Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 12:5

And he said unto them, Depart yet [for] three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.

Give me that time for deliberation and advice.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

5-8. he said . . . Depart yet forthree daysIt was prudent to take the people’s demand into calmand deliberate consideration. Whether, had the advice of the sage andexperienced counsellors been followed, any good result would havefollowed, it is impossible to say. It would at least have removed allpretext for the separation. [See on 2Ch10:7.] But he preferred the counsel of his young companions (notin age, for they were all about forty-one, but inexperienced), whorecommended prompt and decisive measures to quell the malcontents.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And he said unto them, depart yet for three days, then come again to me,…. Suggesting that he would consider of their proposal and inquire into the merits of it and as things should appear to him he would give them an answer in three days time; which at first sight may seem a point of prudence in him, to take time for deliberation and counsel in this affair, but in his case and circumstance it was very imprudent; for he might easily see there was discontent among the people, and a faction forming against him, and, by taking time to himself, he gave them time to take their measures, and hasten and ripen them for a revolt; for, by giving them such an answer, they might plainly perceive he was not inclined to give them satisfaction; it would have been the most advisable in him to have promised them at once that he would make them easy:

and the people departed; to their quarters, and there remained to the third day.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

5. People departed Retired from Rehoboam’s presence, not to return home, but to tarry at Shechem three days to await the king’s decision.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

(5) And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. (6) And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? (7) And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever. (8) But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: (9) And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? (10) And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. (11) And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

Though Solomon himself was the wisest of men, yet it should seem he had the most foolish of sons. By his folly in listening to the counsel of rash young men, he actually seemed to allow that his father had been a tyrant, but that he would exceed him in oppression.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

1Ki 12:5 And he said unto them, Depart yet [for] three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.

Ver. 5. Depart yet for three days. ] This was foolishly done, saith Pellican and Martyr, to give them three days’ respite; because in this time they might consult about a defection, whatsoever answer he should make. If he had pacified their wrath by a soft answer at present, as his father counselleth, Pro 15:1 he had hit it.

“ Regnorum sub rege novo mitissima sors est. ” – Lucan.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)