1 Kings 12:6

6 King Rehoboam ¹consulted with the elders who had served * his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, "How do you counsel 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 hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."

5 Then he said to them, "Depart for three days, then return to me." So the people departed.

6 King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, "How do you counsel me to answer this people?"

7 Then they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them and grant them their petition, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever ."

8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Kings 4:1-6; Job 12:12; Job 32:7

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "stood before"