¹³ The king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men;

⁸ But he rejected the advice that the older men gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him.

⁶ now I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases them^[a] and take it away.”

⁷ Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Look now! See how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold, and I did not refuse him.”^{(A) 8} Then all the elders and all the people said to him, “Do not listen or consent.” ⁹ So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king: All that you first demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.” The messengers left and brought him word again. ¹⁰ Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will provide a handful for each of the people who follow me.”^{(B) 11} The king of Israel answered, “Enough!^[b] One who puts on armor should not brag like one who takes it off.”^(C)