²¹ and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.^(A) Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

¹¹ But after the three and a half days^(A) the breath^[a] of life from God entered them,^(B) and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.

Israel Doubts God’s Love

² “I have loved^(A) you,” says the Lord.

“But you ask,^(B) ‘How have you loved us?’

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob,^(C)

Breaking Covenant Through Blemished Sacrifices

⁶ “A son honors his father,^(A) and a slave his master.^(B) If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect^(C) due me?” says the Lord Almighty.^(D)

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask,^(E) ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

⁷ “By offering defiled food^(A) on my altar.

“But you ask,^(B) ‘How have we defiled you?’

“By saying that the Lord’s table^(C) is contemptible.

⁷ Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away^(A) from my decrees and have not kept them. Return^(B) to me, and I will return to you,”^(C) says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask,^(D) ‘How are we to return?’

¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow^(A) or the fatherless, the foreigner^(B) or the poor.^(C) Do not plot evil against each other.’^(D)

²⁸ Then Samson prayed to the Lord,^(A) “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge^(B) on the Philistines for my two eyes.”