2CH 10

2 Chronicles 10:8

WEB

But he abandoned the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.

BSB

But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

KJV

But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.

Matthew Henry

Verses 1–11

2 Chronicles 10:1–11

We may observe here, 1. The wisest and best cannot give every body content. Solomon enriched and advanced his kingdom, did all (one would think) that could be done to make then happy and easy; and yet either he was indiscreet in burdening them with the imposition of taxes and services, or at least there was some colour of reason to think him so. No man is perfectly wise. It is probable that it was when Solomon had declined from God and his duty that his wisdom failed him, and God left him to himself to act in this impolitic manner. Even Solomon's treasures were exhausted by his love of women; and probably it was to maintain them, and their pride, luxury, and idolatry, that he burdened his subjects. 2. Turbulent and ungrateful spirits will find fault with the government, and complain of grievances, when they have very little reason to do so. Had they not peace in Solomon's time? They were never plundered by invaders, as formerly, never put in fear by the alarms of war, nor obliged to hazard their lives in the high places of the field. Had they not plenty - meat enough, and money enough? What would they more? O fortunatos nimium, sua si bona norint! - O happy, if they knew their happy state! And yet they complain that Solomon made their yoke grievous. If any complain thus of the yoke of Christ, that they might have a pretence to break his bands in sunder and cast away his cords from them, we are sure that he never gave them any cause at all for the complaint, whatever Solomon did. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. He never made us serve with an offering, nor wearied us with incense. 3. Many ruin themselves and their interests by trampling upon and provoking their inferiors. Rehoboam thought that because he was king he might assume as much authority as his father had done, might have what he would, and do what he would, and carry all before him. But, though he wore his father's crown, he wanted his father's brains, and ought to have considered that, being quite a different man from what his father was, he ought to take other measures. Such a wise man as Solomon may do as we will, but such a fool as Rehoboam must do as he can. The high-mettled horse may be kicked and spurred by him that has the art of managing him; but, if an unskilful horseman do it, it is at his peril. Rehoboam paid dearly for threatening, and talking big, and thinking to carry matters with a high hand. It was Job's wisdom, as well as his virtue, that he despised not the cause of his man-servant or maid-servant, when they argued with him (Job 31:13), but heard them patiently, considered their reasons, and gave them a soft answer. And a similar tender consideration of those in subjection, and a forwardness to make them easy, will be the comfort and praise of all in authority, in the church, in the state, and in families. 4. Moderate counsels are generally wisest and best. Gentleness will do what violence will not do. Most people love to be accosted mildly. Rehoboam's old experienced counsellors directed him to this method (v. 7): "Be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, and thou art sure of them for ever." Good words cost nothing but a little self-denial, and yet they purchase good things. 5. God often fulfils the counsels of his own wisdom by infatuating men, and giving them up to the counsels of their own folly. No more needs to be done to ruin men than to leave them to themselves, and their own pride and passion.

Cross-references: Job 31:13

Hebrew interlinear

H5800

עָזַבʻâzab/aw-zab'/

v — loosen, relinquish, permit

Derivation: a primitive root;

to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.

KJV: commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, × surely.

עָזַב

vb — restore

[עָזַב] vb. restore, repair (?);—Qal Ne 3:8

עָזַב

vb — leave

עָזַב 213 vb. leave, forsake, loose

Qal

1. leave, c. acc.

2. leave, abandon, forsake

3. let loose, set free, let go

Niph.

1. be left to

2. be forsaken, of house of God

Pu. (or Qal pass.) be deserted, of city

H853

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prt — self, even, namely

Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].

אֵת

mark of the accusative

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

H6098

עֵצָהʻêtsâh/ay-tsaw'/

n-f — advice, plan, prudence

Derivation: from 3289;

advice; by implication, plan; also prudence

KJV: advice, advisement, counsel([-lor]), purpose.

עֵצָה

n.f — counsel

עֵצָה n.f. counsel, advice

H2205

זָקֵןzâqên/zaw-kane'/

a — old

Derivation: from 2204;

old

KJV: aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator.

זָקֵן

adj — old

זָקֵן adj. old

1. old, of human beings

2. usu. as subst.

a. old man (or woman)

b. elder

H834

אֲשֶׁרʼăsher/ash-er'/

r — who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

Derivation: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number);

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.

KJV: × after, × alike, as (soon as), because, × every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), × if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), × though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.

אֲשֶׁר

part. of relation — who

אֲשֶׁר part. of relation A sign of relation, bringing the clause introduced by it into relation with an antecedent clause.

בַאֲשֶׁר

adv — in which

בַאֲשֶׁר

a. in (that) which

b. adv. in (the place) where

c. conj. in that, inasmuch as

d. on account of whom?

כַּאֲשֶׁר

conj — according as

כַּאֲשֶׁר conj. according as, as, when

1. according to that which, according as, as

2. with a causal force, in so far as, since

3. with a temporal force, when

מֵאֲשֶׁר

adv — who

מֵאֲשֶׁר

a. from (or than) that which

b. adv. from (the place) where

c. conj. from (the fact) that …, since

H3289

יָעַץyâʻats/yaw-ats'/

v — advise, deliberate, resolve

Derivation: a primitive root;

to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve

KJV: advertise, take advise, advise (well), consult, (give, take) counsel(-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.

יָעַץ

vb — advise

יָעַץ vb. advise, counsel

Qal advise, counsel

Niph. consult together, exchange counsel

Hithp. conspire against

H854

אֵתʼêth/ayth/

prep — nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Derivation: probably from 579;

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.

KJV: against, among, before, by, for, from, in(-to), (out) of, with. Often with another prepositional prefix.

אֵת

prep — with

אֵת, prep. with—prep. denoting proximity

1. Of companionship, together with

2. Of localities

3. אֵת פּ׳ denotes specially

a. in one's possession or keeping

b. in one's knowledge or memory

4. מֵאֵת from proximity with

Note. אֵת expresses closer association than עִם: hence while מֵעִם sts. denotes hardly more than from the surroundings or belongings of, מֵאֵת expresses from close proximity to.

H3206

יֶלֶדyeled/yeh'-led/

n-m — something born, lad, offspring

Derivation: from 3205;

something born, i.e. a lad or offspring

KJV: boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one).

יֶ֫לֶד

n.m — child

יֶ֫לֶד 89 n.m. child, son, boy, youth

H1431

גָּדַלgâdal/gaw-dal'/

v — be, make, large

Derivation: a primitive root; properly, to twist (compare 1434), i.e.

to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)

KJV: advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to... estate, things), grow(up), increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower.

גָּדַל

vb — grow up

גָּדַל 115 vb. grow up, become great

Qal

1. grow up

2. become great

3. to be magnified

Pi.

1. cause to grow

2. make great, powerful

3. magnify

Pu. brought up

Hiph.

1. make great

2. magnify

3. do great things

Hithp. I will magnify myself

H5975

עָמַדʻâmad/aw-mad'/

v — stand

Derivation: a primitive root;

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

KJV: abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.

עָמַד

take one’s stand

עָמַד 620 take one's stand, stand

Qal 435

1.

a. take one's stand, and (esp. pt.) stand, be in a standing attitude

b. stand forth

c. take a stand against, in opposition to

d. present oneself before

e. attend upon, be(come) servant of

f. stand afar

g. stand (silent)

h. stand (appealingly)

i. stand, subj. רֶגֶל

j. stand, of water

2.

a. stand still, stop, cease moving

b. = be inactive

c. = be attentive

d. stop, cease doing a thing

3.

a. tarry, delay

b. remain

c. continue, abide

d. endure

e. be steadfast

f. persist

4. make a stand, hold one's ground

5. stand upright

6.

a. arise, appear, come on the scene

b. stand forth, appear = come into being

c. rise up as foe

7. rare usages

Hiph. 83

1. station, set

2. cause to stand firm

3. cause to stand up, set up, erect

4. present one before king

5. appoint

6. other meanings

Hoph. be presented

H6440

פָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/

n-m — face, before

Derivation: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from 6437);

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)

KJV: accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, × as (long as), at, battle, because (of), beseech, countenance, edge, employ, endure, enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, × him(-self), honourable, impudent, in, it, look(-eth) (-s), × me, meet, × more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), × on, open, out of, over against, the partial, person, please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, regard, right forth, serve, × shewbread, sight, state, straight, street, × thee, × them(-selves), through ( -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), upon, upside ( down), with(-in, -stand), × ye, × you.

פָּנֶה

n.m — face

[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces

I.

1. face, faces

2.

a. presence, person

b. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence

3. face of seraphim

4. face of animals

5. face (= surface) of ground

6. as adv.loc. before

7. for other phrases

II. with prepositions

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