1 Kings 12:10

10 And the young men, that were nourished with him (who grew up with him), said to him, Thus speak thou to this people, that spake to thee, and said, Thy father made grievous our yoke, relieve thou us; thus thou shalt speak to them, My least finger is greater than the back of my father;

1 Kings 12:10 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 12:10

And the young men that were grown up with him, spake unto
him, saying
Gave him the following advice:

thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying;
as is said, ( 1 Kings 12:4 )

thus shall thou say unto them, my little finger shall be thicker than
my father's loins;
or, "is thicker" ^F7 signifying that he had more strength and power than his father had, and that he would make them know it, and they should feel the weight of it, and instead of lessening he would increase their taxes; for also hereby was intimated, that his glory, grandeur, and magnificence, was greater than his father's, especially when he first came to the kingdom, and therefore required the same taxes, or greater, to support it; and perhaps reference may be had to the difference of their age, Solomon being a child, or a very young man, when he came to the throne; whereas Rehoboam was upwards of forty years of age, and capable of judging what was fit to be done, and not to be talked to and treated after this manner, nor to receive the kingdom upon a condition of the people's prescribing.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (hbe) "grossior est", V. L. Pagninus; "densior est", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

1 Kings 12:10 In-Context

8 And Rehoboam forsook the counsel of [the] eld men, which they gave to him, and took (counsel with the) young men, that were nourished with him, and stood nigh [to] him; (But Rehoboam forsook the elders? counsel, which they gave him, and sought counsel with the young men, who grew up with him, and stood close to him;)

9 and he said to them, What counsel give ye to me, that I answer to this people, that said to me, Make thou easier the yoke that thy father hath put upon us?

10 And the young men, that were nourished with him (who grew up with him), said to him, Thus speak thou to this people, that spake to thee, and said, Thy father made grievous our yoke, relieve thou us; thus thou shalt speak to them, My least finger is greater than the back of my father;

11 and now (though) my father putted on you a grievous yoke, forsooth I shall add on(to) your yoke (but I shall add to your yoke); my father beat you with scourges, but I shall beat you with scorpions .

12 Therefore Jeroboam, and all the people, came to Rehoboam, in the third day, as the king spake, saying, Turn ye again to me in the third day (Come ye back to me in three days).