2 Chronicles 10:6
New International Version
Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.

New Living Translation
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?”

English Standard Version
Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
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?”

New American Standard Bible
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?”

NASB 1995
Then 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?”

NASB 1977
Then 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?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had stood before his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to respond to this people?”

Amplified Bible
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon [as advisers] while he was alive, asking, “What advice do you give me in answer to these people?”

Christian Standard Bible
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had attended his father Solomon when he was alive, asking, “How do you advise me to respond to this people? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon when he was alive, asking, “How do you advise me to respond to these people?”

American Standard Version
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?

Contemporary English Version
Rehoboam went to some leaders who had been his father's senior officials, and he asked them, "What should I tell these people?"

English Revised Version
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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
King Rehoboam sought advice from the older leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked, "What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?"

Good News Translation
King Rehoboam consulted the older men who had served as his father Solomon's advisers. "What answer do you advise me to give these people?" he asked.

International Standard Version
while King Rehoboam conferred with his advisors who had worked with his father Solomon during his administration. He asked them, "What is your advice as to what response I should return to these people?"

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, "How do you advise me to answer these people?"

New Heart English Bible
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 to return answer to this people?"

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

World English Bible
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?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And King Rehoboam consults with the aged men who have been standing before his father Solomon in his being alive, saying, “How are you counseling to answer this people?”

Young's Literal Translation
And king Rehoboam consulteth with the aged men who have been standing before Solomon his father in his being alive, saying, 'How are ye counselling to answer this people?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And king Rehoboam will consult with the old men who were standing before Solomon his father in his being alive, saying, How counsel ye me to turn back word to this people?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He took counsel with the ancients, who had stood before his father Solomon, while he yet lived, saying: What counsel give you to me, that I may answer the people?

Catholic Public Domain Version
he took counsel with the elders, who had stood before his father Solomon while he was still living, saying, “What counsel would you give to me, so that I may respond to the people?”

New American Bible
King Rehoboam asked advice of the elders who had been in his father Solomon’s service while he was still alive, and asked, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men who had served Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, What counsel do you give me to return an answer to this people?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And King Rekhabaam took counsel with the Elders who were working for Solomon his father when he was living, and he said to them: “What answer do you advise to return to this people?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And king Roboam assembled the elders that stood before his father Solomon in his life-time, saying, How do ye counsel me to return an answer to this people?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rebellion Against Rehoboam
5Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people departed. 6Then 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. 7They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”…

Cross References
1 Kings 12:6-11
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. / They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.” / But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. ...

Proverbs 11:14
For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.

Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 24:6
Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

Isaiah 1:26
I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”

Jeremiah 23:22
But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and deeds.”

Ezekiel 7:26
Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders.

Job 12:12-13
Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life. / Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.

Matthew 12:42
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Matthew 23:34
Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.

Luke 11:31
The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

Acts 15:6
So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.


Treasury of Scripture

And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give you me to return answer to this people?

took counsel

Job 12:12,13
With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding…

Job 32:7
I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

What counsel

2 Samuel 1:20
Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

2 Samuel 17:5,6
Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith…

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2 Chronicles 10
1. The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam,
3. by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him,
6. Rehoboam, refusing the old mens' counsel, answers them roughly,
16. Ten tribes revolting, kill Hadoram, and make Rehoboam flee














Then King Rehoboam
Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, ascended to the throne of Israel after his father's death. His name in Hebrew, רְחַבְעָם (Rechav'am), means "the people are enlarged" or "he who enlarges the people." This name is ironic given the division that occurs under his reign. Historically, Rehoboam's reign marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, leading to the split of the united kingdom into Israel and Judah. His kingship is a reminder of the importance of wise leadership and the consequences of ignoring godly counsel.

consulted with the elders
The elders were seasoned advisors who had served under Solomon, known for his wisdom. In Hebrew, the word for elders is זְקֵנִים (zekenim), which implies not only age but also experience and wisdom. Consulting with elders was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures, reflecting a respect for tradition and accumulated knowledge. This act of seeking counsel is a biblical principle seen throughout Scripture, emphasizing the value of seeking wisdom from those who have walked the path before us.

who had served his father Solomon
Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, had established a prosperous and powerful kingdom. The elders who served him would have been privy to his decision-making processes and the divine wisdom he received. Their service under Solomon suggests they had firsthand experience with the application of godly wisdom in governance. This context highlights the importance of continuity and learning from past leadership, especially when it aligns with God's principles.

during his lifetime
This phrase underscores the temporal nature of human life and leadership. Solomon's lifetime was marked by both great achievements and notable failures. The elders' experience during Solomon's reign would have provided them with insights into both the successes and mistakes of the past. It serves as a reminder that while human leaders come and go, God's wisdom and principles remain constant and should guide decision-making.

'How do you advise me
Rehoboam's question to the elders reflects a moment of potential humility and openness to guidance. The Hebrew root for "advise" is יָעַץ (ya'atz), which means to counsel or give advice. Seeking advice is a biblical principle that underscores the value of community and the collective wisdom of God's people. It is a call to discernment, to weigh counsel against the truth of God's Word.

to respond to these people?'
The people referred to are the Israelites who had come to Rehoboam seeking relief from the heavy burdens imposed by Solomon. The Hebrew word for "respond" is דָּבַר (dabar), which means to speak or declare. This moment is critical, as Rehoboam's response will determine the future of the kingdom. It highlights the power of words and decisions, reminding us that leaders are accountable for how they respond to the needs and cries of those they serve. In a broader biblical context, it calls believers to respond with wisdom, justice, and compassion, reflecting God's heart for His people.

(6) Before Solomon.--"Liphne Sh'lomoh" the common formula for "'eth-p'ne Sh'lomoh" (Kings).

To return answer to . . .--Literally, to return to this people a word; Kings, "to return this people a word" (double accusative)--a construction preserved in 2Chronicles 10:9 below.

Verse 6. - The old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived. The first practical step now taken by Rehoboam, if he delay at all, is the right and far from inauspicious step. O si sic omnia that followed after! The "old men" here spoken of, and not before distinctly spoken of, need not necessarily be regarded as professional advisers of Solomon, nor as a privy council of slate; they may designate those of like age with him, or but little his juniors, and with whom he had chiefly associated for his own society.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then King
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Rehoboam
רְחַבְעָ֗ם (rə·ḥaḇ·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7346: Rehoboam -- 'a people are enlarged', a king of Judah

consulted
וַיִּוָּעַ֞ץ (way·yiw·wā·‘aṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3289: To advise, to deliberate, resolve

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

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

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

had served
עֹֽמְדִ֗ים (‘ō·mə·ḏîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

his father
אָבִ֔יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

Solomon
שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה (šə·lō·mōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8010: Solomon -- David's son and successor to his throne

during
הָי֣וּ (hā·yū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

his lifetime.
חַ֖י (ḥay)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

“How
אֵ֚יךְ (’êḵ)
Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

do you
אַתֶּ֣ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

advise
נֽוֹעָצִ֔ים (nō·w·‘ā·ṣîm)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3289: To advise, to deliberate, resolve

me to respond
לְהָשִׁ֥יב (lə·hā·šîḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to these
הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

people?”
לָֽעָם־ (lā·‘ām-)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

he asked.
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 10:6 King Rehoboam took counsel with the old (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 10:5
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