And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
They will stumble over each other as if a sword were chasing them, even when no one is actually pursuing them. You will have no strength to stand up against your enemies.
This verse warns that disobedience to God will lead to such fear and weakness that people will panic and flee even when there's no real threat, leaving them defenseless against actual enemies.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Leviticus, God is outlining the blessings and curses that would follow the Israelites based on their obedience or disobedience to His laws, as part of the covenant established at Mount Sinai after their exodus from Egypt. This verse specifically warns that persistent rebellion would lead to such fear and confusion that the people would panic and fall over one another, as if defeated in battle, even without an enemy in pursuit. It reflects the ancient covenant structure common in the Near East, where loyalty to a ruler brought protection, and betrayal resulted in severe consequences.
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