2 Chronicles 10 14

2 Chronicles 10:14 kjv

And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

2 Chronicles 10:14 nkjv

and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!"

2 Chronicles 10:14 niv

he followed the advice of the young men and said, "My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions."

2 Chronicles 10:14 esv

King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."

2 Chronicles 10:14 nlt

and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people, "My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I'm going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!"

2 Chronicles 10 verses

2 Chronicles 10 14 Meaning

This verse details King Rehoboam's fateful reply to the people of Israel seeking relief from the heavy burdens imposed by his father Solomon. Rejecting the wise, moderate counsel of the elders, Rehoboam instead adopted the harsh, arrogant advice of his young companions. He declared his intention to increase their burden ("add to your yoke") even beyond his father's severity, threatening them with a more intense form of discipline ("discipline you with scorpions" instead of "whips"). This declaration demonstrated a tyrannical disposition, ultimately leading to the irreversible division of the united kingdom of Israel into two distinct entities: the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).

2 Chronicles 10 14 Context

2 Chronicles Chapter 10 immediately follows the death of Solomon. Rehoboam, his son, went to Shechem to be crowned king over all Israel. The people, burdened by Solomon's extensive building projects and heavy taxation (which involved forced labor, often referred to as "corvée"), appealed to Rehoboam to lighten their load. The chapter vividly contrasts two sets of counsel: the aged advisers, who had served Solomon, urged a compassionate and servant-leadership approach to win the people's loyalty; and the young men, Rehoboam's peers, who advocated for a harsh, oppressive stance to assert authority. Rehoboam famously chose the latter counsel. His response, delivered in verse 14, served as the immediate catalyst for the ten northern tribes' secession and the permanent division of the united monarchy of Israel, as prophesied by the prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 11:29-39). The historical context reveals the immense social and economic strain under Solomon, which brewed resentment, ready to explode under incompetent or oppressive rule.

2 Chronicles 10 14 Word analysis

• spoke (וַיְדַבֵּר - va'yedabber): Implies a definitive, public declaration. This was not a private thought but a communicated policy decision to the people.
• counsel (בַּעֲצַת - ba'atzat, from עֵצָה - 'etzah): Refers to advice or consultation. The crucial point here is the source of the counsel chosen. Rehoboam had options: the seasoned elders or his youthful friends.
• young men (הַיְלָדִים - hay'ladim): Lit. "the children" or "the youths." These were Rehoboam's contemporaries, raised with him, perhaps lacking life experience and the wisdom that comes from governance and understanding people. Their advice reflected their inexperience and possibly their privileged, unburdened lives.
• My father (אָבִי - 'avi): Establishes a direct comparison and assertion of continuity, albeit in an exaggerated, perverse form.
• yoke (עֻלְּכֶם - ullekem, from עֹל - 'ol): A wooden frame fitted around the neck of animals (or people, metaphorically) for pulling a plow or wagon. Symbolizes servitude, burden, heavy labor, or oppression. In this context, it refers to the demanding labor and taxation under Solomon.
• heavy (כָּבֵד - kaved): Weighty, burdensome. Signifies the difficulty and oppressiveness of Solomon's demands.
• add (אוֹסִיף - osif): To increase, to intensify. This verb highlights Rehoboam's deliberate intention to make the situation worse, not better.
• disciplined (יִסַּר - yissar / אַיַּסֵּר - ayasser): To instruct, correct, chastise, or punish. The term can imply either fatherly correction or severe punishment. Rehoboam uses it to convey his intent to inflict punishment.
• whips (בַּשּׁוֹטִים - basshotim, from שׁוֹטִים - shotim): Standard instruments for scourging or driving. These represent a form of painful but common discipline.
• scorpions (בָּעֲקְרַבִּים - ba'aqrabim): Literally scorpions. In this context, it refers to a particularly severe form of whip, possibly one with knotted cords, pieces of bone, metal, or thorns (like a scorpion's sting), designed to inflict maximum pain and damage. It is a hyperbole to signify an utterly ruthless and torturous method of control.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "according to the counsel of the young men": This phrase pinpoints the tragic misstep. Rehoboam prioritised the ill-informed advice of those aligned with his own youthful arrogance and desire for unchallenged power, over the sagacity of experienced elders. This highlights a critical failure in leadership: choosing counsel that validates one's impulses rather than counsel that offers wisdom and restraint.
• "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions": This parallel structure ("My father X, but I Y") is a chilling declaration of intent to outdo Solomon in severity. It demonstrates an absolute contempt for the people's pleas and an aggressive assertion of despotic authority. The escalation from "heavy" to "add to" and from "whips" to "scorpions" clearly communicates an unyielding and tyrannical resolve. It represents Rehoboam's intention to break the spirit of the people, not to govern them wisely.

2 Chronicles 10 14 Bonus section

The Chronicler presents this entire episode as divinely orchestrated, despite Rehoboam's free choice, to fulfill the prophecy of the division of the kingdom first given to Ahijah the prophet regarding Solomon's disobedience (1 Kings 11:29-39). This highlights a profound theological truth: God can use even the folly and wickedness of human leaders to accomplish His sovereign purposes, demonstrating His ultimate control over history. Rehoboam's words were rash, arrogant, and foolish, yet they served as the instrument for God's declared will. This does not excuse Rehoboam's sin but rather magnifies God's power and faithfulness to His word.

2 Chronicles 10 14 Commentary

2 Chronicles 10:14 encapsulates Rehoboam's fatal error and serves as a powerful biblical illustration of the consequences of arrogant leadership, the rejection of wisdom, and the imposition of excessive burdens. Rehoboam, rather than seeking to heal the nation's divisions and burdens through empathy and reduced demands, chose confrontation and increased oppression. His decision, fueled by the immature advice of his peers and his own desire for absolute power, alienated the majority of his kingdom. The metaphor of whips and scorpions graphically conveys his tyrannical intent, promising a regime of punitive severity far exceeding the perceived harshness of his father's rule. This verse is not just a historical account; it's a cautionary tale against rulers who prioritize self-will and domination over the well-being and legitimate grievances of their people. It implicitly champions humility, listening, and justice in governance.

• Example for practical usage: Leaders today, whether in government, business, or the church, must choose their counsel wisely, leaning on wisdom and experience rather than validating personal biases or pride. Rejecting sound advice for harsh, short-sighted solutions often leads to division and downfall.