1 Kings 12:6

Rehoboam Seeks Counsel to Respond

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the old men who had been {serving} before Solomon his father when he was alive, saying, "How [are] you advising [me] {to answer this 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 "Your father made our yoke heavy; now lighten the hard labor of your father and the heavy yoke which he placed on us, and we will serve you."

5 He said, "Go up for three days and then return to me"; so the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the old men who had been {serving} before Solomon his father when he was alive, saying, "How [are] you advising [me] {to answer this people}?"

7 They said to him, "If you will be a servant today to this people, then you will serve them; and if you answer them and speak good words to them, they will always be your servants."

8 But he rejected the advice of the old men, which they gave him, and he consulted with the youngsters who had grown up with him, who were {serving} before him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "standing"
• [b]. Literally "to return a word to this people"