² Jeroboam son of Nebat was still in Egypt, where he had ·gone to escape [fled] from Solomon. When Jeroboam heard about Rehoboam being made king, he was living in Egypt. ³ After ·the people [or the leaders; ^Lthey] sent for him, he and ·the people [^Lall the assembly/crowd of Israel] went to Rehoboam and said to him, ⁴ “Your father ·forced us to work [^Lmade our yoke] very hard. Now, ·make it easier for us [lighten the harsh labor], and ·don’t make us work as hard as he did [^Lthe heavy yoke he put on us]. Then we will serve you.”