This question came in:

Anyway, I'd enjoy hearing your take on this, even if it does take you months to answer it.

First, the passage itself:

1. First of all, they weren't "little kids"!

"If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. 22 I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted." (Lev 26.21f)