1 Kings 12:13
New International Version
The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders,

New Living Translation
But Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors

English Standard Version
And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him,

Berean Standard Bible
And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders

King James Bible
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

New King James Version
Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him;

New American Standard Bible
And the king answered the people harshly, for he ignored the advice of the elders which they had given him,

NASB 1995
The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him,

NASB 1977
And the king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him,

Legacy Standard Bible
And the king answered the people harshly, and he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him,

Amplified Bible
The king answered the people harshly and ignored the advice which the elders had given him,

Christian Standard Bible
Then the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice the elders had given him

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice the elders had given him

American Standard Version
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him,

Contemporary English Version
Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older advisors.

English Revised Version
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king answered the people harshly. He ignored the advice the older leaders gave him.

Good News Translation
The king ignored the advice of the older men and spoke harshly to the people,

International Standard Version
But the king gave the people a harsh response, because he was ignoring the counsel that his elders had given him.

Majority Standard Bible
And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders

NET Bible
The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men

New Heart English Bible
The king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

World English Bible
The king answered the people roughly, and abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the king answers the people sharply, and forsakes the counsel of the elderly which they counseled him,

Young's Literal Translation
And the king answereth the people sharply, and forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will answer the people hard, and he will forsake the counsel of the old men which they counseled him;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king answered the people roughly, leaving the counsel of the old men, which they had given him,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king responded to the people harshly, leaving behind the counsel of the elders that they had given to him.

New American Bible
Ignoring the advice the elders had given him, the king gave the people a harsh answer.

New Revised Standard Version
The king answered the people harshly. He disregarded the advice that the older men had given him
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the king answered the people harshly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;And he said to his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass; and he rode on it,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the King answered the people severely and abandoned the counsel of the old men with which they had advised him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king answered the people harshly; and Roboam forsook the counsel of the old men which they counselled him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rebellion Against Rehoboam
12After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.” 13And the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the elders 14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 10:13-14
And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders / and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 29:1
A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.

Exodus 5:2
But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

1 Samuel 8:7-9
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. / Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. / Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

1 Samuel 12:13-15
Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you. / If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well. / But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

1 Kings 3:9
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

1 Kings 11:11
Then the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.

1 Kings 14:7-8
Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler over My people Israel. / I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like My servant David, who kept My commandments and followed Me with all his heart, doing only what was right in My eyes.

2 Kings 17:14
But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

2 Chronicles 25:16
While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

Isaiah 30:9-11
These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”

Jeremiah 6:16-17
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’ / I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’

Matthew 7:26-27
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!


Treasury of Scripture

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

answered

1 Kings 20:6-11
Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away…

Genesis 42:7,30
And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food…

Exodus 5:2
And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

roughly [heb] hardly

Genesis 16:6
But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

forsook

Proverbs 13:20
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

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Advice Attention Counsel Counselled Elders Forsaketh Forsaking Forsook Harshly Rejecting Rough Roughly Sharply Suggestion
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Advice Attention Counsel Counselled Elders Forsaketh Forsaking Forsook Harshly Rejecting Rough Roughly Sharply Suggestion
1 Kings 12
1. The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam,
4. by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him
6. Rehoboam, refusing the old men's counsel, answers them roughly
16. Ten tribes revolting, kill Adoram, and make Rehoboam flee
21. Rehoboam, raising an army, is forbidden by Shemaiah
25. Jeroboam strengthens himself by cities
26. and by idolatry of the two calves














And the king
This phrase refers to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who had ascended to the throne of Israel. The Hebrew word for "king" is "melek," which signifies a ruler or one who reigns. In the context of Israel's history, the king was seen as God's appointed leader, responsible for guiding the people according to divine law. Rehoboam's role as king was not just political but also spiritual, as he was expected to uphold the covenantal relationship between God and Israel.

answered the people
The Hebrew verb "anah" is used here, meaning to respond or reply. This interaction is crucial as it reflects the king's relationship with his subjects. In ancient Israel, the king's response was not merely a matter of policy but a reflection of his heart and wisdom. The people had come to Rehoboam seeking relief from the heavy burdens imposed by his father, Solomon. This moment was pivotal, as it would determine the unity and future of the kingdom.

harshly
The word "harshly" is translated from the Hebrew "qasheh," which means severe or cruel. This choice of response indicates a lack of empathy and understanding. In the biblical narrative, harshness is often contrasted with the gentleness and wisdom that God desires from leaders. Rehoboam's harshness is a departure from the wise and discerning leadership exemplified by his grandfather David, and it foreshadows the division of the kingdom.

He rejected
The Hebrew verb "azab" means to forsake or abandon. Rehoboam's rejection is not just a dismissal of advice but a turning away from the wisdom that had guided Israel's leaders. This act of rejection is significant in the biblical context, as it symbolizes a departure from the path of righteousness and divine guidance. It highlights the importance of seeking and heeding wise counsel, especially for those in positions of authority.

the advice of the elders
The "elders" were the experienced and wise leaders who had served under Solomon. The Hebrew word "zaqen" refers to those who are aged and respected for their wisdom. In ancient Israel, elders played a crucial role in governance and decision-making, offering guidance based on years of experience and understanding of God's laws. Rehoboam's decision to ignore their counsel reflects a disregard for tradition and the collective wisdom of the community, leading to disastrous consequences for the nation.

Verse 13. - And the king answered the people [the omission of Jeroboam's name, though perhaps it cannot he pressed in argument, is noticeable] roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the king
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

answered
וַיַּ֧עַן (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

the people
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

harshly.
קָשָׁ֑ה (qā·šāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7186: Hard, severe

He rejected
וַֽיַּעֲזֹ֛ב (way·ya·‘ă·zōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

the advice
עֲצַ֥ת (‘ă·ṣaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6098: Advice, plan, prudence

of the elders
הַזְּקֵנִ֖ים (haz·zə·qê·nîm)
Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2205: Old


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OT History: 1 Kings 12:13 The king answered the people roughly (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg)
1 Kings 12:12
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