Dissatisfied, Rehoboam turned to the younger men with whom he had associated during his youth and early manhood, and inquired of 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?" 1 Kings 12:9. The young men suggested that he deal sternly with the subjects of his kingdom and make plain to them that from the very beginning he would brook no interference with his personal wishes.

Rehabeam var ikke tilfreds med dette svar, men rådførte sig med de unge, som han havde færdedes sammen med i sin ungdom og sine første manddomsår. Han stillede dem dette spørgsmål: "Hvad råder I os til at svare dette folk, som kræver af mig, at jeg skal lette det åg, min fader lagde på dem?" 1Kong. 12,9. De unge mænd foreslog, at han skulle behandle sine undersåtter strengt og lade dem forstå fra begyndelsen, at han ikke ville finde sig i, at nogen krydsede hans planer.