1 Kings 12:6

6 king Rehoboam took counsel with the elder men, that stood before Solomon, his father, while he lived yet (while yet he lived); and Rehoboam said, What counsel give ye to me, that I answer to the people?

1 Kings 12:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 12:6

And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before
Solomon his father, while he yet lived
Which was very prudently done; for as these were men in years, and had been his father's counsellors, from whom, do doubt, they had learnt much wisdom, being often in cabinet council with him, they were capable of giving him the best advice:

and said, how do you advise, that I may answer this people?
what answer would you advise me to give to them, and in what manner?

1 Kings 12:6 In-Context

4 Thy father putted the most hard yoke upon us, therefore abate thou a little now of the hardest commandment of thy father, and of the full grievous yoke that he hath put upon us, and we shall serve to thee. (Thy father put the hardest yoke upon us, but now, if thou abate a little thy father's hardest commands, and the most grievous yoke that he hath put upon us, then we shall serve thee.)

5 And Rehoboam said to them, Go ye till to the third day, and turn ye again to me (Go ye away until the third day, and then return ye here). And when the people had gone,

6 king Rehoboam took counsel with the elder men, that stood before Solomon, his father, while he lived yet (while yet he lived); and Rehoboam said, What counsel give ye to me, that I answer to the people?

7 Which said to him, If thou obeyest today to this people, and servest this people, and givest stead to their asking, and speakest to them light, or easy, words, they shall be servants to thee in all days (they shall be thy servants forevermore).

8 And Rehoboam forsook the counsel of [the] eld men, which they gave to him, and took (counsel with the) young men, that were nourished with him, and stood nigh [to] him; (But Rehoboam forsook the elders? counsel, which they gave him, and sought counsel with the young men, who grew up with him, and stood close to him;)