2 Chronicles 10:9
“He said to them, “What counsel do you give, that we may give an answer to these people, who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Make the yoke that your father put on us lighter?’””
What does 2 Chronicles 10:9 mean?
King Rehoboam is asking his advisors how to respond to his people's reasonable request: they want relief from the heavy taxes and forced labor his father Solomon had imposed. This is a moment where a young, newly crowned king is genuinely seeking guidance on whether to ease the burden on his subjects. The word "yoke" captures how oppressive these demands felt, like oxen bearing a heavy load. What happens next in the story shows that the advice he receives (and the choice he makes) will have enormous consequences for his kingdom's future.