That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,

And they sent and called him: and Jeroboam came, and all the multitude of Israel, and they spoke to Roboam, saying:

that they send and call for him; and they come, Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel, and speak unto Rehoboam, saying,

And all the men of Israel came to Rehoboam and said,

And they sent and called him. Therefore, Jeroboam went, with the entire multitude of Israel, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying:

That they sent and called him,.... That is, the people of Israel, some of the principal of them, especially of the tribe of Ephraim, sent messengers to him, and gave him an invitation to come to them at Shechem; or, they had sent (e), as Kimchi interprets it, which was the reason of his returning from Egypt, at least one of them:
and Jeroboam, and all the congregation of Israel, came; the chief men of them, the heads of the people; these, with Jeroboam at the head of them, who was come out of Egypt, came to Shechem, where Rehoboam was, and they had appointed to meet him:
and spake unto Rehoboam; one in the name of them all, perhaps Jeroboam:
saying; as follows.
(e) So Pagninus, Montanus.

They sent - When the people sent him word of Solomon's death, they also sent a summons for him to come to Shechem. That the presence and countenance of a man of so great interest and reputation, might lay the greater obligation upon Rehoboam to grant them ease and relief.