But: The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse is correctly translated by both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation and most other versions to show the contrast between the advice of the elders and the action of Rehoboam, which was based on the recommendation of his younger advisers.

He forsook: The basic meaning of the Hebrew verb rendered forsook is “to abandon” or “to leave behind.” But in this context it may be legitimately translated “rejected” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), “disregarded” (New Revised Standard Version), or “refused” (Contemporary English Version). Some translations make explicit that the subject of this verb is “Rehoboam” (New International Version, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Parole de Vie, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch) or “the king” (Bible en français courant).

The counsel which … gave him is literally “the counsel which … counseled him.”

For the Hebrew verb translated took counsel, see the comments on verse 6.

The young men who had grown up with him: See the comments on verse 6. The pronoun him refers to Rehoboam and not to his father Solomon. The Hebrew verb rendered had grown up comes from a root meaning “to be great,” and it has a wide range of uses. Here, as in 2 Kgs 4.18, the context requires the sense “to grow up.” But it seems probable that more is intended than simply physical growth. Compare the following translation, which most likely expresses the intended sense: “who had been educated/trained with him” (Peregrino). These young men were approximately the same age as Rehoboam. According to 1 Kgs 14.21, Rehoboam was forty-one years old.

Stood before him means who were now his loyal subjects and advisers. See verse 6.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .