15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and presumption is like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as 1 king.”
1:19 If you have a willing attitude and obey, 2
then you will again eat the good crops of the land.
1:20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured 3 by the sword.”
Know for certain that the Lord has spoken. 4
1 tn Or “from [being].”
2 tn Heb “listen”; KJV “obedient”; NASB “If you consent and obey.”
3 sn The wordplay in the Hebrew draws attention to the options. The people can obey, in which case they will “eat” v. 19 (תֹּאכֵלוּ [to’khelu], Qal active participle of אָכַל) God’s blessing, or they can disobey, in which case they will be devoured (Heb “eaten,” תְּאֻכְּלוּ, [tÿ’ukkÿlu], Qal passive/Pual of אָכַל) by God’s judgment.
4 tn Heb “for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” The introductory כִּי (ki) may be asseverative (as reflected in the translation) or causal/explanatory, explaining why the option chosen by the people will become reality (it is guaranteed by the divine word).