And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
Parallel translations
- WEB King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me about how to answer these people?”
- BSB Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.
- NKJV Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, saying, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”
- NASB And then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”
- NLT Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?”
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 first consults the older men who had served his father Solomon. It shows him initially seeking experienced counsel.
Overview
He turns to the seasoned advisers familiar with wise governance. Their counsel represents tested wisdom about ruling people well. The narrative invites readers to value mature, godly counsel, as Proverbs repeatedly urges.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Job 32:7I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
- Jer 42:20For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.
- Prov 19:20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
- Job 8:8–9For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
- Prov 27:10Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
- 2 Sam 17:5–6Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
- 2 Sam 16:20Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
- Job 12:12–13With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
- Prov 12:15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
- Jer 42:2–5And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 10:6 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.