Online Bible

First Book of Kings, Chapter 12

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1 Kings 12 NWT - New World Translation1 Kings 12 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 12 of 1 Kings—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ And Re·ho·boʹam1 proceeded to go to Sheʹchem, for it was to Sheʹchem2 that all Israel came to make him king.
  2. And it came about that as soon as Jer·o·boʹam3 the son of Neʹbat heard of it while he was yet in Egypt (because he had run off on account of King Solʹo·mon, that Jer·o·boʹam might dwell in Egypt),4
  3. then they sent and called him. After that Jer·o·boʹam and all the congregation of Israel came and began to speak to Re·ho·boʹam, saying:5
  4. “Your father, for his part, made our yoke hard, and, as for you, now make the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke6 that he put upon us lighter,7 and we shall serve you.”8
  5. ¶ At this he said to them: “Go away for three days and return to me.”9 So the people went away.
  6. And King Re·ho·boʹam began to take counsel with the older men10 who had continued attending upon Solʹo·mon his father while he continued alive, saying: “How are YOU advising to reply to this people?”11
  7. Accordingly they spoke to him, saying: “If today you would prove yourself a servant to this people and actually serve them,12 you must also answer them and speak to them with good words;13 and they will be bound to become your servants always.”14
  8. ¶ However, he left the counsel of the older men with which they had advised him, and he began to take counsel with the young men that had grown up with him,15 who were the ones attending upon him.16
  9. And he went on to say to them: “What is it that YOU are offering in counsel17 that we may reply to this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put upon us lighter’?”18
  10. In turn the young men that had grown up with him spoke to him, saying: “This is what you should say19 to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father, for his part, made our yoke heavy, but, as for you, make it lighter upon us’; this is what you should speak to them, ‘My little finger itself will certainly be thicker than my father’s hips.20
  11. And now my father, for his part, loaded upon YOU a heavy yoke; but I, for my part, shall add to YOUR yoke.21 My father, for his part, chastised YOU with whips, but I, for my part, shall chastise YOU with scourges.’”[a]22
  12. ¶ And Jer·o·boʹam and all the people proceeded to come to Re·ho·boʹam on the third day, just as the king had spoken, saying: “Return to me on the third day.”23
  13. And the king began to answer the people harshly,24 and to leave the counsel of the older men who had counseled him.25
  14. And he went on to speak to them according to the counsel of the young men,26 saying: “My father, for his part, made YOUR yoke heavy, but I, for my part, shall add to YOUR yoke. My father, for his part, chastised YOU with whips, but I, for my part, shall chastise YOU with scourges.”27
  15. And the king did not listen to the people,28 because the turn of affairs took place at the instance of Jehovah,29 in order that he might indeed carry out his word30 that Jehovah had spoken by means of A·hiʹjah31 the Shiʹlo·nite to Jer·o·boʹam the son of Neʹbat.
  16. ¶ When all Israel got to see that the king had not listened to them, then the people replied to the king, saying: “What share do we have in David?32 And there is no inheritance in the son of Jesʹse. To your gods,[b]33 O Israel. Now see to your own house, O David!”34 With that Israel began to go to their tents.
  17. As for the sons of Israel that were dwelling in the cities of Judah, Re·ho·boʹam continued to reign over them.35
  18. ¶ Subsequently King Re·ho·boʹam sent A·doʹram,36 who was over those conscripted for forced labor,37 but all Israel pelted him with stones,38 so that he died. And King Re·ho·boʹam himself managed to get up into the chariot to flee to Jerusalem.
  19. And the Israelites kept up their revolt39 against the house of David down to this day.40
  20. ¶ And it came about that as soon as all Israel heard that Jer·o·boʹam had returned, they at once sent and called him to the assembly[c] and made him king over all Israel.41 None became a follower of the house of David except the tribe of Judah by itself.42
  21. ¶ When Re·ho·boʹam arrived at Jerusalem,43 he immediately congregated all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin,44 a hundred and eighty thousand choice men able-bodied for war,[d] to fight against the house of Israel, so as to bring the kingship back to Re·ho·boʹam the son of Solʹo·mon.
  22. Then the word of the [true] God[e] came to She·maiʹah45 the man of the [true] God,46 saying:
  23. “Say to Re·ho·boʹam the son of Solʹo·mon the king of Judah and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and the rest of the people,
  24. ‘This is what Jehovah has said: “YOU must not go up and fight against YOUR brothers the sons of Israel.47 Go back each one to his house, for it is at the instance of myself that this thing has been brought about.”’”48 So they obeyed the word of Jehovah,49 and went back home according to the word of Jehovah.50
  25. ¶ And Jer·o·boʹam proceeded to build Sheʹchem51 in the mountainous region of Eʹphra·im and to dwell in it. Then he went forth from there and built Pe·nuʹel.52
  26. And Jer·o·boʹam began to say in his heart:53 “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.54
  27. If this people continues going up to render sacrifices in the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem,55 the heart of this people will also be bound to return to their lord,[f] Re·ho·boʹam the king of Judah; and they will certainly kill me56 and return to Re·ho·boʹam the king of Judah.”
  28. Consequently the king took counsel57 and made two golden calves58 and said to the people:[g] “It is too much for YOU to go up to Jerusalem. Here is your God,[h]59 O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”60
  29. Then he placed the one in Bethʹel,61 and the other he put in Dan.62
  30. And this thing came to be a cause for sin,63 and the people began to go before the one as far as Dan.
  31. ¶ And he began to make a house of high places64 and to make priests from the people in general, who did not happen to be of the sons of Leʹvi.65
  32. And Jer·o·boʹam went on to make a festival in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival that was in Judah,66 that he might make offerings upon the altar that he had made in Bethʹel, to sacrifice to the calves that he had made; and he put in attendance at Bethʹel67 the priests of the high places that he had made.
  33. And he began to make offerings upon the altar that he had made in Bethʹel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had invented by himself;[i]68 and he proceeded to make a festival for the sons of Israel and to make offerings upon the altar to make sacrificial smoke.69

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ “Scourges.” The Heb. word also means “scorpions,” as in De 8:15.
  2. ^ “To your gods.” Lit., “To your tents.” Heb., leʼo·ha·leyʹkha. One of the Eighteen Emendations of the Sopherim. The original Heb. text is alleged to have used a form of ʼelo·himʹ (“gods”; or, “God”), but by transposing l and h, the second and third consonants of the word, the Jewish Sopherim made M read “tents.” See 2Sa 20:1 ftn, “Gods”; 2Ch 10:16 ftn; App 2B.
  3. ^ “Assembly.” Gr., sy·na·go·genʹ.
  4. ^ “Able-bodied for war.” Lit., “making war.”
  5. ^ “The [true] God.” Heb., ha·ʼElo·himʹ; LXXSyVg, “Jehovah.”
  6. ^ “Their lord.” Heb., ʼadho·neh·hemʹ, pl. of ʼa·dhohnʹ, to denote excellence.
  7. ^ “To the people,” LXXIt; Sy, “to all Israel”; MVg, “to them.”
  8. ^ Lit., “your gods.” Heb., ʼelo·heyʹkha, followed by the pl. verb “brought.” Compare Ex 32:1, 4 ftns, “God.”
  9. ^ “By himself.” Mmargin, “in his heart.”

REFERENCES

  1. ^ 2Ch 10:1
  2. ^ Ge 12:6; 33:18; Jos 20:7; Jg 9:1; Ac 7:16
  3. ^ 1Ki 11:26
  4. ^ 1Ki 11:40; 2Ch 10:2
  5. ^ 2Ch 10:3
  6. ^ 1Sa 8:11, 18; 1Ki 4:7
  7. ^ Mt 11:30
  8. ^ 2Ch 10:4
  9. ^ 1Ki 12:12; 2Ch 10:5
  10. ^ 2Sa 16:20; Pr 11:14; 20:29
  11. ^ 2Ch 10:6; Pr 22:17
  12. ^ Ec 4:13; Mr 10:43
  13. ^ Pr 15:1
  14. ^ 2Ch 10:7
  15. ^ Pr 13:20; 24:7; Is 3:4
  16. ^ 2Ch 10:8
  17. ^ 2Sa 17:6
  18. ^ 2Ch 10:9
  19. ^ 2Sa 17:7
  20. ^ 2Ch 10:10; Ps 140:11; Pr 18:6; 29:23
  21. ^ 2Ch 16:10; Pr 11:17
  22. ^ 2Ch 10:11; Is 3:5
  23. ^ 2Ch 10:12
  24. ^ Ge 42:30; Pr 15:1; 18:23; Ec 10:12
  25. ^ 2Ch 10:13; Pr 13:20
  26. ^ Pr 12:5
  27. ^ 2Ch 10:14; Pr 29:2
  28. ^ Pr 21:13
  29. ^ De 2:30; 2Ch 10:15; 22:7; Ps 5:10; Pr 21:1; Am 3:6; Ro 9:18
  30. ^ 1Sa 15:29; Is 55:11
  31. ^ 1Ki 11:31
  32. ^ 2Sa 20:1; 2Ch 10:16
  33. ^ Ex 20:3; Pr 11:9
  34. ^ 2Sa 7:15; 1Ki 11:13
  35. ^ 1Ki 11:13; 2Ch 10:17; 11:13, 16
  36. ^ 2Sa 20:24; 1Ki 4:6
  37. ^ 1Ki 5:14
  38. ^ Ex 17:4; Nu 14:10; 2Ch 10:18; 24:21; Ac 5:26
  39. ^ 2Ki 17:21
  40. ^ 2Ch 10:19
  41. ^ 1Ki 11:31
  42. ^ 1Ki 11:13; 2Ch 13:10; 25:5; Ho 11:12
  43. ^ 2Ch 11:1
  44. ^ 2Ch 14:8; 17:17
  45. ^ 2Ch 11:2; 12:5
  46. ^ 1Ki 13:1; 17:18; Heb 1:1
  47. ^ Nu 14:42
  48. ^ 1Ki 11:31; Pr 16:9
  49. ^ Ac 5:39
  50. ^ 2Ch 11:4
  51. ^ 1Ki 12:1
  52. ^ Ge 32:31; Jg 8:9, 17
  53. ^ Ps 14:1
  54. ^ 1Ki 11:38
  55. ^ De 12:5; 1Ki 8:29; 11:32
  56. ^ Pr 29:25
  57. ^ Is 30:1
  58. ^ Ex 20:4; 2Ki 10:29; 2Ch 11:15; Ac 17:29
  59. ^ Ex 32:4; 2Ki 17:41
  60. ^ Ex 32:8
  61. ^ Ge 12:8; 28:19
  62. ^ Ge 14:14; De 34:1; Jg 18:29; 20:1; 2Ki 10:29
  63. ^ 1Ki 13:34; 2Ki 10:31; 17:21
  64. ^ 1Ki 13:32; Eze 16:25
  65. ^ Nu 3:10; 1Ki 13:33; 2Ch 11:14; 13:9
  66. ^ Le 23:34; Nu 29:12; 1Ki 8:2
  67. ^ Am 7:13
  68. ^ 2Co 11:14
  69. ^ 1Co 10:20

Read 1 Kings Chapter 12 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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