And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
The heavy burden that prompted the request was the outcome of Solomon's transformation from the wisest king into a despot. Because he did not make God his guide and counselor, evil counselors swayed his once noble, independent mind, his fine sensibilities became blunted, and the conscientious, considerate spirit of his early reign was changed. Self-indulgence became his god, and severe judgment and cruel tyranny marked his course. Since he was the idol of the nation, what he did was copied, and the extravagance practiced in selfish indulgence made necessary a grinding taxation of the poor, which created the heavy burden behind the request and the three-day delay.
The verse records Rehoboam telling the people, Israel's representatives, to depart and return to him after three days while he considered their request for reforms, specifically to ease and lighten the heavy burdens imposed under Solomon. The people departed and returned at the appointed time. The three-day interval was a pause before he answered that gave him time to seek counsel and consult his advisers before answering and setting his policy.
The heavy burden that prompted the request was the outcome of Solomon's transformation from the wisest king into a despot. Because he did not make God his guide and counselor, evil counselors swayed his once noble, independent mind, his fine sensibilities became blunted, and the conscientious, considerate spirit of his early reign was changed. Self-indulgence became his god, and severe judgment and cruel tyranny marked his course. Since he was the idol of the nation, what he did was copied, and the extravagance practiced in selfish indulgence made necessary a grinding taxation of the poor, which created the heavy burden behind the request and the three-day delay.
The verse records Rehoboam telling the people, Israel's representatives, to depart and return to him after three days while he considered their request for reforms, specifically to ease and lighten the heavy burdens imposed under Solomon. The people departed and returned at the appointed time. The three-day interval was a pause before he answered that gave him time to seek counsel and consult his advisers before answering and setting his policy.