This verse highlights how gentle and considerate leadership cements a bond of enduring loyalty.
“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.’” (v.7) occurs as part of the account where Rehoboam, the son of King Solomon, consults with two groups of advisors at the start of his reign. Historically, Rehoboam ascended the throne around 931 BC, just after the mighty empire of his father Solomon had reached its zenith. The people assembled in Shechem, an ancient city in Israel centrally located to the north and south, requesting relief from high taxes and labor burdens—a request to which Rehoboam initially seemed open. The older advisers, the ones speaking in this verse, represent the elders who had served Solomon, telling Rehoboam that gentleness, kindness, and goodwill would win the people’s loyalty for life. They recognized that if the new king would treat his subjects considerately, “they will be your servants forever.”
When the verse states, “If you will be kind to this people and please them” (v.7), it underscores the enduring scriptural theme that good leadership is grounded in humility and empathy. The elders understood that genuine service from a king to his people cultivates unity and stability, rather than forcing compliance through heavier burdens. This wise counsel stands in stark contrast to the advice offered by the younger men in Rehoboam’s circle, who encouraged him to increase demands on the people (2 Chronicles 10:10-11), a path that, according to other biblical passages, ultimately triggered the revolt of the northern tribes and the division of the kingdom.
For readers reflecting on this verse through a New Testament lens, it foreshadows how Jesus Christ models servant-leadership perfectly, urging His followers to be humble, gentle, and loving in their leadership (Mark 10:42-45). Rehoboam’s story reminds us of the consequences that arise when a leader neglects the wisdom of serving rather than dominating. Indeed, Scripture repeatedly reveals that rulers who genuinely “speak good words” (v.7) and show kindness establish a legacy of loyalty and devotion among those they lead.
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2 Chronicles 10:7 meaning
“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.’” (v.7) occurs as part of the account where Rehoboam, the son of King Solomon, consults with two groups of advisors at the start of his reign. Historically, Rehoboam ascended the throne around 931 BC, just after the mighty empire of his father Solomon had reached its zenith. The people assembled in Shechem, an ancient city in Israel centrally located to the north and south, requesting relief from high taxes and labor burdens—a request to which Rehoboam initially seemed open. The older advisers, the ones speaking in this verse, represent the elders who had served Solomon, telling Rehoboam that gentleness, kindness, and goodwill would win the people’s loyalty for life. They recognized that if the new king would treat his subjects considerately, “they will be your servants forever.”
When the verse states, “If you will be kind to this people and please them” (v.7), it underscores the enduring scriptural theme that good leadership is grounded in humility and empathy. The elders understood that genuine service from a king to his people cultivates unity and stability, rather than forcing compliance through heavier burdens. This wise counsel stands in stark contrast to the advice offered by the younger men in Rehoboam’s circle, who encouraged him to increase demands on the people (2 Chronicles 10:10-11), a path that, according to other biblical passages, ultimately triggered the revolt of the northern tribes and the division of the kingdom.
For readers reflecting on this verse through a New Testament lens, it foreshadows how Jesus Christ models servant-leadership perfectly, urging His followers to be humble, gentle, and loving in their leadership (Mark 10:42-45). Rehoboam’s story reminds us of the consequences that arise when a leader neglects the wisdom of serving rather than dominating. Indeed, Scripture repeatedly reveals that rulers who genuinely “speak good words” (v.7) and show kindness establish a legacy of loyalty and devotion among those they lead.