We ought to say a word about Rehoboam’s methodology. Is he looking for the wisest counsel, or is he looking for the counsel that will be most pleasing to him? The order in which he chooses to consult the two groups leads us to believe that the latter is true. Indeed, he may have consulted the second group because he didn’t like the old men’s counsel.
Before we go on, there is another matter to mention. When you compare the manner in which Rehoboam addresses the separate groups, you may see a difference. To the old men, he does not summarize the people’s request, but he only asks for their advice on how he should reply. This fact suggests that these men had heard the complaint for themselves and did not need to have it repeated to them.
Having chosen not to seek divine counsel, Rehoboam first consults those men who had stood before Solomon.
This phrase indicates that they were Solomon’s advisors, either as some kind of official council or as an unofficial set of advisors. Whichever of these alternatives is true, these are the men who advised the late king.
The advice that these older men give the king is that he ought to agree to the demands if he wants to continue to have the people’s loyalty. If you serve them in this instance, these counsellors advise, the people will continue loyal to the house of David and Solomon.
6 Le roi Roboam consulta les vieillards qui avaient été auprès de Salomon, son père, pendant sa vie, et il dit: Que conseillez-vous de répondre à ce peuple?