12:11a Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke,

My father put a heavy yoke/burden on you.
-or-
Your father demanded/required that they work very hard.
-or-
His father forced them to do a lot of work for him.

12:11b I will add to your yoke.

I will make it very heavy.
-or-
You will demand/require that they work even harder.
-or-
He/Rehoboam would force them to do much more work.

12:11c Whereas my father scourged you with whips,

My father beat you (plur) with whips.
-or-
Your father whipped them with ropes.
-or-
His father had them punished with ordinary whips.

12:11d I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

The Hebrew word that the New International Version translates literally as “scorpions” probably refers to a sharp, painful whip.

I will beat you (plur) with scorpions.’ ”
-or-
You will whip them with whips of metal.”
-or-
He/Rehoboam would have them punished with ⌊whips that cut/bit/stung like⌋ scorpions!

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