29. At that time, when JEROBOAM went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the way; now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field.

30. Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces.

31. He said to JEROBOAM, "Take ten pieces; for The LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you

32. (but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David's sake and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel);

33. because that they have forsaken me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon. They have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my ordinances, as David his father did.

34. "'However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;

35. but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it to you, even ten tribes.

36. To his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

37. I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel.

38. It shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with you, and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.

39. I will afflict the offspring of David for this, but not forever.'"

5. The LORD said to Ahijah, "Behold, JEROBOAM's wife is coming to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick. Tell her such and such; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman."

6. So when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said, "Come in, JEROBOAM's wife! Why do you pretend to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy news.

7. Go, tell JEROBOAM, 'The LORD, the God of Israel, says: "Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel,

8. and tore the kingdom away from David's house, and gave it you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes,

9. but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made for yourself other gods, molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back;

10. therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of JEROBOAM, and will cut off from JEROBOAM everyone who urinates on a wall, he who is shut up and he who is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of JEROBOAM, as a man sweeps away dung, until it is all gone.

11. The dogs will eat he who belongs to JEROBOAM who dies in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat he who dies in the field: for the LORD has spoken it."'

12. Arise therefore, and go to your house. When your feet enter into the city, the child will die.

13. All Israel will mourn for him and bury him; for he only of JEROBOAM will come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward The LORD, the God of Israel, in the house of JEROBOAM.

14. Moreover the LORD will raise up a king for himself over Israel, who will cut off the house of JEROBOAM. This is the day! What? Even now.

15. For the LORD will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking the LORD to anger.

16. He will give Israel up because of the sins of JEROBOAM, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin."