2 Chronicles Chapter 10
Showing all 19 verses for 2 Chronicles Chapter 10.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. "
"Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had gathered there to make him king."
Don't assume respect or loyalty will just be handed to you because of your position or title. Trust and allegiance usually have to be earned freshly with each new relationship or season, not simply inherited.
"And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. "
"When Jeroboam son of Nebat - who had fled to Egypt to escape King Solomon - heard about this, he returned from Egypt."
Sometimes the consequences of past choices - your own or others' - resurface at pivotal moments, even years later. Living with integrity now matters because you don't always know when the past will come back into the picture.
"And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, "
"The people sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam,"
When people bring you a grievance in an organised, respectful way, take it as a real opportunity, not an attack. How you respond to a fair complaint often determines whether a relationship strengthens or breaks.
"Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. "
"'Your father made our workload harsh. Now, lighten the hard labour and the heavy burden your father placed on us, and we will serve you.'"
When someone brings you a fair, specific request and offers goodwill in return, that's often the cheapest, easiest way to build lasting trust. Don't let pride cost you an opportunity that costs you so little.
"And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed. "
"He told them, 'Come back to me in three days.' So the people left."
Taking time before a big decision is wise. But make sure you use that time well - seek advice from people who will genuinely tell you the truth, not just people who'll tell you what you want to hear.
"And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people? "
"King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was alive, asking, 'What advice do you give me for answering these people?'"
When facing a big decision, seek out people with real experience and a track record of good judgement, not just people your own age or in your own social circle. Experience often sees what youthful confidence misses.
"And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever. "
"They told him, 'If you are kind to these people, please them, and speak good words to them, they will serve you forever.'"
Kindness isn't weakness - it's often the most effective and lasting way to build real loyalty and cooperation, whether at home, at work, or anywhere you have influence over others. Choose kindness deliberately, even when it costs your pride something.
"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. "
"But he rejected the advice the elders gave him, and instead consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now served him."
Be honest with yourself about why you're asking someone for advice. If you're really just looking for permission to do what you already wanted, you're not actually seeking counsel - you're seeking validation, and that's a very different, riskier thing.
"And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? "
"He asked them, 'What do you advise? How should we respond to these people who asked me to lighten the burden my father placed on them?'"
Pay attention to how you frame a problem in your own mind before you even ask for advice - the framing often already decides the outcome. Ask yourself if you're approaching a situation looking to serve, or looking to win.
"And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. "
"The young men who had grown up with him answered, 'Tell the people who asked you to lighten their father's heavy yoke: My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.'"
Be wary of advice - or your own instincts - that measures strength by how intimidating you can appear rather than by how well you actually serve and care for the people who depend on you. True strength rarely needs to boast.
"For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. "
"'My father laid a heavy yoke on you, but I will make it heavier. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
When you're tempted to respond to someone's complaint with greater force or cruelty rather than genuine care, stop. Escalating harshness rarely produces the loyalty or respect you're actually hoping for - it produces fear now and rebellion later.
"So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. "
"So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had told them to."
Doing everything right on your part doesn't guarantee someone else will respond well - and that's not a reflection on you. Keep acting in good faith regardless of how others may respond; your integrity is your own to protect.
"And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, "
"The king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders,"
Remember that your words in a single moment - especially in anger or wounded pride - can have consequences far beyond that moment. Choose your words carefully when you're being tested; you may not get a second chance to undo them.
"And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. "
"and answered them following the young men's advice, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"
If you catch yourself about to repeat someone else's cruel words as your own, pause. You are still responsible for what leaves your mouth, no matter whose idea it originally was.
"So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. "
"So the king did not listen to the people, because this turn of events was from God, so that the LORD might fulfil the word he had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat."
Sometimes hard outcomes in your life trace back further than you realise - to choices made even before your time, by people before you. You're still responsible for your own choices, but it can help to see the bigger picture rather than carrying blame that isn't only yours.
"And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. "
"When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered, 'What share do we have in David? We have no inheritance in Jesse's son! Everyone to your tents, Israel! Look after your own house now, David!' So all Israel went home."
Broken trust, once it reaches a certain point, often can't simply be patched with an apology - people walk away entirely. This is why it matters to guard trust carefully in your relationships before you reach that breaking point, not after.
"But as for the children of Israel that in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"But as for the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam continued to reign over them."
Even after a serious setback or loss, something can remain - don't assume total failure when a hard consequence lands. Look for what's still standing and build carefully from there.
"Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. "
"King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was in charge of forced labour, to the people, but the Israelites stoned him to death. Rehoboam himself barely managed to get into his chariot and flee to Jerusalem."
Conflict left to escalate rarely stays contained to words - it can turn dangerous quickly once people feel unheard and desperate. This is a hard warning about why de-escalation and genuine listening matter long before anger boils over into violence.
"And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. "
"So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this very day."
Some choices cast a long shadow, further than you can imagine at the time you make them. Let that sober weight encourage you to choose humility and kindness now, rather than pride, because you can't always undo what a harsh moment sets in motion.