⁴ “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now lighten your father’s harsh service and the heavy yoke that he laid on us, and we will serve you.”

⁵ Rehoboam said to them, “Return to me in three days.” So the people left.

⁶ King Rehoboam asked for advice from the old men^[a] who had served his father Solomon while he was alive: “How would you advise me to respond to these people?”