“And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.”
Please. 3 Kings xii., “serve.” By a little condescension, thou mayst establish thy throne. (Calmet) — The people did not complain, till they saw the riches of the nation wasted on wicked women (Tirinus) and idols. (Du Hamel)
“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. my father put: Heb. my father laded”
Scorpions; thorns, or scourges armed with hooks. (Columella iii. 10.) — Roboam had not sense to despise the foolish advice of the young men. (Tirinus)
“So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”
Will of God: not that the king should act foolishly, or the people rebel, but to effect what he had promised. (Haydock) — Syriac has well expressed the sense: “because this rebellion happened by the divine permission, that they might behold the truth of the prediction of Ahias;” (Calmet) and that the fault of Solomon might be punished. (Du Hamel)
“And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.”
People. Hebrew, “and when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying: What portion have we in David?” (Protestants) — Dwellings. Many ancient Latin manuscripts here insert 3 Kings xii. 20. (Lyranus, &c.) (Calmet)