And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him and said, 'Here's how you should answer the people who said to you, "Your father made our burden heavy, but you should make it lighter for us." Tell them this: "My little finger is thicker than my father's waist."'
The writer is showing how Rehoboam's young advisors gave him terrible advice to boast about being even harsher than his father Solomon had been.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is set in ancient Israel during the reign transition after King Solomon's death, when his son Rehoboam was about to become king. The people, weary from the heavy labor and taxes imposed by Solomon, approached Rehoboam requesting lighter burdens to ease their suffering. Rehoboam consulted his young advisors, who suggested a boastful and threatening response to assert his authority, which ultimately contributed to the division of the kingdom.
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