A harsh and vivid warning is directed at those who treat the service of the altar with disrespect. Instead of receiving blessings and experiencing God's favor, those who offer flawed service face severe consequences. These consequences unfold in two distinct ways: an economic curse and profound public disgrace, both leading to a complete separation from God.
The first consequence strikes directly at their livelihood. God brings a curse of destruction upon the land, ensuring that crops and seeds will fail to grow [רש״י, אבן עזרא, צאינה וראינה]. This destructive act is viewed as a severe reprimand [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This agricultural failure stands in sharp contrast to the promises made by earlier prophets like Haggai and Zechariah, who assured the people of abundant harvests when the Temple was rebuilt. Because the people failed to maintain the holiness of the sacrifices, that promised blessing is revoked [מלבי״ם]. The resulting famine and poverty will ultimately bring them deep shame before the surrounding nations [רד״ק].
The second consequence involves a deeply personal and spiritual humiliation. God scatters the dung of the sacrificial animals directly into the faces of those who offered them. Although associated with festivals, this refers specifically to the sacrifices themselves, as the majority of offerings are brought during these times [מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. This punishment operates as a direct, measure for measure response. Because the people disrespected God by bringing flawed animals, God uses the most repulsive part of those very animals to disgrace them in return [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, צאינה וראינה]. Since the offerings are entirely invalid, nothing remains of them but ashes and waste to be thrown back at the offerers [מלבי״ם]. Having waste thrown in one's face symbolizes a complete rejection by God, who refuses to look upon them, serving as the absolute opposite of the shining, favorable face promised in the Priestly Blessing [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The ultimate fate of these individuals involves being carried away into disgrace, though commentators differ on exactly what removes them. The primary approach among commentators is that the sin itself will carry them directly into this state of shame [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, צאינה וראינה]. Alternatively, [רש״י] suggests that the animal waste itself will drag them down, rendering the people just as despised and repulsive as the dung. Taking a different approach, [מלבי״ם] explains that they will be completely burned and consumed, ultimately reduced to ash and waste. Finally, [אבן עזרא] and [ביאור שטיינזלץ] propose that an external enemy will be the force that carries them off, casting them away from God's presence in total disgrace.