to Abraham and his descendants long before they had ever taken possession of it. For a time it had looked as if they might never enter it, but God was faithful to His promise and after long years spent wandering around they entered in and the tribes settled down in their allotted inheritance. But it has now been laid desolate and turned over to the invading armies. As a result the people are under subjection to a foreign yoke. This comes through further in verse 5, which is a difficult one to translate.