1 Kings 12:7

They said to him, “If today you will obey and serve this people, and yield to their petition, and if you will speak lenient words to them, they will be your servants for all days.”

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

In Context

6king Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had assisted before his father Solomon while he was still living. And he said, “What counsel do you give to me, so that I may respond to this people?”

8But he abandoned the counsel of the old men, which they had given to him. And he consulted the young men who had been raised with him, and who were assisting him.

Read all of 1 Kings 12

Cross References

1 Kings 12:13And the king responded to the people harshly, leaving behind the counsel of the elders that they had given to him.

2 Chronicles 10:7And they said to him, “If you please this people, and if you soothe them with words of clemency, they will be your servants for all days.”

Ecclesiastes 10:4If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.

Mark 10:43But it is not to be this way among you. Instead, whoever would become greater shall be your minister;

Matthew Henry on 1 Kings 12:2-16

The Folly of Rehoboam. ( b. c. 975.) 1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his… Read the whole commentary →

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Study 1 Kings 12:7