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.
Ver. 11. I will chastise you with scorpions] a That is, With briers and thorns; as Gideon taught the men of Penuel: or, With torturing whips that sting like a scorpion; such as the Spaniards brought great store of, as it is said, in 1588; not sparing to sing of Queen Elizabeth and her England,
“ Tu quae suevisti Romanas temnere leges,
Hispano disces subdere colla iugo. ”
a Flagris aculeatis. - Vatab.