Before that time, neither people nor animals were rewarded for their work, and no one was safe anywhere, because I had turned them against each other.
“I will punish Egypt with civil war— neighbours, cities, and kingdoms will fight each other.
But for now, I am sending enemies who will catch you like fish and hunt you down like wild animals in the hills and the caves.
Isn't the whole city frightened when the trumpet signals an attack? Isn't it the LORD who brings disaster on a city?
I'll send a sword to kill them, wherever their enemies drag them off as captives. I'm determined to hurt them, not to help them.”
But from now on, things will get better. Before you started laying the foundation for the temple,
Even those who carry water to the animals will tell you, “The LORD has won victories, and so has Israel.” Then the LORD's people marched down to the town gates