6 And king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 took counsel H3289 with the old H2205 men that had stood H5975 before H6440 Solomon H8010 his father H1 while he yet lived, H2416 saying, H559 What H349 counsel give H3289 ye me to return H7725 answer H1697 to this people? H5971
7 And they spake H1696 unto him, saying, H559 If thou be kind H2896 to this people, H5971 and please H7521 them, and speak H1696 good H2896 words H1697 to them, they will be thy servants H5650 for ever. H3117
8 But he forsook H5800 the counsel H6098 which the old men H2205 gave H3289 him, and took counsel H3289 with the young men H3206 that were brought up H1431 with him, that stood H5975 before H6440 him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Chronicles 10
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
2Ch 10:1-15. Rehoboam Refusing the Old Men's Good Counsel.
1. Rehoboam went to Shechem—(See on 1Ki 12:1). This chapter is, with a few verbal alterations, the same as in 1Ki 12:1-19.
3. And they sent—rather, "for they had sent," &c. This is stated as the reason of Jeroboam's return from Egypt.
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.
15-17. the king hearkened not unto the people, for the cause was of God—Rehoboam, in following an evil counsel, and the Hebrew people, in making a revolutionary movement, each acted as free agents, obeying their own will and passions. But God, who permitted the revolt of the northern tribes, intended it as a punishment of the house of David for Solomon's apostasy. That event demonstrates the immediate superintendence of His providence over the revolutions of kingdoms; and thus it affords an instance, similar to many other striking instances that are found in Scripture, of divine predictions, uttered long before, being accomplished by the operation of human passions, and in the natural course of events.