The common conjunction at the beginning of this verse is correctly translated But by Revised Standard Version, 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. It also marks the contrast between the readers’ expectation and what Rehoboam actually did.

He forsook the counsel which the old men gave him: Some versions make the referent for the pronoun he explicit by saying “Rehoboam” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) or “the king” (Bible en français courant). 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” (New Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation, New Jerusalem Bible) or “refused” (Contemporary English Version). The counsel which the old men gave him is literally “the counsel of the old men which they counseled him.”

And took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him: See the comments on 2Chr 10.6. 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 the context requires the sense “to grow up.” But it seems probable that more is intended than simply physical growth. Who had grown up with him is better rendered “who had been educated/trained with him” (Peregrino. These young men were approximately the same age as Rehoboam. According to 2 Chr 12.13, Rehoboam was forty-one years old.

And stood before him means the young men were now his loyal subjects and advisers (see verse 6). Translations expressing this idea include “and were now his counselors” (Anchor Bible), “and who served as his advisers” (New Century Version), and “and were now his officials” (Contemporary English Version). An American Translation says “and who were his companions,” but the Hebrew seems to mean something more official.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .