2 Chronicles 10:6-7
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?” And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Rehoboam isn't just asking for any advice; he's specifically seeking counsel from those who served his father, Solomon. This highlights a crucial, yet often overlooked, detail: he's looking for wisdom that stems from experienced leadership, not just popular opinion. His question sets up the stark contrast between seasoned advice and the rash decisions he ultimately makes.
Rehoboam, Solomon's son, has just inherited a kingdom rife with tension after the people demanded relief from heavy burdens. He first consults the older advisors who served his father, seeking their wisdom on how to respond to the people's demands. Their answer will set the stage for the kingdom's division, as Rehoboam will soon consider the advice of his peers.
Rehoboam stood at a crossroads, facing immense pressure from his people. He didn't turn to his peers, but to those who had walked with his father, Solomon.
Learning from Experience
Rehoboam's decision to seek counsel from the 'old men' highlights a critical principle: wisdom is often forged in the fires of experience. These weren't just older individuals; they were men who had stood before Solomon and served during his reign. This implies they had witnessed firsthand the successes and, importantly, the failures of a long and prosperous kingdom.
Their experience would have included understanding the delicate balance Solomon maintained, the wisdom of his judgments, and perhaps even the seeds of the kingdom's future division that were sown in his later years.
Rehoboam's action, though his subsequent choice was flawed, shows the value of seeking out those who have navigated similar challenges before us. They offer a perspective not found in youthful enthusiasm or untested ideas.
Rehoboam sought counsel, but not all counsel is created equal. The choice he ultimately made, influenced by the wrong advisors, fractured a nation.
Choosing Your Advisors Wisely
While Rehoboam correctly sought counsel, the story quickly reveals a critical danger: not all advice is good advice, and choosing the wrong advisors can be disastrous. The verse sets up Rehoboam's interaction with the old men, but the following verses (not included here) show he also consulted with his own peers, the young men who grew up with him.
It was the advice of the young men – harsh, arrogant, and dismissive of the people's burdens – that Rehoboam ultimately followed. This illustrates a vital truth: you become like the people you surround yourself with. Seeking counsel is wise, but discernment in whose counsel you heed is paramount.
Rehoboam's failure wasn't just in seeking advice, but in rejecting the seasoned wisdom offered by the older generation in favor of the impetuous counsel of his contemporaries. This led to the division of the United Kingdom.
Understand the original words
melek · Hebrew Noun
A title of authority denoting a male monarch who rules over a nation or people, often viewed in the Old Testament as representative of God's authority or under His sovereignty.
ya'ats · Hebrew Verb
The act of seeking wisdom, guidance, or deliberation from others to make decisions, often implying a formal consultative process.
zaqen · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
The wisdom of elders or experienced leaders; in a biblical context, it often refers to godly, seasoned advice based on life experience and adherence to divine principles.
tob · Hebrew Adjective
To perform acts of kindness, integrity, or moral uprightness; it reflects a character that seeks the welfare of others rather than self-interest.
This moment highlights the critical juncture of the kingdom's division. Rehoboam's reliance on counsel from Solomon's era, rather than understanding the current people's deep-seated grievances, directly precipitates the fracturing of Israel.
c. 970 BC
Reign of Solomon
Solomon rules a unified Israel, inheriting a strong kingdom from his father David. His reign is marked by wisdom, immense wealth, and significant building projects, including the First Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 931 BC
Death of Solomon
Following Solomon's death, the kingdom faces a crisis of succession and discontent over heavy burdens imposed during his reign.
c. 931 BC— this verse
Rehoboam becomes King
Solomon's son, Rehoboam, ascends to the throne, but his legitimacy is immediately challenged by the people of the northern tribes.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Rehoboam's harsh response to the people's grievances leads to the fracturing of the united monarchy. The northern ten tribes secede, forming the separate Kingdom of Israel.
This is the parallel account in Kings, showing the same pivotal moment where Rehoboam seeks advice before his disastrous response to the people's demands.
Proverbs 1:7This verse speaks to the fear of the Lord as the beginning of knowledge, contrasting with Rehoboam's choice to heed foolish counsel that led to disaster.
Proverbs 15:22This proverb highlights the importance of seeking counsel, but Rehoboam's story shows the critical need to seek *wise* counsel from godly advisors, not just experienced ones.
Ecclesiastes 7:10This passage cautions against clinging to the past and idealizing former times, a subtle warning to Rehoboam about simply replicating his father's reign without considering the present needs.
Rehoboam isn't just asking for any advice; he's specifically seeking counsel from those who served his father, Solomon. This highlights a crucial, yet often overlooked, detail: he's looking for wisdom that stems from experienced leadership, not just popular opinion. His question sets up the stark contrast between seasoned advice and the rash decisions he ultimately makes.
Rehoboam, Solomon's son, has just inherited a kingdom rife with tension after the people demanded relief from heavy burdens. He first consults the older advisors who served his father, seeking their wisdom on how to respond to the people's demands. Their answer will set the stage for the kingdom's division, as Rehoboam will soon consider the advice of his peers.
Rehoboam, Solomon's son, has just inherited a kingdom rife with tension after the people demanded relief from heavy burdens. He first consults the older advisors who served his father, seeking their wisdom on how to respond to the people's demands. Their answer will set the stage for the kingdom's division, as Rehoboam will soon consider the advice of his peers.
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ebed · Hebrew Noun
Those who are in a position of subjection or labor to another, often used to describe the relationship between subjects and their monarch or between God and His people.
c. 931 BC
Establishment of the Southern Kingdom
Rehoboam remains king over the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin, with Jerusalem as his capital, establishing the Kingdom of Judah.
"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?” And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please th…" — Rehoboam isn't just asking for any advice; he's specifically seeking counsel from those who served his father, Solomon. This highlights a crucial, yet often overlooked, detail: he's looking for wis…
