Bible Strands
1 Kings 12:6
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — King Rehoboam addresses the elders who served his father Solomon, asking them how to respond to the people after delaying his decision for three days.
The words — The verb וַיּוֹעֵץ (va.yo'etz) translates literally as "he consulted," describing Rehoboam's deliberate seeking of counsel from the standing elders.
The thread — This pattern of seeking counsel from older figures appears in 2 Samuel 16:20 and is echoed in Job 12:12 and 32:7 regarding the association of age with wisdom.
Why it lands — The text records a ruler weighing options through established authority before making a consequential decision, requiring the reader to observe how leadership structures influence royal policy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
Cross-references
- Job 12:12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
- Job 32:7 I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.
- 2 Samuel 16:20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”
- 2 Samuel 17:5 Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.”
- 1 Kings 4:2 and these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest;
- Proverbs 27:10 Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
- Jeremiah 42:2 Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.
- Jeremiah 43:2 Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’