1 Kings 12:6
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
At Shechem Rehoboam faced the people’s plea for reform and relief from heavy burdens, and he had to give them an answer. Before answering he turned for counsel to the old men who had stood before and served his father Solomon while Solomon lived, asking how he should reply to the people.
The burden in question was grinding taxation laid on the poor, made necessary by Solomon’s extravagant indulgence in selfish pleasure. Solomon had ceased to make God his guide and counselor, so evil counselors swayed his once noble and independent mind as they chose. 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, so that from the wisest king ever to wield a scepter he became a despot whose words and acts were copied because he was the idol of the nation.
The old men advised him to treat the people kindly, to please them and to speak graciously to them, assuring him that doing so would secure their loyalty. His response proved a grave mistake, for instead of correcting the oppressive policies begun under Solomon, he and his counselors intended to continue and even worsen them. That course led to the division of the kingdom in fulfillment of the prophet’s prediction.