observed not what the Eternal commanded, 11. Therefore he said to him, As thou hast acted thus, and hast not kept my covenant and statutes I commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom. from thee, and give it to thy servant. 12. Yet in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake; but in thy son's. 13. Howbeit, I will noț rend away all the kingdom; but will give him one tribe, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusa lem's sake, which I have chosen.

14. Now the Eternal raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite, who was of the king of Edom's seed. 15. For when David invaded Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was burying the slain, (16. As Joab remained six months there with the whole army of Israel, till he had cut off almost every male), 17. Hadad then, being yet a little boy, fled, with certain Edomites of his father's servants, toward Egypt. 18. They went from Midian to Paran: and taking men with them out of Paran for guides, they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh the king, who gave him an house, appointed him victuals, and land. 19. Now Hadad found so great favour with Pharaoh, that he gave him to wife his own wife's sister. 20. Who bare him a son Genu bath, whom Tahpenes the queen weaned in Pharaoh's house; so Genubath was reared there among Pharaoh's sons.

21.But when Hadad heard in Egypt that David, and Joab, the captain of the host, were dead, he said to Pharaoh, Let me depart for mine own country,

22. Then Pharaoh said to him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that thou seekest to go thither? He answered, Nothing; howbeit, let me go at any

rate.

23. God raised up another adversary, Rezon, Eliadah's son, who fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah. 24. Who gathered men, and became cap tain of a band, when David slew the other Zobites; they went to Damascus, and dwelt there, Rezon reigning therein. 25. He was an adversary to Israel all Solomon's remaining days, abetting the mischief that Hadad did; who being made king of Edom, infested Israel, and reigned over Syria.

26. Jeroboam, Nebat's son, Solomon's servant, an Ephrathite of Zereda, (whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman), also rebelled against So lomon. 27. And this was the cause thereof: Solo mon built the fortress, and repaired the breaches of the city of his father David. 28. Now Jeroboam was a valiant man; and Solomon seeing he was fit for business, made him tax-master over all Joseph's progeny.

29. Jeroboam going then out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way, clothed with a new garment; so they two were alone in the fields. 30. Then Ahijah caught his new robe. and rent it in twelve pieces. 31. And said to him, Take thee ten pieces, for thus saith the Eternal, the God of Israel, Lo, I will rend the kingdom out of Solomon's hand, and give ten tribes to thee; 32. (But he shall have one tribe, for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city have chos sen out of all the tribes of Israel); 33. Because he hath forsaken me, and worshipped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians; Chemosh, the god of the Moabites; and Milcom, the god of the Ammonites; and walked not in my ways, to do what is right before me, even to keep my statutes and judgments, as did David his father. 34. Howbeit, I will not

take any of the kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake, whom 1 favoured, because he kept my commandments and my statutes; 35.But I will take it from his son, and give to thee ten tribes. 36. But to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Je rusalem, the city which I have chosen to be called by my name. 37. So thou shalt reign as thy soul desireth, being king over Israel. 38. And, if thou wilt hearken to all I command thee, walking in my ways, doing what I approve, and keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with thee, and give thee a sure footing and race, as I did to David, and give Israel to thee. 39. And I will afflict David's offspring for this purpose, but not for ever. 40. Solomon sought, there fore, to kill Jeroboam; but he fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of it, and was there till Solomon's death.

41. Now the rest of Solomon's history, all his deeds, and all his wisdom, are written in the chroni cles of Solomon. 42. He reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.

43. Then he slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father; and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.

CHAP. XII.

REHOBOAM LOSES TEN TRIBES BY FOLLY.

REHOBOAM Went to Shechem; for all Israel came thither to make him king. 2. Now when Jeroboam, Nebat's son, who was in Egypt, (whither he fled from Salomon, had heard he returned), 3. Being sent for, and invited, he with all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, 4. Thy father made our yoke (and service hard and heavy); now, therefore, make them lighter, and we will serve thee.

5. He said to them, Depart yet three days, then return to me. So the people departed.

6. Now Rehoboam consulted the old men that attended Solomon his father, when living, and said, What do ye advise me to answer this people? 7. They replied, If thou wilt serve this people to-day, and speak good words to them, then they will serve thee for ever. 8. But he forsook the old mens' counsel, and consulted the young men that grew up with him, and attended him: 9. And said to them, What counsel give ye me, to answer this people, who say, Make thy father's yoke lighter? 10. They said, Tell this people, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11. For, as my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions (whips with knots,lead drops, &c.) 12. So Jeroboam with all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as he had appointed. 13. Then the king having forsaken the old mens' counsel, answered the people roughly. 14. He spake after the young mens' counsel, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will make it heavier; my father also chastised you with scourges, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

15. Thus the king hearkened not to the people; for the cause was from the Eternal, to perform what he spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, Ne

bat's son.

16. So all Israel seeing that the king hearkened not to them, answered him, What portion have we in David? or inheritance in the son of Jesse? go to your tents, O Israel; now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents. 17. But as for the Israelites, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, (the Simeonites and Benjamites), Rehoboam reigned over them.

18. Then he sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; but all Israel stoned him, that he died; while

the king hardly got into his chariot, and fled to Jerusalem. 19. So Israel rebelled against David's house to this day.

20. For as soon as all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel; no tribe followed David's house wholly,but Judah only.

21. Now Rehoboam being come to Jerusalem he assembled all Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to himself.

22. But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God, saying, 23. Speak to Rehoboam, Solomon's son, king of Judah, and to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the other tribes, saying, 24. Thus saith the Eternal, Ye shall not go to fight against your brethren the Israelites; return each to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened, therefore, to the word of the Eternal, and desisted from going to war, and returned according to it.

25. Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein, and went from thence, and built Penuel. 26. And said in his heart, The kingdom shall return to the house of David. 27. If this people go to sacrifice in the Eternal's house at Jerusalem, their heart shall turn again to their lord Rehoboam king of Judali, and they shall kill me. 28. So the king devised, and made two golden calves, and said to them, It is too much for you to go to Jerusalem; behold thy gods, O'Israel, which brought thee from Egypt. 29. And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other in Dan. 30. So this became an occasion of sinning, for the people went to worship before the one at Beth-el, and even to Dan. 31. Hc also built hill chapels for worship and high places, and made priests of any of the people who were not of Levi's tribe. 32. He also held the feast of