2 Chronicles 10:10

And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Spake unto him.—Heb., with him; probably a mistaken repetition. Kings, “unto him,” and so LXX.; but Syriac, “with him.”

Answer.—Say to.

The people.—This people (Kings).

But make thou it somewhat lighter for us.—Literally, And thou lighten from upon us. LXX., well: καὶ σὺ ἄφες ἀφ᾿ ἡμῶν.

Thus shalt thou say.—Kings, “speak.”

My little finger.—The word “finger” should not be italicised. The word qōten means “little finger.”

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:1-19 The ten tribes revolt from Rehoboam. - Moderate counsels are wisest and best. Gentleness will do what violence will not do. Most people like to be accosted mildly. Good words cost only a little self-denial, yet they purchase great things. No more needs to be done to ruin men, than to leave them to their own pride and passion. Thus, whatever are the devices of men, God is doing his own work by all, and fulfilling the word which he has spoken. No man can bequeath his prosperity to his heirs any more than his wisdom; though our children will generally be affected by our conduct, whether good or bad. Let us then seek those good things which will be our own for ever; and crave the blessing of God upon our posterity, in preference to wealth or worldly exaltation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The narrative of Kings (marginal reference) is repeated with only slight verbal differences.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them—In the Book of Kings [1Ki 12:7], the words are, "If thou wilt be a servant unto this people, and wilt serve them." The meaning in both is the same, namely, If thou wilt make some reasonable concessions, redress their grievances, and restore their abridged liberties, thou wilt secure their strong and lasting attachment to thy person and government.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

See Chapter Introduction

Geneva Study Bible

And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My {d} little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

(d) Or, little finger, meaning that he was of far greater power than his father was.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. were brought up with him] R.V. were grown up with him (as in 2 Chronicles 10:8).

somewhat lighter for us] R.V. omits “somewhat”.

shall be thicker] R.V. is thicker.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 10, 11. - Language perhaps never spoke more clearly what was in man. And it spoke in this case the mad infatuation of insolent temerity itself. 2 Chronicles 10:10

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

This event is narrated in our chapter, except in so far as a few unessential differences in form are concerned, exactly as we have it in 1 Kings 12:1-19; so that we may refer for the exposition of it to the commentary on 1 Kings 12, where we have both treated the contents of this chapter, and have also discussed the deeper and more latent causes of this event, so important in its consequences.