1 Kings 12:12-19 - Rehoboam Responds Unwisely With Disastrous Results

¹² So all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had given orders, saying, Come back to me the third day. ¹³ And the king gave them a rough answer, giving no attention to the suggestion of the old men; ¹⁴ But giving them the answer put forward by the young men, saying, My father made your yoke hard, but I will make it harder; my father gave you punishment with whips, but I will give it with snakes.

¹⁵ So the king did not give ear to the people; and this came about by the purpose of the Lord, so that what he had said by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam, son of Nebat, might be effected. ¹⁶ And when all Israel saw that the king would give no attention to them, the people in answer said to the king, What part have we in David? what is our heritage in the son of Jesse? to your tents, O Israel; now see to your people, David. So Israel went away to their tents. ¹⁷ (But Rehoboam was still king over those of the children of Israel who were living in the towns of Judah.)

¹⁸ Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, the overseer of the forced work; and he was stoned to death by all Israel. And King Rehoboam went quickly and got into his carriage to go in flight to Jerusalem. ¹⁹ So Israel was turned away from the family of David to this day.