Deuteronomy 28:1-14

C. The blessings that follow obedience 28:1-14

"For the purpose of impressing upon the hearts of all the people in the most emphatic manner both the blessing which Israel was to proclaim upon Gerizim, and the curse which it was to proclaim upon Ebal, Moses now unfolds the blessing of fidelity to the law and the curse of transgression in a longer address, in which he once more resumes, sums up, and expands still further the promises and threats of the law in Ex. xxiii. 20-23, and Lev. xxvi." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 3:435.]

Moses began positively by holding out blessings as inducements to obedience (cf. Genesis 1:28-30). He stated the greatest blessing, and the one that comprehends all those that follow, first: Israel could become the most exalted of all nations on the earth. The condition for this blessing was obedience to the Word of Yahweh. So important was this condition that Moses stated it three times in this section-at the beginning (Deuteronomy 28:1), middle (Deuteronomy 28:9), and end (Deuteronomy 28:13-14; cf. Deuteronomy 28:15; Deuteronomy 28:45; Deuteronomy 28:58; Deuteronomy 28:62)-in both positive and negative terms. Specifically, he enumerated six benefits using four merisms in each of which representative extremes describe the whole. God would give His people blessing everywhere, economically, with safety, and in all their activities (Deuteronomy 28:3-6). Then, in the typical hortatory (exhorting) fashion characteristic of Moses in Deuteronomy, he elaborated on these blessings (Deuteronomy 28:7-14).

"The Canaanites believed that Baal had a house in the heavens with an opening in the roof from which the rains were sent. Whether this constitutes the background for the figure underlying the storehouse in the heavens here [Deuteronomy 28:12], Moses did insist that it was the Lord who would either bless Israel with abundant rain or withhold rain because of her disobedience." [Note: Kalland, p. 168.]

"It was only in feeble commencement that this blessing was fulfilled upon Israel under the Old Testament; and it is not till the restoration of Israel, which is to take place in the future according to Rom. xi. 25 sqq., that its complete fulfillment will be attained." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 3:436-37.]