SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:11
Ahora pues, mi padre os cargó de pesado yugo, mas yo añadiré a vuestro yugo; mi padre os hirió con azotes, mas yo os heriré con escorpiones.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:11
Verse 11. Chastise you with scorpions] Should you rebel, or become disaffected, my father's whip shall be a scorpion in my hand. His was chastisement, mine shall be punishment. St. Isidore, and after him Calmet and others, assert that the scorpion was a sort of severe whip, the lashes of which were armed with iron points, that sunk into and tore the flesh. We know that the scorpion was a military engine among the Romans for shooting arrows, which, being poisoned, were likened to the scorpion's sting, and the wound it inflicted.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. And now, whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke , etc.] Which was putting words into his mouth, owning the charge and accusation brought against his father, as he did, ( 1 Kings 12:14), which was very unbecoming, if true; unless this is said according to the sense of the people: I will add to your yoke ; make it heavier, lay more taxes on them: my father hath chastised you with whips ; which was putting a lie into his mouth, and which he uttered, ( 1 Kings 12:14) for no instance of severity exercised on the people in general can be given during the whole reign of Solomon: but I will chastise you with scorpions ; treat them more roughly, and with greater rigour: whips may mean smaller ones, these horse whips, as in the Targum; which gave an acute pain, like the sting of scorpions, or made a wound like one. Ben Gersom says, these were rods with thorns on them, which pierced and gave much pain. Weemse thinks these are alluded to by thorns in the sides, ( Numbers 33:55 Judges 2:3), for whipping with them was about the sides, and not along the back. Abarbinel calls them iron thorns, rods that had iron prongs or rowels to them, which tore the flesh extremely. Isidore says, a rod that is smooth is called a rod, but, if knotty and prickled, it is rightly called a scorpion, because it makes a wound in the body arched or crooked. Pliny ascribes the invention of this sort of scorpions to the Cretians.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-15 - The tribes complained not to Rehoboam of his father's idolatry, an revolt from God. That which was the greatest grievance, was none to them; so careless were they in matters of religion, if they might liv at case, and pay no taxes. Factious spirits will never want somethin to complain of. And when we see the Scripture account of Solomon' reign; the peace, wealth, and prosperity Israel then enjoyed; we cannot doubt but that their charges were false, or far beyond the truth Rehoboam answered the people according to the counsel of the young men Never was man more blinded by pride, and desire of arbitrary power than which nothing is more fatal. God's counsels were hereby fulfilled He left Rehoboam to his own folly, and hid from his eyes the thing which belonged to his peace, that the kingdom might be rent from him God serves his own wise and righteous purposes by the imprudences an sins of men. Those that lose the kingdom of heaven, throw it away, a Rehoboam, by wilfulness and folly.
Original Hebrew
ועתה 6258 אבי 1 העמיס 6006 עליכם 5921 על 5923 כבד 3515 ואני 589 אוסיף 3254 על 5921 עלכם 5923 אבי 1 יסר 3256 אתכם 853 בשׁוטים 7752 ואני 589 איסר 3256 אתכם 853 בעקרבים׃ 6137
