But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's not just about choosing bad advice, but about a dangerous shift in who you listen to: he replaced the wisdom of experience and accountability from elders with the echo chamber of peers who had no history with him and no reason to challenge him. This move towards affirmation rather than counsel opened the door to disastrous decisions.
But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Rehoboam has just inherited the throne from his father, Solomon, and the northern tribes are demanding relief from heavy taxes. After a brief consultation, Rehoboam seeks advice from two groups: the older, seasoned advisors who served his father, and the younger men who grew up alongside him. This verse highlights his crucial decision to ignore the wisdom of experience in favor of the advice of his peers, a choice that will have immediate and devastating consequences.
Rehoboam had a choice: heed the seasoned advice of elders or listen to his peers. What drives our decision-making when faced with conflicting guidance?
The Allure of Peer Approval
King Rehoboam was presented with a critical decision regarding taxation after his father Solomon's death. He had the wisdom of the elders who had served his father, offering a measured and prudent approach. Yet, he chose to reject their counsel.
Instead, he turned to his own generation – his friends, the 'young men who had grown up with him.' This group likely offered advice that appealed to his ego and desire to assert authority, rather than practical governance. It’s a powerful reminder that we often gravitate toward those who validate our initial impulses, especially if they feed our pride or desire for immediate affirmation.
Rehoboam's choice wasn't just personal; it fractured a nation. What happens when leaders disregard tested wisdom?
The Foundation of Destruction
The counsel Rehoboam ignored was rooted in understanding the people's burdens. The elders advised him to "be a servant to this people and answer them with a gracious word" (1 Kings 12:7). This was the path of wisdom, seeking to unite and ease the load.
Conversely, the young men advised him to be harsher: "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions" (1 Kings 12:11). Rehoboam chose the path of arrogance and cruelty. This decision led directly to the division of the united kingdom of Israel, shattering his reign and leading to decades of conflict and spiritual decline for the people.
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This verse captures a critical turning point where youthful pride and a refusal to heed seasoned wisdom lead directly to the fracturing of a united kingdom. Rehoboam's choice highlights the danger of ignoring experience in favor of the popular or easily digestible opinions of peers.
c. 970 BC
Death of King Solomon
Solomon, David's son and successor, dies after a long and prosperous reign, leaving behind a vast but strained kingdom. His son Rehoboam is set to inherit the throne.
c. 970 BC
Coronation of Rehoboam
Rehoboam travels to Shechem to be confirmed as king over all Israel. The ten northern tribes are already discontent with the heavy yoke of Solomon's reign.
c. 970 BC
Demand for Relief
Representatives of the northern tribes present Rehoboam with their grievances, asking for relief from the heavy taxes and forced labor imposed during Solomon's rule. They promise loyalty if their demands are met.
c. 970 BC
Rehoboam Seeks Counsel
Rehoboam hesitates to answer immediately and seeks advice on how to handle the situation. He consults with the older, experienced advisors who served his father Solomon.
c. 970 BC— this verse
Rehoboam Rejects Counsel
Rehoboam ultimately rejects the wise counsel of the elders and instead follows the rash advice of his young peers, who urge him to show no leniency and even threaten harsher rule. This pivotal moment leads to the kingdom's division.
c. 970 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Enraged by Rehoboam's harsh response, the ten northern tribes declare their independence, shouting, 'To your tents, O Israel!' Only the tribe of Judah remains loyal to Rehoboam, forming the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
This passage warns against listening to companions who urge towards wrongdoing, highlighting the destructive path Rehoboam chose by heeding misguided young advisors.
Proverbs 22:6While this verse speaks of training a child, it also implicitly points to the dangers of 'young men who had grown up with him' – their formative influences and potential lack of mature wisdom could lead astray, as seen with Rehoboam.
Ecclesiastes 4:13This verse contrasts a foolish young ruler with a wise old king, directly paralleling Rehoboam's foolishness in rejecting seasoned counsel for the advice of his inexperienced peers.
Jeremiah 8:8-9This passage speaks of leaders who reject God's wisdom and follow their own flawed understanding, mirroring Rehoboam's fatal error of ignoring experienced counsel in favor of immature advice.
It's not just about choosing bad advice, but about a dangerous shift in who you listen to: he replaced the wisdom of experience and accountability from elders with the echo chamber of peers who had no history with him and no reason to challenge him. This move towards affirmation rather than counsel opened the door to disastrous decisions.
King Rehoboam has just inherited the throne from his father, Solomon, and the northern tribes are demanding relief from heavy taxes. After a brief consultation, Rehoboam seeks advice from two groups: the older, seasoned advisors who served his father, and the younger men who grew up alongside him. This verse highlights his crucial decision to ignore the wisdom of experience in favor of the advice of his peers, a choice that will have immediate and devastating consequences.
King Rehoboam has just inherited the throne from his father, Solomon, and the northern tribes are demanding relief from heavy taxes. After a brief consultation, Rehoboam seeks advice from two groups: the older, seasoned advisors who served his father, and the younger men who grew up alongside him. This verse highlights his crucial decision to ignore the wisdom of experience in favor of the advice of his peers, a choice that will have immediate and devastating consequences.
"But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him." — It's not just about choosing bad advice, but about a dangerous shift in who you listen to: he replaced the wisdom of experience and accountability from elders with the echo chamber of peers who h…
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Last reviewed October 2026