No, it would more likely mean a war.
By state, one could mean "nation-state" or "US State". If you're asking nation-state, then it would depend upon the government of that state. If you mean a US State, then it would be a governor. Four US States are actually defined commonwealths, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
Against is not in favor of. Her is a city/nation personified. So to prophesy against her is to tell the words from God that are not in favor of what is happening in that city or with that nation.
Delaware was the first state to be part of the US. If you mean nation state as in countries, San Marino was the first.
It would depend on which nation you mean
United State's ships
In the case of the United States, the word nation would refer to the whole country. And the word state would refer to one of the individual states which comprise the entire country. However, in most other examples, the two words can mean the same thing.
It's a highly emotive term, often used in propaganda, but at face value it would mean a state using undue, gratuitous and indiscriminate force against its own citizens or foreigners, as a weapon of state policy.
Country - nation - state .
It would depend on which nation you mean
Liechtenstein is a state, and independent country and a nation. All these terms are interchangeable. P.S. A "state" can mean either an independent country, or the sub-divisions of a federal country.
If you mean US state, then Hawaii. If you mean State - as in nation, then there are far too many to list.... Japan, Australia, The Philippines....