The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 251

counsel and deliberation. It has been sition to "a servant" above; "for ever" e.ssnmed that both the old and young ad- in opposition to " this day. "J visers of Rehoboam had been taken by Ver. 8.-But he forsook the counsel of him, as part of his retinue, to Shechcm the old men which they had given [Heb. (Biihr). But it is quite as likely that some counselled] h1m [" We can easily imagine of them were summoned from Jerusalem that their proposal was not very agreeable to to advise him, and that the three days' de- the rash and imperious young king, in whose lay was in order to give time for their veins Ammonite blood flowed" (Biihr)J, and attendance. It is a long day's journey consulted with the young men [see on ver. (12 hours) from Nablus to Jerusalem. 1. " The very change argues weakness. . . Three days. consequently, would just afford Green wood is ever shrinking " (Hall)] that snfficient time for the purpose] then come were grown up with h1m [possibly his com- again to me. And the people departed. panions in the harem], and which stood [The peaceable departure, like the respect- before h1m [i.e., as his courtiers and coun- ful demand, contradicts the idea of e. settled sellors (cf. ver. 6). The old men were the pnrpose to rebel. J counsellors of Solomon ; the young men Ver. 6.-And king Rehoboam conslllted alone are spoken of as the ministers of with the old men [According to Bahr," the Rehoboam. tl'~i?.l are not old people, but the elders." Ver. 9.-And he said unto them, What COll.Ilsel give ye [emphatic in the original] No doubt the word is constantly used, as that we [It is noticeable how Rehoboam in the expressions, " elders of Israel," identifies these young men with himself. "elders of the city," &c. (cf. ,rpE11/311,,por., He employs a different expression when senawres (from senex), aukrmen = elder addressing the old men (ver. 6). The A. V. men), without any reference to age; but perhaps gives its force by the translation, this is not the case here, as the strong " that I may answer," &o. ; lit., " to contrast with "yo=g men" (vers. 8, 13, answer "] may answer this people who 14) proves] that stood before [see on eh. have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke i 2] Solomon his father [among them, which thy father did put upon us lighter 'I perhaps, were some of the "princes" of Ver. 10.-A.nd the young men that were eh. iv. 2 sqq. J while he yet lived, and grown up with h1m spake unto him, said, Row do ye advise that I may a.newer saytng, Thus shalt thou speak unto this this people ? people [There is a certain amount of con- Ver. 7.-A.nd they spa.ke unto him, eay- temptuousness in the expression (cf. St. 1.ng, If thou wilt be a servant ll.Ilto this John vii. 49)] that spa.ke unto thee [The people this day, and wilt serve them [Keil repetition, " speak, epake," is probably not questions the propriety and expediency of undesigned. It suggests the idea of retalia- this advice. He says, " The king could not tion, or that it was e. piece of presumption become the "ldP. of the people without pre- on their part to have spoken at all], saying, j ad.icing the a~thority entrusted to him by Thy father made our yoke heavy, but God." But they do not propose that he make thou it lighter unto us [lit., from should become their servant, except for one upon us] ; thus ehalt thou say unto day, and then only in the sense of making them [Thie iteration is expressive of deter- reasonable concessions. What they mean mination and resentment. We may read is this : " If thou wilt brook for once to between the lines, " I would make short accede to their terms instead of dictating work with them, and teach them e. lesson thine own," &c. The form of their answer they will not forget ''l, My little finger was probably suggested by the temper of [" Finger" is not in t:Eie original, but the the king. They saw what was passing in meaning is indisputable] shall be [or is, his mind, viz., that he would fain play the n;i31, strictly, was thicker. The LXX. has autocrat, and that he resented it exceed- simply ,raxvrlpa] thicker than my father's ingly that his subjects, just as he had be- lof.ne. [A figurative and perhaps proverbial gun to taste the sweets of royalty, shonld expression. The sense is clear. " My presume to parley with him ; and they say hand shall be heavier than my father's, in effect, "Yon think that they are revers- my force greater than hie, my weakness ing yonr relations, that they are making even stronger than his strength." The you, their sovereign, their servant. Be it counsel of the young men is full of flattery, so. It is but for one day. Then they will which would be acceptable to a young king. be your slaves for ever "], and. a.newer them Ver. 11.-And. now whereas my father did [i.e., favourably; grant their request; cf. la.de you with [or, lay upon you] a heavy Psa. ni.i. 22; lxv. 6], and. speak good. yoke, I will add to your yoke : my father words to them, then will they be thy ser- chastised you with whips [It is probable vants for ever. [" Thy servants," in oppo- that the ci.preseion is not entirely figur!l- OB, XII, 1-24.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 258