1. URehobowamu waya eShekemi, ngokuba wonke u-Israyeli wayefikile eShekemi ukumbeka inkosi.
2. Kwathi lapho uJerobowamu indodana kaNebati ekuzwile ngokuba wayeseGibithe, lapho ayebalakele khona, ebalekele ubuso benkosi uSolomoni uJerobowamu wabuya eGibithe.
3. Bathuma bambiza; uJerobowamu naye wonke u-Israyeli beza, bakhuluma kuRehobowamu, bathi:
4. “Uyihlo wenza ijoka lethu laba lukhuni; ngalokho yenza wena ube lula umsebenzi olukhuni kayihlo nejoka lakhe elisindayo owalibeka phezu kwethu, siyakukukhonza.”
5. Wathi kubo: “Buyelani kimi emva kwezinsuku ezintathu.” Basuka-ke abantu.
6. Inkosi uRehobowamu yelulekana namalunga ayemile phambi kukaSolomoni uyise esekhona, yathi: “Nina ningeluleka ukubuyisela mpenduloni kulaba bantu na?”
7. Akhuluma kuye, athi: “Uma uzakuba muhle kulaba bantu, ubathokozise, ukhulume amazwi amahle kubo, bayakuba yizinceku zakho izinsuku zonke.”
8. Kepha walahla isiluleko samalunga ameluleke ngaso, welulekana nezinsizwa eziyintanga yakhe, ezazimi phambi kwakhe.
9. Wathi kuzo: “Nina niluleka ukuba sibuyise mpenduloni kulaba bantu abakhulume kimi ngokuthi: ‘Yenza ijoka uyihlo alibeka phezu kwethu libe lula,’ na?”