1 Kings 12:14

14 He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, "If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions."

1 Kings 12:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 12:14

And spake to them after the counsel of the young men
And in the very language in which they gave it:

saying, my father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke;
my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you
with scorpions, (See Gill on 1 Kings 12:11).

1 Kings 12:14 In-Context

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam two days later, as the king had instructed them.

13 The king answered the people harshly. He ignored the advice the older leaders gave him.

14 He spoke to them as the young men advised. He said, "If my father made your burden heavy, I will add to it. If my father punished you with whips, I will punish you with scorpions."

15 The king refused to listen to the people because the LORD was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam (Nebat's son) through Ahijah from Shiloh.

16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, "What share do we have in David's kingdom? We won't receive an inheritance from Jesse's son. To your own tents, Israel! Now look after your own house, David!" So Israel went home to their own tents.