Whereverthey went,the handof the LORDwas against them for evil,as the LORDhad spokenand as the LORDhad swornto them, so that they were severelydistressed.
When the kingdomof Rehoboamwas establishedand strong,he and allIsraelwith him forsookthe lawof the LORD.
if that nationagainstwhichI have spokenturnsfrom its evil,I will relentconcerningthe calamityI plannedto bringon it.
"For I have setMy faceagainst thiscityfor harmand not for good,"declaresthe LORD."It will be giveninto the handof the kingof Babylonand he will burnit with fire."'
"Thereforethussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,'Behold,I am going to setMy faceagainst you for woe,even to cutoffallJudah.
Behold,I am watchingoverthem for harmand not for good,and allthe menof Judahwhoare in the landof Egyptwill meettheir endby the swordand by famineuntilthey are completelygone.
Thereforethussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am planningagainstthisfamilya calamityFrom whichyou cannotremoveyour necks;And you will not walkhaughtily,For it will be an eviltime.
[we are] afflictedin every way,but not crushed;perplexed,but not despairing;
But the prophetwhospeaksa wordpresumptuouslyin My namewhichI have not commandedhim to speak,or whichhe speaksin the nameof othergods,that prophetshall die.'
The sonsof Ammoncrossedthe Jordanto fightalsoagainst Judah,Benjamin,and the houseof Ephraim,so that Israelwas greatlydistressed.
would you thereforewaituntilthey were grown?Would you thereforerefrainfrom marrying?No,my daughters;for it is harderfor me thanfor you, for the handof the LORDhas goneforthagainst me."
"Ifyou will not listento the voiceof the LORD,but rebelagainstthe commandof the LORD,then the handof the LORDwill be against you, [as it was] against your fathers.
When the menof Israelsawthat they were in a strait(for the peoplewere hard-pressed),then the peoplehidthemselves in caves,in thickets,in cliffs,in cellars,and in pits.
Now the menof Israelwere hard-pressedon that day,for Saulhad putthe peopleunderoath,saying,"Cursedbe the manwhoeatsfoodbeforeevening,and untilI have avengedmyself on my enemies."So noneof the peopletastedfood.
Moreover Davidwas greatlydistressedbecausethe peoplespokeof stoninghim, for allthe peoplewere embittered,eachonebecauseof his sonsand his daughters.But Davidstrengthenedhimself in the LORDhis God.
