whips. The badge of the taskmaster on the Egyptian monuments. Compare Exodus 1:10; Exodus 1:14; Exodus 5:13; Exodus 5:14 ("beaten").
scorpions.. knotted whip, so called; as we call another kind of whip the "cat".
Related Commentaries of 1 Kings 12:11
1 Kings 12:11
11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.