Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 28

Introduction

Deuteronomy 28. Blessings and Curses.— This chapter is held by Kuenen, Dillmann, Driver, Addis, etc. to belong in the main to D ( Deuteronomy 28:12-26 or Deuteronomy 28:5-26?). In favour of this conclusion note: ( a) Moses speaks in the first person as in Deuteronomy 28:5-26. ( b) It forms a fitting hortatory conclusion to Deuteronomy 28:12-26 (or Deuteronomy 28:5-26); cf. Exodus 23:20-33, and Leviticus 26:3-43, which close the Book of the Covenant ( Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33) and H (Leviticus 17-26) respectively. ( c) Many stylistic features characteristic of D recur in this chapter. ( d) The curses of Deuteronomy 28:15 ff. may easily have excited in Josiah the strong emotion described in 2 Kings 22:11-13; cf. 2 Kings 22:16 f. Of this chapter the following parts are probably late additions: Deuteronomy 28:25 b, Deuteronomy 28:36 f., Deuteronomy 28:41; Deuteronomy 28:47 f., Deuteronomy 28:63-67, all of which presuppose the Exile; Deuteronomy 28:49-57, which imply the Chaldean invasion, and Deuteronomy 28:10 ( cf. Leviticus 24:11).

Verses 1-14

Deuteronomy 28. Blessings and Curses.— This chapter is held by Kuenen, Dillmann, Driver, Addis, etc. to belong in the main to D ( Deuteronomy 28:12-26 or Deuteronomy 28:5-26?). In favour of this conclusion note: ( a) Moses speaks in the first person as in Deuteronomy 28:5-26. ( b) It forms a fitting hortatory conclusion to Deuteronomy 28:12-26 (or Deuteronomy 28:5-26); cf. Exodus 23:20-33, and Leviticus 26:3-43, which close the Book of the Covenant ( Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33) and H (Leviticus 17-26) respectively. ( c) Many stylistic features characteristic of D recur in this chapter. ( d) The curses of Deuteronomy 28:15 ff. may easily have excited in Josiah the strong emotion described in 2 Kings 22:11-13; cf. 2 Kings 22:16 f. Of this chapter the following parts are probably late additions: Deuteronomy 28:25 b, Deuteronomy 28:36 f., Deuteronomy 28:41; Deuteronomy 28:47 f., Deuteronomy 28:63-67, all of which presuppose the Exile; Deuteronomy 28:49-57, which imply the Chaldean invasion, and Deuteronomy 28:10 ( cf. Leviticus 24:11).

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 . The blessings annexed to obedience to the new law are all of a temporal character (the consecration to Yahweh in 9f . is to special privileges as His elect people).

Deuteronomy 28:5 . basket: see Deuteronomy 26:2; it shall be blessed, i.e. full.— kneading-trough: see Exodus 8:3; Exodus 12:34.

Deuteronomy 28:6 . comest in and goest out: all the activities of human life (see Deuteronomy 31:2, Psalms 121:8).

Deuteronomy 28:7 . seven: an indefinite number, implying many (see Deuteronomy 28:22, seven plagues), Deuteronomy 28:25.

Deuteronomy 28:12 . See Deuteronomy 11:10 *.

Verses 15-68

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 . The curses to follow disobedience. These answer generally to the blessings of Deuteronomy 28:1-6, only that the order Deuteronomy 28:5; Deuteronomy 28:4 is presumed and Deuteronomy 28:1 b and Deuteronomy 28:2 b are ignored.

Deuteronomy 28:21 . pestilence: a general term; so Jeremiah 14:12.

Deuteronomy 28:22 . See Deuteronomy 28:7 *.— fiery heat: i.e. a violent fever.— sword: read (with Targ., Vulg., same Heb. consonants), “ drought.”

Deuteronomy 28:23 . thy heaven . . . brass: so that no rain can come through.— the earth . . . iron: so that nothing can grow out of it.

Deuteronomy 28:25 . seven: see Deuteronomy 28:7 *.

Deuteronomy 28:26 . See 1 Samuel 17:44, 2 Samuel 21:10.— fray: frighten.

Deuteronomy 28:27 . boil, etc.: see Exodus 9:9 *.

Deuteronomy 28:28 . They will suffer in mind as well as in body: see Zechariah 12:4.

Deuteronomy 28:34 . for . . . see: i.e. through what thou shalt see.

Deuteronomy 28:35 . Cf. Deuteronomy 28:27, as a dittograph of which it should probably be omitted.

Deuteronomy 28:36 . thy king: i.e. probably Jehoiachin, who in 597 B.C. was taken as captive to Babylon (see 2 Kings 24:8 f.).— other gods: see Deuteronomy 3:24 *.

Deuteronomy 28:41 . repetition of Deuteronomy 28:32: omit.

Deuteronomy 28:43 . stranger: better, “ sojourner” ( Deuteronomy 1:16 *).

Deuteronomy 28:49 . a nation, etc.: i.e. the Chaldeans (see Jeremiah 5:15, Habakkuk 1:6-8).

Deuteronomy 28:58 . this law . . . written: implying that the Deuteronomic law (if here meant) existed already in writing (see Deuteronomy 5:6, Deuteronomy 29:20 f., Deuteronomy 30:10). This contradicts Deuteronomy 31:9: perhaps a section of D is meant: it may be the genuine parts of the present chapter.— name: i.e. the person named; see Leviticus 24:11 and Psalms 79:9 (Cent.B).