Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
10:6 The older men of Israel were distinguished from officials, nobles, and guardians (Judg 8:14; 1 Kgs 21:8; 2 Kgs 10:5) who had official government roles. These elders traditionally exercised considerable influence in royal decisions. When Ben-hadad, king of Aram, attacked Samaria, the elders of Samaria were decisive in rejecting his harsh terms of surrender (1 Kgs 20:7-9). Earlier, when Absalom revolted against David, the elders of Israel were influential in critical decisions (2 Sam 17:4, 15; 19:11).
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
10:6 The older men of Israel were distinguished from officials, nobles, and guardians (Judg 8:14; 1 Kgs 21:8; 2 Kgs 10:5) who had official government roles. These elders traditionally exercised considerable influence in royal decisions. When Ben-hadad, king of Aram, attacked Samaria, the elders of Samaria were decisive in rejecting his harsh terms of surrender (1 Kgs 20:7-9). Earlier, when Absalom revolted against David, the elders of Israel were influential in critical decisions (2 Sam 17:4, 15; 19:11).
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
And they spoke to him saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
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.”
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
And they said to him, If you are kind to this people, pleasing them and saying good words to them, then they will be your servants for ever.