1 Regi 12:4

Romanian Cornilescu Translation

,,Tatăl tău ne -a îngreuiat jugul; acum tu uşurează această aspră robie şi jugul greu pe care l -a pus peste noi tatăl tău. Şi îţi vom sluji.``

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

our yoke: 1 Kings 4:7, 1 Kings 4:20, 1 Kings 4:22, 1 Kings 4:23, 1 Kings 4:25, 1 Kings 9:15, 1 Kings 9:22, 1 Kings 9:23, 1 Samuel 8:11-18, 2 Chronicles 10:4, 2 Chronicles 10:5, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 11:30, Matthew 23:4, 1 John 5:3

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thy father made our yoke grievous,.... Laid heavy taxes upon them, for the finishing of his buildings, for the maintenance of his household, for keeping such a large number of horses and chariots, and for the salaries of his officers, and for the support of his magnificent court; though they had very little reason to complain, since this was for the honour and grandeur of their nation, and they enjoyed their liberty, and lived in peace, plenty, and safety all his days; and such an abundance of riches was brought unto them by him that silver was as the stones of the street; though perhaps the taxes might be increased in the latter part of his life, for the support of his vast number of wives, and of their idolatrous worship, and for the defence of himself and kingdom against the attempts of Hadad and Rezon; but, as most interpreters observe, what they find most reason to complain of, they take no notice of, even the idolatry he had set up among them:

now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter; that is, ease them of their taxes, or lessen them:

and we will serve thee; acknowledge him as their king, give him homage, and yield obedience to him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The complaint was probably twofold. The Israelites no doubt complained in part of the heavy weight of taxation laid upon them for the maintenance of the monarch and his court 1 Kings 4:19-23. But their chief grievance was the forced labor to which they had been subjected 1 Kings 5:13-14; 1 Kings 11:28. Forced labor has been among the causes leading to insurrection in many ages and countries. It helped to bring about the French Revolution, and it was for many years one of the principal grievances of the Russian serfs. Jeroboam’s position as superintendent of the forced labors of the tribe of Ephraim 1 Kings 11:28 revealed to him the large amount of dissatisfaction which Solomon’s system had produced, and his contemplated rebellion in Solomon’s reign may have been connected with this standing grievance.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Kings 12:4. The grievous service - and - heavy yoke — They seem here to complain of two things - excessively laborious service, and a heavy taxation. At first it is supposed Solomon employed no Israelite in drudgery: afterwards, when he forsook the God of compassion, he seems to have used them as slaves, and to have revived the Egyptian bondage.