With the threat of desert nomads (verse 9) intensifying the famine, the Judeans were in danger of starvation. Thus God’s curse was fulfilled in various ways: “Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the Lord sends against you” (Deuteronomy 28:47–48).
10 Our skin is hot as an oven with the burning heat of famine.