And shalt not gather the grapes thereof ; margin, "Hebrew, profane ." This is the literal rendering of the verb; the meaning is that given in the text. A vineyard was, for the first three years after it was planted, held sacred (Le 19:23); after that, its consecration ceased, and the fruit might be gathered for common use (cf. Deuteronomy 20:6 ), and it was said to be profaned. read more
The spoliation of them should be utter. All most dear and precious to them should be the prey of their enemies. Wife, house, vineyard, herd, and flock should be ruthlessly taken from them; sons and daughters should be carried into captivity, and their eyes should look for them in rain, with constant and wasting longing (cf. Jeremiah 8:20 ; Amos 5:11 ; Micah 6:15 ; Zephaniah 1:13 ; 2 Chronicles 29:9 ; Nehemiah 11:36 ; Jeremiah 5:15 ). read more
The curses correspond in form and number Deuteronomy 28:15-19 to the blessings Deuteronomy 28:3-6, and the special modes in which these threats should be executed are described in five groups of denunciations Deuteronomy 28:20-68.Deuteronomy 28:20-26First series of judgments. The curse of God should rest on all they did, and should issue in manifold forms of disease, in famine, and in defeat in war.Deuteronomy 28:20Vexation - Rather, confusion: the word in the original is used Deuteronomy 7:23;... read more
Obedience and disobedience (28:1-68)Further blessings and curses are now listed. These were connected more with the life of the people as a whole and were directly dependent on the people’s obedience or disobedience. The blessings mainly concerned agricultural prosperity, family happiness, victory over enemies and honour in the eyes of other nations (28:1-10). God’s assurance that he would supply their needs was linked to a warning. They were not to look for family increase or agricultural... read more
lie with. Hebrew. Euphemism for "ravish". read more
Ver. 29-31. Thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, &c.— See ver. 33. How often has this threatening been verified! What frequent seizures have been made of their effects in almost all countries! How often have they been fined and fleeced by almost all governments! Instances are innumerable: we will only cite an historian of our own, who says, that "Henry III. always polled the Jews at every low ebb of his fortunes. One Abraham, who was found delinquent, was forced to pay seven... read more
D. The curses that follow disobedience to general stipulations 28:15-68In this section Moses identified about four times as many curses as he had listed previous blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). The lists of curses in other ancient Near Eastern treaty texts typically were longer than the lists of blessings. [Note: Gordon J. Wenham, "The Structure and Date of Deuteronomy" (Ph.D. dissertation, University of London, 1969), p. 161.] The reason was probably to stress the seriousness of violating the... read more
In the second view the outlook is worse. Israel would suffer physical distresses, and her enemies would plunder and oppress her. As freedom from Egypt came to epitomize God’s grace, so return to Egyptian conditions represented His judgment (Deuteronomy 28:27). read more
The Blessing and the CurseThis chapter properly follows Deuteronomy 26:19, and concludes the second discourse. It enforces the injunctions given, by exhibiting the blessings associated with the keeping of them, and the curses entailed upon disobedience.1-14. The Blessings for Obedience.5. Store] lit. ’kneading-trough’ as in Exodus 12:34. The basket is that used for holding bread: see Genesis 40:17; Leviticus 8:2; Matthew 14:20.7. Seven ways] (at once), a proverbial saying expressing a... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 28:27-34
Second group . The Lord should afflict them with various loathsome diseases, vex them with humiliating and mortifying calamities, and give them over to be plundered and oppressed by their enemies. read more