1 Kings 12 13

1 Kings 12:13 kjv

And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;

1 Kings 12:13 nkjv

Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him;

1 Kings 12:13 niv

The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders,

1 Kings 12:13 esv

And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him,

1 Kings 12:13 nlt

But Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people, for he rejected the advice of the older counselors

1 Kings 12 verses

1 Kings 12 13 Meaning

King Rehoboam chose to respond harshly to the people's plea for relief, actively disregarding the wise and humble counsel offered by the experienced elders. His answer was deliberately unyielding and unkind, marking a critical turning point that directly led to the division of the united kingdom of Israel.

1 Kings 12 13 Context

First Kings chapter 12 vividly describes the crucial moment when the united kingdom of Israel fractures. After King Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam ascended the throne. The people, burdened by Solomon's heavy taxation and forced labor, approached Rehoboam at Shechem to request a lighter yoke. This verse directly captures Rehoboam's fateful decision. He first sought counsel from Solomon's experienced elders, who advised him to speak "good words" and serve the people to secure their loyalty. However, Rehoboam then consulted younger men who had grown up with him; they advised him to assert even greater authority and to be harsher than his father. This verse details Rehoboam's specific act of rejecting the elders' wisdom, delivering instead a stern, unyielding reply that would alienate ten of the twelve tribes. This action directly fulfills the prophecy given earlier by the prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam (1 Kgs 11:29-39), foretelling the division of the kingdom due to Solomon's idolatry.

1 Kings 12 13 Word analysis

• So the king: Refers to Rehoboam. The connective "So" (וַיַּעַן, wayya‘an, 'and he answered') denotes his immediate, definitive response to the people's plea, setting the stage for significant events.
• answered: (וַיַּעַן, wayya‘an from עָנָה, ʿanah, 'to answer'). This term emphasizes a direct and formal communication from the king to the gathered assembly, signifying an authoritative decree.
• the people: (אֶת־הָעָם, ’et-ha‘am). Encompasses all the representatives of the Israelite tribes assembled at Shechem to negotiate with their new king, making his reply a national turning point.
• roughly: (קָשָׁה, qashah). This Hebrew word signifies 'hard,' 'harsh,' 'severe,' or 'cruel.' It characterizes Rehoboam's tone and manner as unfeeling and oppressive, indicating a deliberate lack of empathy and a desire to impose authority through intimidation rather than benevolence. This directly contrasts with the "good words" (1 Kgs 12:7) advised by the elders.
• ignoring: (וַיַּעֲזֹב, wayya‘azov, 'he forsook' or 'abandoned'). Derived from the root עָזַב ('azab), which implies a deliberate act of turning away, leaving behind, or abandoning something. This is a willful repudiation of the counsel, not merely an oversight. It shows his active rejection.
• the counsel: (אֶת־עֲצַת, ’et-‘atzat). This refers to the advice (עֵצָה, ‘etsah, 'advice,' 'counsel,' 'plan') offered by the elders, which was prudent, experienced, and focused on securing the people's loyalty through service.
• of the elders: (הַזְּקֵנִים, hazzĕqenîm). These were the seasoned advisors who had served Solomon. Their counsel was rooted in long experience, practical wisdom, and an understanding of the historical and social burdens placed on the people. Their advice was for humble, servant-hearted leadership.
• which they had given him: (אֲשֶׁר יְעָצֻהוּ, ’ăsher yĕ‘atzuhu). This phrase underlines that the advice was clearly and explicitly presented to Rehoboam. He was fully aware of the elders' counsel when he chose to dismiss it.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So the king answered the people roughly": This phrase captures Rehoboam's display of power through abrasive communication. Instead of seeking conciliation, he chose to intimidate, confirming his tyrannical inclinations. His harshness immediately fractured the relationship between the monarch and his subjects, igniting rebellion where diplomacy might have fostered unity. This action foreshadows the dire consequences of leadership devoid of grace and understanding.
• "ignoring the counsel of the elders which they had given him": This part highlights Rehoboam's deliberate rejection of sound wisdom and experience. By actively abandoning the elders' advice – which encouraged servant leadership and speaking "good words" (1 Kgs 12:7) – Rehoboam demonstrates his pride, inflexibility, and profound disrespect for tested prudence. This choice indicates a leadership flaw: a reliance on personal arrogance rather than collective wisdom, a direct pathway to his eventual failure.

1 Kings 12 13 Bonus section

• Polemics against Human Arrogance: This narrative acts as a powerful biblical polemic against human arrogance in leadership, particularly against kings who believe themselves above their people and God's wisdom. It sharply contrasts Rehoboam's autocratic self-will with the divinely-ordained model of a king who reads God's law and humbles himself (Deut 17:18-20).
• Significance of the Eldership: The narrative elevates the role of "the elders" (זְקֵנִים, zĕqenîm) as custodians of wisdom, experience, and the historical memory of the people. Rehoboam's rejection of their counsel was a rejection of foundational principles of governance within ancient Israelite society and a broader wisdom tradition common in the ancient Near East, which often valued the accumulated wisdom of the aged.
• A Fulfillment of Prophecy and Divine Will: While Rehoboam acted out of his own free will, the text explicitly states in verse 15 that this entire series of events was "from the Lord, that He might establish His word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam." This highlights God's sovereignty working through human decisions, even flawed and sinful ones, to accomplish His ultimate purposes due to Solomon's preceding disobedience.

1 Kings 12 13 Commentary

1 Kings 12:13 marks the moment of Rehoboam's irreversible blunder, driven by pride and a disdain for humility. His "rough" reply was not just a communication style; it was an act of tyrannical assertion, fueled by his rejection of seasoned advice in favor of the ill-considered counsel of his youthful peers. This verse underscores the catastrophic outcome when a leader forsakes servant leadership for oppressive power, preferring to be feared rather than loved and respected. It vividly illustrates the proverb that pride precedes destruction (Prov 16:18) and that rejecting wise counsel inevitably leads to downfall. Rehoboam's decision directly fulfilled God's earlier prophecy regarding the kingdom's division (1 Kgs 12:15), positioning his personal failure as an instrument of divine purpose, showcasing how even human folly can align with God's sovereign plan. This event serves as an enduring warning against arrogance in leadership and the profound importance of wisdom and humility.