1 Kings 12:20-31
New American Standard Bible
21Now when Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23Tell Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and the rest of the people, saying,
24‘This is what the Lord says: 'You shall not go up nor fight against your relatives the sons of Israel; return, every man to his house, for this thing has come from Me.'?’?' So they listened to the word of the Lord, and returned to go their way in accordance with the word of the Lord.
25Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel.
26And Jeroboam said in his heart, 'Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.
27If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.'
28So the king consulted, and he made two golden calves; and he said to the people, 'It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.'
29And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
30Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.
31And he made houses on high places, and appointed priests from all the people who were not of the sons of Levi.
King James Version
21And 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.
22But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23Speak 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,
24Thus 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.
25Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
26And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
27If 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.
28Whereupon 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.
29And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
30And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 12
20When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one followed the house of David except the tribe of Judah alone. 21When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized one hundred eighty thousand fit young soldiers from the entire house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin to fight against the house of Israel to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon. 22But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God: 23"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to the whole house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,
25Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built Penuel.
26Jeroboam said to himself, "The kingdom might now return to the house of David.
27If these people regularly go to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, the heart of these people will return to their lord, King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and go back to the king of Judah."
28So the king sought advice. Then he made two golden calves, and he said to the people, "Going to Jerusalem is too difficult for you. Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt."
29He set up one in Bethel, and put the other in Dan.
30This led to sin; the people walked in procession before one of the calves all the way to Dan.
New Living Translation
22But God said to Shemaiah, the man of God,
23Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the people of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,
24‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives, the Israelites. Go back home, for what has happened is my doing!’' So they obeyed the message of the Lord and went home, as the Lord had commanded.
26Jeroboam thought to himself, 'Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David.
27When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the Lord, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.'
English Standard Version
21When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:
23"Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,
24‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’" So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord.
25Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel.
26And Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David.
27If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah."
28So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, "You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt."
29And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
30Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one.
31He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites.
New International Version
22But this word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:
23"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah, to all Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,
24‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’ " So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.
26Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David.
27If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam."
28After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."
29One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.
30And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.
New King James Version
21And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
22But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
23“Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,
24‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.” ’ ” Therefore they obeyed the word of the Lord, and turned back, according to the word of the Lord.
25Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel.
26And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David:
27If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
28Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!”
29And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
30Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.
31He made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi.