1 Kings 12:14
And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
On the third day at Shechem, Rehoboam answers Jeroboam and all the people. He forsakes the counsel of the old men and speaks after the counsel of the young men, his chosen younger advisers. He answers the people roughly and harshly, refusing to lighten their burdens and disregarding their request for decided reforms in the administration of government.
He declares he will make heavier the heavy yoke imposed under Solomon and will punish more severely than before, with chastisement by scorpions in place of whips, thus perpetuating and adding to the oppressive evils introduced in Solomon's reign. The answer is an irreparable mistake that reveals pride of position and authority, a determination to rule by force, action without wisdom or feeling in the exercise of power, and failure to understand God's purpose for Israel. His refusal to listen happens because the cause is from the Lord to perform what the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and the Lord does not allow Rehoboam to carry out the policy he proposes.
When all Israel sees the king will not listen, the tribes, thoroughly aroused by Solomon's oppressive measures, rebel against the house of David in harmony with the prediction of the rending of the kingdom. They disown any portion in David and any inheritance in the son of Jesse, telling Israel to return to their tents and David to care for his own house, and departing to their tents. So the twelve tribes are divided with Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam and the ten northern tribes under Jeroboam, while Rehoboam continues to reign over those who dwell in the cities of Judah.