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The passage describes five periods of punishment, each increasingly more severe than the preceding one, that God will inflict on the Israelites if they refuse to obey him. The words “I will punish you for your sins seven times over,” which appear in the opening to the description of the second period of punishment (v.18) and are repeated in vv.21, 24, and 28, virtually underscore the intensification of the punishments (e.g., Am 4:6-11; Isa 9:8-10:4). The climax is seen in the desolation of the land and the exile of its people.
Severe punishments will come upon the Israelites if they disobey God’s laws for holy living. The punishments are the opposite of promised rewards for obedience. The punishments are a warning of God’s rejection unless the people repent. The five punishments increase in severity as God’s effort to move his people to repentance increases. God will cut off his people but only after great efforts of forewarning. In the place of prosperity God will cause the soil to be infertile, and it will yield no crops (v.20). Instead of peace, terror will reign in Israel as enemies plunder and enslave the people (vv.17, 25, 33, 36-39). Rather than enjoy security, the people will be attacked by disease (v.16), famine (v.26), wild animals (v.22), and enemy nations (v.17). And rather than enjoy God’s presence among them as their gracious Deliverer, they will experience his anger (v.17).