Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/303

 and we  will  serve  thee.”  Roboam  told  them  to  come  back  on the  third  day,  and  he  would  give  them  his  answer. He then  took counsel with  the  ancients  of  the  people  who  had  stood  before Solomon, his  father,  as  to  what  course  he  should  pursue. The ancients advised  the  king,  saying: “If  thou  wilt  yield  to  this  people and speak  gentle  words  to  them,  they  will  be  thy  servants always.” Roboam,  not  satisfied  with  this  advice  of  the  old  men, betook himself  to  the  young  men  who  were  his  own  companions, and asked  what  they  would  counsel  him  to  do. The young  men who had  been  brought  up  with  him  said: “Thus  shalt  thou  speak to this  people: My  father  put  a heavy  yoke  upon  you,  but  I will add to  your  yoke; my  father  beat  you  with  whips,  but  I will  beat you with  scorpions.”  When  the  people  had  returned  on  the third day  for  an  answer,  Roboam  spoke  to  them  as  the  young men had  advised. Then, seeing  that  they  had  nothing  to  expect from their  new  king,  ten  of  the  tribes  threw  off  his  authority and chose  for  their  king  Jeroboam,  who  had  been  a servant  of Solomon. Only the  two  tribes  of  Juda  and  Benjamin  remained with Roboam. From that  day  forth  the  people  of  Israel  were divided into  two  kingdoms,  that  of  Juda  and  that  of  Israel.

Jerusalem continued  to  be  the  capital  of  Juda,  while  Samaria became the  capital  of  Israel. But the  effects  of  the  separation went still  further;  for  Jeroboam,  king  of  Israel,  thought  within himself, that  if  the  people  continued  to  go  up  to  Jerusalem  to offer  sacrifice  to  the  Lord  in  His  Temple,  their  hearts  would  turn