1 Kings 12:14

14 he addressed them according to the advice of the young men and said, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke! My father controlled you with whips, but I will control 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 Yarov'am and all the people came to Rechav'am the third day, as the king had requested by saying, "Come to me again the third day";
13 and the king answered the people harshly. Abandoning the advice the older men had given him,
14 he addressed them according to the advice of the young men and said, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke! My father controlled you with whips, but I will control you with scorpions!"
15 So the king didn't listen to the people; and that was something ADONAI brought about, so that he could fulfill his word, which ADONAI had spoken through Achiyah from Shiloh to Yarov'am the son of N'vat.
16 When all Isra'el saw that the king wasn't listening to them, the people answered the king, "Do we have any share in David? We have no heritage in the son of Yishai! Go to your tents, Isra'el! Care for your own house, David!" So Isra'el left for their tents.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.