1 Kings 12 9

1 Kings 12:9 kjv

And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?

1 Kings 12:9 nkjv

And he said to them, "What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?"

1 Kings 12:9 niv

He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father put on us'?"

1 Kings 12:9 esv

And he said to them, "What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"

1 Kings 12:9 nlt

"What is your advice?" he asked them. "How should I answer these people who want me to lighten the burdens imposed by my father?"

1 Kings 12 verses

1 Kings 12 9 Meaning

First Kings 12:9 details King Rehoboam's inquiry to the young men with whom he had grown up, seeking their counsel on how to respond to the people's request for lighter burdens. Having previously consulted the elders who advised a lenient approach to secure the people's loyalty, Rehoboam now actively seeks the opposing, more forceful counsel from his youthful associates, setting the stage for his disastrous decision and the division of the kingdom. This verse highlights his inclination toward aggressive policies over wisdom and long-term stability.

1 Kings 12 9 Context

First Kings chapter 12 details the critical juncture following the death of King Solomon and the succession of his son, Rehoboam. The people of Israel, specifically the northern tribes led by Jeroboam, approached Rehoboam at Shechem. Their demand was simple: "Lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke upon us" (1 Kgs 12:4), referring to the burdensome taxation and forced labor implemented by Solomon for his vast building projects. Rehoboam requested three days to consider their petition. During this time, he sought counsel first from the old men who had served his father, who advised a path of humble service and conciliatory response (1 Kgs 12:6-7). This counsel represented wisdom and understanding of the political landscape. However, Rehoboam rejected their advice, preferring instead to consult the younger men with whom he had grown up, seeking a response that would assert his power more forcefully. Verse 9 is Rehoboam's specific query to these young men, laying the groundwork for his choice to exacerbate the people's grievances rather than assuage them, directly leading to the irreversible split of the united monarchy into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

1 Kings 12 9 Word analysis

• He: Refers to King Rehoboam. His identity as the new king is crucial, as his decisions directly impact the entire kingdom. He is portrayed as lacking the wisdom of his father, Solomon, despite his royal upbringing.
• said: wayyōʾmer (וַיֹּאמֶר) in Hebrew, a common verb indicating speaking. Here, it signifies Rehoboam's direct and active initiation of seeking alternative counsel, despite already receiving sound advice from the elders. It indicates a deliberate choice to explore a different path.
• to them: Refers to "the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him" (1 Kgs 12:8). These were his peers, possibly friends, palace associates, or those appointed during his rise. Their youth often implies inexperience and impetuosity, contrasting sharply with the "old men" who served his father.
• "What do you advise...": Rehoboam's direct question seeking counsel, 'êḵ nĕšîb (אֵיךְ נָשִׁיב) - "how shall we respond?". This implies an openness to their suggestion, but also indicates his reluctance or discomfort with the conciliatory advice he had just received from the elders. He seems to be seeking validation for his own preconceived desire to assert authority, rather than genuine, open-minded wisdom.
• ...that we may answer this people...: "We" likely refers to the royal 'we' (the king and his administration) or the collective leadership. "This people" refers to the entire Israelite population present, representing the unified twelve tribes. This highlights the broad reach and critical importance of the decision Rehoboam is about to make concerning the future of his reign and the kingdom's unity.
• ...who have spoken to me saying, 'Lighten the yoke which your father put on us'?": This reiterates the core demand of the people, stressing their unified voice and their specific grievance against Solomon's reign, using the metaphor of a heavy "yoke" (ʿōl) representing oppressive labor and taxation. The word "yoke" culturally resonates with burdensome labor, akin to an ox burdened. Their plea for "lighten" signifies their desperate need for relief, reflecting real socio-economic hardship rather than mere rebellion. The framing of the question suggests Rehoboam understands their complaint but is still weighing options for a royal response, not necessarily a compassionate one.

1 Kings 12 9 Bonus section

The narrative of Rehoboam's consultation with two distinct groups of advisors reflects ancient Near Eastern kingship practices where monarchs would seek counsel from both experienced elders and trusted personal confidantes. The elders typically represented accumulated wisdom, tradition, and diplomatic experience, vital for maintaining social order and loyalty. The young men, often members of the king's inner circle, might advocate for a more assertive, less compromising approach, aiming to solidify the monarch's direct power. Rehoboam's choice is a profound study in leadership and discernment, illustrating how an individual's inclinations (in this case, pride and a desire for absolute authority) can predispose them to seek and accept counsel that aligns with their existing biases, even if it leads to ruin. The ultimate outcome, the division of the kingdom, is attributed to God's sovereign plan (1 Kgs 12:15), demonstrating that while human folly plays a significant role, divine purpose undergirds the unfolding of history. This scenario implicitly warns against "yes-men" and the dangers of insulated leadership that rejects inconvenient truth for comforting lies.

1 Kings 12 9 Commentary

King Rehoboam's questioning of the young men in 1 Kings 12:9 serves as a pivotal moment in the division of the Israelite kingdom. His seeking of alternative counsel, immediately after rejecting the wise and politically sagacious advice of the elders, exposes his preference for asserting power rather than serving the people. The elders, rooted in historical precedent and understanding the fragility of the people's loyalty, advised a humble, compassionate approach that would secure the nation's allegiance for the long term. By contrast, Rehoboam turns to his youthful contemporaries, who would predictably counsel a more aggressive, domineering stance, reinforcing the pride and arrogance inherent in Rehoboam's character. This act reveals his spiritual and practical blindness; he fails to discern good counsel from bad and is driven by an unyielding desire for unchecked authority rather than the welfare of his subjects. His decision to follow this counsel would not only fragment his kingdom but also serve as a stark lesson in the catastrophic consequences of prideful and unwise leadership, demonstrating how a ruler's character shapes a nation's destiny.