The big picture
2 Chronicles 10 opens in verse 1 with “And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou…”, and closes in verse 19 with “And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.” Repeated or prominent terms include king, father, Israel, people, Rehoboam. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 192 Chronicles 10:1-7
1–7: Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make…
2 Chronicles 10:1–7 opens with “And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.” and reaches “And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 10 develops its own movement around king, father, Israel, people, Rehoboam, with particular weight carried by father, Jeroboam, king.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.” Naming Shechem and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
2 Chronicles 10:1-7
King James Version1And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
2And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
3And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,
4Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
5And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
6And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
7And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
2 Chronicles 10:8-14
8–14: He forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with…
2 Chronicles 10:8–14 opens with “But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that…” and reaches “And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 10 develops its own movement around king, father, Israel, people, Rehoboam, with particular weight carried by father, yoke, counsel.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with…” The line’s distinctive content terms include counsel, forsook, gave. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
2 Chronicles 10:8-14
King James Version8But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
9And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
10And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
11For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
13And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
14And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
2 Chronicles 10:15-19
15–19: So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God…
2 Chronicles 10:15–19 opens with “So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform…” and reaches “And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 10 develops its own movement around king, father, Israel, people, Rehoboam, with particular weight carried by Israel, king, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Chronicles 10:15-19
King James Version15So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
17But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Chronicles 10:1 begins with “And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Chronicles 10:9 forms a natural hinge: “And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy…”
The final note
2 Chronicles 10:19 leaves the reader with “And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words king, father, Israel, people, Rehoboam, yoke help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- spake
- spoke
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.