And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee ,.... Whether it shall be spared or not by the enemy: and thou shalt fear day and night ; being in continual dread of being killed: and shalt have none assurance of thy life ; of its being continued a moment scarcely, but live in constant fear and expectation of its being taken away. read more
In the morning thou shalt say, would God it were even ,.... Wishing they might get through the day well, fearing their life would be taken away before night, or some sad calamity befall them before the day was past: and at even thou shall say, would God it were morning ; dreading what would happen to them in the night, that some messenger of death would be sent to dispatch them, or they should be haled out of bed to a court of inquisition, and cast into a dungeon: for the fear of... read more
And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships ,.... Either into a state of hard bondage and slavery, like that their fathers were in, in Egypt; or rather, strictly and literally, should be brought into Egypt again, since it is said to be "with" or "in ships". This does not respect the going of those Jews into Egypt who were left in the land of Judea, after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar; for that was against the express command of God, Jeremiah 42:13 . There... read more
The tender and delicate woman - This was literally fulfilled when Jerusalem was besieged by the Romans; a woman named Mary, of a noble family, driven to distraction by famine, boiled and ate her own child! See a similar case 2 Kings 6:29 ; (note); and Leviticus 26:29 ; (note). read more
Toward her young one - and toward her children which she shall bear - There seems to be a species of tautology in the two clauses of this verse, which may be prevented by translating the last word, שליתה shilyathah , literally, her secondines, which is the meaning of the Arabic sala , not badly understood by the Septuagint, χοριον αυτης , the chorion or exterior membrane, which invests the fetus in the womb; and still better translated by Luther, the after-birth; which saying of... read more
The Lord shall scatter thee among all people - How literally has this been fulfilled! The people of the Jews are scattered over every nation under heaven. read more
No ease - a trembling heart, and failing of eyes - The trembling of heart may refer to their state of continual insecurity, being, under every kind of government, proscribed, and, even under the most mild, uncertain of toleration and protection; and the failing of eyes, to their vain and ever-disappointed expectation of the Messiah. read more
And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again - That is, into another state of slavery and bondage similar to that of Egypt, out of which they had been lately brought. And there ye shall be sold, that is, be exposed to sale, or expose yourself to sale as the word התמכרתם hithmaccartem may be rendered; they were vagrants, and wished to become slaves that they might be provided with the necessaries of life. And no man shall buy you; even the Romans thought it a reproach to have a Jew for... read more
Verse 58 58.If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law. Inasmuch as even believers, although they are disposed to a willing obedience to the Law, and earnestly apply themselves to it, are still impeded and withheld by the infirmity of their flesh from fulfilling their duty, care and attention is here demanded of them; for “to observe ( custodire) to do” is equivalent to giving sedulous and diligent heed. Now, God declares that, unless the Israelites thoroughly devote themselves to... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 28:65
And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest ,.... No quiet settlement, nor certain dwelling, being obliged to move from place to place through cruel edicts, heavy fines and mulcts, exorbitant taxes and impositions, and diligent search made after them by the courts of the inquisition, especially where any substance was to be gotten. The Jews themselves F20 Shebet Judah, p. 108,109. Manasseh Ben Israel de Termino Vitae, l. 3. sect. 3. p.... read more