advice

"never trust anyone over 30", or so thinks Rehoboam...

Solomon has died and Israel (mostly the ten northern tribes) has come to make an appeal to King Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Our story is found in 2 Chronicles 10.

Israel's appeal:

4 "Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you."

He tells them to return in three days.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive saying, "How do you counsel me to answer this people?"

7 They spoke to him, saying, "If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

8 But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.

and asked them what counsel they would give...

10 The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, 'Your father made our yoke heavy',...say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins!'

11 'Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'"

hmmm...what advice will Rehoboam heed??

Israel returns:

13 The king answered them harshly, and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the elders.

14 He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men...

19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.