2 Chronicles 10:11
9 He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”
10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist!
Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
12 After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
13 And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”
- KJV
- For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
- WEB
- Now whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.’”
- ASV
- And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.
- DARBY
- and whereas my father laid a heavy yoke upon you, *I* will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but *I* [will chastise you] with scorpions.
- BLB
- And now, my father loaded on you⁺ a heavy yoke, and I will add to your⁺ yoke; my father chastised you⁺ with whips, and I with scorpions.’”
- ÅB
- har nå min far lagt et tungt åk på dere, så vil jeg gjøre deres åk enda tyngre; har min far tuktet dere med sveper, så vil jeg tukte dere med skorpioner.
- OTB
- Nå da, min far la et tungt åk på dere, men jeg vil legge til deres åk; min far tuktet dere med pisker, men jeg vil tukte dere med skorpioner.’”
- B1930
- har nu min far lagt et tungt åk på eder, så vil jeg gjøre eders åk ennu tyngre; har min far tuktet eder med sveper, så vil jeg tukte eder med skorpioner.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 1:13–14
They worked the Israelites ruthlessly
Read in contextMatthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Read in contextRevelation 9:5
The locusts were not given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like the stinging of a scorpion.
Read in contextIsaiah 47:6
I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.
Read in contextRevelation 9:10
They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.
Read in contextIsaiah 58:6
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?
Read in contextRevelation 9:3
And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.
Read in contextExodus 5:5–9
Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”
Read in context