Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

The judges will thoroughly investigate the matter, and if the witness should prove to be false and to have given false testimony against the accused,

Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as the leader over his brothers, for he intended to name him his successor.

“I will provoke civil strife in Egypt, brothers will fight with each other, as will neighbors, cities, and kingdoms.

I will call for a sword to attack Gog on all my mountains, declares the sovereign Lord; every man’s sword will be against his brother.

You may give them as inheritance to your children after you to possess as property. You may enslave them perpetually. However, as for your brothers the Israelites, no man may rule over his brother harshly.

They will stumble over each other as those who flee before a sword, though there is no pursuer, and there will be no one to take a stand for you before your enemies.

The man among you who is by nature tender and sensitive will turn against his brother, his beloved wife, and his remaining children.

Indeed, a man will grab his brother right in his father’s house and say, ‘You own a coat – you be our leader! This heap of ruins will be under your control.’

Do we not all have one father? Did not one God create us? Why do we betray one another, in this way making light of the covenant of our ancestors?

I considered these things carefully and then registered a complaint with the wealthy and the officials. I said to them, “Each one of you is seizing the collateral from your own countrymen!” Because of them I called for a great public assembly.