The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam ignored the advice of the elders.
Parallel translations
- WEB The king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam abandoned the counsel of the old men,
- KJV And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
- BSB And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders
- NKJV Then the king answered them roughly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders,
- NLT But Rehoboam spoke harshly to them, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Rehoboam answers the people harshly, rejecting the wise advice of the elders. His pride sets the kingdom's division in motion.
Overview
Forsaking the seasoned counsel of those who had served Solomon, Rehoboam speaks roughly to the people. The Chronicler underscores that his folly was a deliberate abandonment of wisdom, not mere inexperience. His harshness illustrates how rejecting godly counsel for flattery brings disaster (Proverbs 12:15).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Gen 42:30“The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.
- Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- 2 Chr 10:8But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
- Gen 42:7Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, “Where did you come from?” They said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”
- Exod 10:28Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!”
- 1 Sam 25:10–11Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.
- Prov 19:27If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
- 1 Kgs 20:6–11but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house, and the houses of your servants; whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they will put it in their hand, and take it away.”’”
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 10:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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