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2 Chronicles 10 · a question people ask

Did the old men say "be kind" or "be a servant"?

In the text

The two books word the counsel differently, and neither says why. 2 Chronicles: "If you are kind to these people, please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." (10:7). 1 Kings: "If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them, and answer them with good words, then they will be your servants forever." (1 Kings 12:7). In Hebrew both end the same way, avadim kol hayyamim, "servants forever" (tap servants), and both have the "good words". Where 1 Kings has "a servant" (eved) and "today", 2 Chronicles has "kind", in Hebrew letov, from tov, the word behind "good" in "good words". Where 1 Kings has "and will serve them, and answer them", 2 Chronicles has "please them" (tap please). These notes set the two side by side and don't explain the difference.

The verses

“They spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.””
2 Chronicles 10:7 · World English Bible
“They replied, “If you will be a servant to this people today, and will serve them, and answer them with good words, then they will be your servants forever.””
1 Kings 12:7 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 10

2 Chronicles 10: A heavier yoke

2 Chronicles tells Shechem almost word for word as 1 Kings, but not quite. Its old men say, "If you are kind to these people, please them, and speak good words to them" (10:7), where 1 Kings has "If you will be a servant to this people today" (1 Kings 12:7). And the word by Ahijah that the LORD established (10:15) is one 2 Chronicles never tells.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions