Deuteronomy 28

Lord shall bring thee into Egypt, &c.] Of the captives, taken at the siege of Jerusalem, above seventeen years of age, some were sent to Egypt in chains, to work in the mines, the greater part were distributed through the provinces, to be destroyed in the theatres, by the sword and by wild beasts: the rest, under seventeen, were sold for slaves; and that, for a trifling sum, on account of the numbers to be sold, and the scarcity of buyers. So that at length the prophecy of Moses was fulfilled, “and no man shall buy.” The part, that were reserved to grace the triumph of Vespasian and Titus at Rome, chosen out of the most comely, were probably transported to Italy “in ships,” or by sea, to avoid a prodigious land journey thither, through Asia and Greece: a circumstance, which distinguished this invasion and captivity from the preceding by the Assyrians and Babylonians, which were solely by land. In the ensuing rebellion, a part of the captives were sent by sea to Egypt, and several of the ships were wrecked on the coast. Dr. Hales.

— and there thou shalt serve other gods, — wood and stone.] It is too common for the Jews in popish countries to comply with the idolatrous worship of the Church of Rome, and to bow down to stocks and stones, rather than they themselves should be banished, and their effects seized and confiscated. Bp. Newton.

Deuteronomy 28:2

2. And all these blessings &c.] Moses here sets at large before the people the blessings for obedience, and the curses for disobedience: and indeed he had foretold, at several times and upon several occasions, that they should be happy or miserable in the world, as they were obedient or disobedient to the law that he had given them. And could there be any stronger evidence of the Divine original of the Mosaical law? and hath not the interposition of Providence been wonderfully remarkable in their good or bad fortune? and is not the truth of the prediction fully attested by the whole series of their history from their first settlement in Canaan to this very day? But he is larger and more particular in recounting

of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers to give thee.

Deuteronomy 28:5

5. — thy basket and thy store.] The word “basket” probably means their travelling baskets; and “store” their leathern bags; in both of which they were accustomed to carry things for travelling. The former word occurs only in the account of the convenience, in which they were to carry their firstfruits to Jerusalem: the other no where, but in the description of the hurrying journey of Israel out of Egypt, where it means the utensil, in which they then carried their dough. Probably the two words denote vessels used for carrying things in travelling: and being so understood, the passage promises Israel success in their commerce, as the next verse promises them personal safety in their going out and in their return. Harmer.

Deuteronomy 28:12

12. — in his season.] The former and the latter rain, as the Scripture calls it. See the note on chap. xi. 14. These rains are particularly distinguished, not because there was no more rain during the whole winter, but because on the regular returns of these the plenty of the harvests essentially depended. Dr. Bleyney.

Before CHRIST 1661. c Chap. 15. 6. d Lev. 26. 14. Lam. 2. 17. Mal. 8. 2. Rorsch 1. 20. Curves for disobedience. Before CHRIST 1461. then considered de. comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

Deuteronomy 28:22

22. — with a consumption, &c.] Schenchzer thinks this list of diseases comprises those of an inflammatory nature. That rendered “consumption” is perhaps a pestilential swelling, rising for the most part under the arm, many instances of which are noticed in Dr. Russell on the Plague. “The sword,” should probably be “thirst, or burning drought,” see the margin. If these diseases be such as arise from a violently heated state of the atmosphere, from a want of cooling rains and refreshing dews, then we see the connexion and climax of the whole, in the following verses, “Thy heaven over thy head shall be brass, &c.” Script. illustr. — blasting, and with mildew.] These two relate to the destruction of their corn, and the fruits of the earth, which follows on the corruption of the air, as famine follows on the corruption of the fruits of the earth. The former word appears to signify, as the Greek version translates it, blighting either by sharp winds, or by heat. And the other seems properly rendered by a Greek word signifying paleness: for corn, grass, and herbs turn pale and wan for want of moisture. Bp. Patrick. 23. And thy heaven — shall be brass, and the earth — iron.] That is, as free from moisture as brass; as hard and impenetrable as iron. Bp. Patrick.

Deuteronomy 28:24

24. — the rain of thy land powder and dust:] Sometimes in India the wind blows very high in those hot and dry seasons; raising up into the air a very great height thick clouds of dust and sand. These dry showers most grievously annoy all those among whom they fall; enough to smite them all with a present blindness; filling their eyes, ears, nostrils; and their mouths are not free, if they be not also well guarded, &c. Sir T. Roe’s Embassy. Last night we crossed over an inhospitable sandy desert, where, here and there, we beheld the ground covered with a loose and flying sand, which by the fury of the winter weather is accumulated into such heaps, as upon any great wind the track is lost, and passengers (too oft) overwhelmed and stifled: yea camels, horses, mules, and other beasts, though strong, swift, and steady in their going, are not able to shift for themselves, but parish without recovery; these rolling sands, when agilated by the winds, move and remove more like sea than land, and render the way very dreadful to passengers. Indeed in this place I thought that curse fulfilled, where the Lord, by Moses, threatens instead of rain to give them showers of dust. Herbert. These instances are in Persia. Tournefort mentions the same sort of “tempeats of sand,” in Arabia and in Egypt. Fragments to Calmet. And Bruce, describing his journey over the desert between Sennar and Egypt, says, “A little before twelve our wind at north ceased, and a considerable quantity of fine sand rained upon us for an hour afterwards.” Edit.

Deuteronomy 28:26

26. And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls &c.] Nothing was accounted a greater calamity among the Jews, than to have their dead bodies lie exposed, to be devoured by the birds and beasts. Therefore Jeremiah threatens it as the utmost punishment of the king of Judah, chap. xxii. 19; xxxvi. 30; and the Psalmist bewaile it as one of the sorest judgments that had befallen them, Pa. lxxix. 2, 3, Bp. Patrick.

Deuteronomy 28:31

31. Thine ox shall be slain &c.] All these are but particular instances of the grievous oppressions which they have suffered in all countries, where their goods have been confiscated, debts due to them cancelled, &c. Bp. Patrick. Curves for disobedience. Before CHRIST 1451.

sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.

Deuteronomy 28:32

32. — Thy sons and thy daughters &c.] After specifying the blessings attached to their obedience, ver. 1—14, and the curses to their disobedience, ver. 15—31, in their own land, the enlightened Prophet proceeds to delineate their captivities in foreign lands. I. The passages that follow, particularly in the 32d, 33d, 36th, 37th, 47th, and 48th verses, are remarkably descriptive of the captivities of the ten tribes carried away by the Assyrians, and transplanted in Media, and the remotest parts of the empire; and of the two remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin, by the Babylonians. These captivities were not to take place until their rejection of the primitive constitution of “judges,” and rebellious choice of “kings,” during their “regal” state, which is here foretold: and also that these captivities were to be “by land,” as marked in the original expression; “The Lord shall cause thee to walk,” or “shall lead thee on foot,” ver. 36. The true import of these passages is determined by the Prophet Jeremiah in the following summary: “Lo, I bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. Their quiver is an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men. And they shall eat up thine harvest, &c.” See Jer. v. 15—17. The remoteness of the Babylonians is noticed, Is. v. 26, and the antiquity of “the land of Nimrod,” Mic. v. 6, the Syriac language was not understood by the Jews, 2 Kings xviii. 26. And their arms were chiefly bow and arrows, Jer. vi. 23; xlix. 35; Is. lxvi. 19. II. The minute and circumstantial prophecy contained from the 49th to the 68th verse was exactly fulfilled in all its branches by the Roman captivity, and is still fulfilling at this very day. Its accomplishment indeed is for “a sign” of their rebellion against God, and for “a wonder” of their preservation amidst all those dreadful calamities, which they have suffered for so many hundred years. Dr. Hales.

If we consider what providential reasons may be assigned for the present condition of the Jews, we shall find that their numbers, dispersion, and adherence to their religion have furnished every age and every nation of the world with the strongest arguments for the Christian faith; not only as these very particulars are foretold of them, but as they themselves are the depositaries of these and all the other prophecies, which tend to their own confusion. Their number furnishes us with a sufficient cloud of witnesses, that attest the truth of the Old Testament. Their dispersion spreads these witnesses through all parts of the world. The adherence to their religion makes their testimony unquestionable. Addison.

Deuteronomy 28:33

33. — thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:] It is meant that they should not be quite rooted out and destroyed, as the Amalekites and Canaanites were, of whom no footsteps now remain; but be scattered and tossed about through other nations, remaining still as a testimony to the truth of God’s revealed religion; and there only oppressed, crushed, and enslaved. Pyle.

Deuteronomy 28:35

35. — with a sore botch &c.] This seems to be a correct description of the elephantiasis: and of this the sacred writer says, it “cannot be healed.” The elephantiasis is a kind of vehement leprosy, in which the body becomes covered with a foul, ulcerous, hardened skin, which resembles the skin of an elephant. “In process of time, tumours are formed in different parts of the body, and these tumours degenerate at length into incurable sores, which successively corrode deeply into the flesh.” Michaelis. As no cure has hitherto been discovered for this disease, it agrees perfectly with the description of Moses. Script. illustr.

Deuteronomy 28:36

36. The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king &c.] This was fulfilled literally, when Jehoiachin was carried captive to Babylon, 2 Kings xxiv. 15; and afterwards Zedekiah, chap. xxv. 7; Jer. xxxix. 7; iii. 11. Bp. Patrick. It is a circumstance, which must strike every unprejudiced person, that this prophetick threat was delivered at a time, when the Jews had not a king, nor were yet constituted as a nation. Bryant.

— there shall thou serve other gods.] Either so-tishly following the example of the country to which they were carried, Jer. xliv. 17, 18; or being compelled to it by their cruel tyrants, Dan. iii. 6. This was a just punishment of their folly in running after idols, that they were sent into other countries to worship those gods, of which they were so fond in their own. Bp. Patrick.

Deuteronomy 28:37

37. — thou shalt become an astonishment, &c.] So that their neighbours, who saw and heard of the greatness and strangeness of their various plagues, should be dismayed at the sight and report of them; wondering that a people, who had been so flourishing, should be made so exceeding desolate, 1 Kings ix. 8; Jer. xviii. 16; xix. 8: and “a proverb and a byword;” so that when men would speak of one extremely vile, they should say he was a Jew. The same was threatened by God when He appeared to Solomon, 1 Kings ix. 7, and by Jeremiah, chap. xxiv. 9. And it appears to have been fulfilled at their first captivity in Babylon; see Lam. ii. 15, 16; as it hath notoriously been fulfilled since the destruction of Jerusalem and of their temple by the Romans. Bp. Patrick.

Deuteronomy 28:38

38. Thou shalt carry much seed &c.] This was fulfilled before they were carried captive to Babylon, when

Curses for disobedience.

out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

Deuteronomy 28:41

41. Thou shalt beget sons &c.] The calamity here threatened was threatened also in many places of the Prophets, and fulfilled in several invasions of their neighbours: for the Syrians, no doubt, carried captive more than one “little maid,” like her who waited on Naaman’s wife, 2 Kings v. 2, and in other inroads upon them, till the captivity of the whole land; we may be confident that this was a frequent calamity, 2 Kings xiv. 26; xv. 37, &c. Bp. Patrick.

Deuteronomy 28:42

42. All thy trees &c.] It is probable that these several judgments fell upon them in the order in which they are here mentioned in verses 38—42. There being first a great dearth, of which we read 2 Kings viii. and Joel i. 10, &c. then many invasions of their country, wherein several were carried captive, by the bands of Moab upon the Israelites, 2 Kings xiii. 20; and of the Chaldeans, Syrians, and Ammonites, who came upon Judah, chap. xxiv. 2. And we read expressly, that before this, in the days of Ahas, a great multitude were carried captive by the Syrians, 2 Chron. xxviii. 5. After which more spoilers came upon them in the days of Jeremiah, chap. xii. 12, and a new famine, chap. xiv. 1. Bp. Patrick.

Deuteronomy 28:49

49. The Lord shall bring a nation against thee &c.] The Romans are here described with the most characteristic precision, above 800 years before their existence, as a nation. First, by their country; “far” to the westward of Palestine; from “the end of the earth,” or shores of the Atlantic ocean; and it is remarkable,

that the armies of Titus and Adrian were principally composed of Ganja, Britons, and Spaniards. (Vespasian and Adrian, the two great conquerors and destroyers of the Jews, both came from commanding here in Britain. Bp. Newton.) 2. By the rapidity of their marches, “swift as the eagle flieth;” and their ensigns too were eagles, expressive thereof. 3. By their language, Latin, which was not understood by the Jews, though Greek was, from the time of Alexander’s conquests in Asia. 4. By their “fierce countenance,” for which the Romans were distinguished, from the early periods of their republic. And, 5. By their ferocity, or merciless disposition in war. Dr. Hales.

Deuteronomy 28:50

50. A nation of fierce countenance.] How singularly applicable this characteristic was of the Romans, may appear from the following instance out of many. In a war which broke out between the Romans and Samnites, (year of Rome 412,) the latter attributed their defeat after a long and obstinate engagement, to the fierce looks of the Romans. They said, that “the eyes of the Romans seemed to be on fire, their countenances were wild, and their looks furious; and that this excited more terrour in them than any thing else.” Dr. Hales.

50, 51. — which shall not regard &c. — And he shall eat the fruit &c.] Josephus, whose “Jewish war” is the best commentary on this prophecy, relates the devastation of the country by the Romans, that “in their rage they ceased not day nor night from ravaging the lands, plundering the goods, slaying all that were of military age, and taking the weaker captives.” He relates the sieges of the principal towns taken by the Romans, Jotapeta, Gadara, Joppa, Tiberias, Tariches, and Ga-

Curios for disobedience. Before CHRIST 1481.

Deuteronomy 28:52

52. And he shall besiege thee &c.] The Romans demolished several fortified places, before they besieged and destroyed Jerusalem. And the Jews may very well be said to have “trusted in their high and fenced walls,” for they seldom ventured a battle in the open field. Jerusalem was a very strong place, and wonderfully fortified both by nature and by art, according to the description of Tacitus, as well as of Josephus. Bp. Newton.

Deuteronomy 28:53

53—55.—in the siege, and in the straitness, &c.] The horrors of the siege of Jerusalem, aggravated by an intestine war in the city itself, by the three factions who occupied it, are depicted in the most lively colours by the Jewish historian; and especially the miseries of famine: when “wives snatched the food from their husbands, children from their parents, and what was most lamentable, mothers even from the mouths of their infants; while they themselves were not allowed in quiet to devour their prey; for the seditious broke into any houses which they saw shut, suspecting that provisions were concealed therein; and tore the morsels from their very jaws. The old men were beaten, while grasping the food; the women dragged by the hair, while hiding it in their hands. There was no pity for gray hairs nor infants: the children, clinging to the pieces of food, were lifted up and dashed against the ground.” Dr. Hales.

Deuteronomy 28:56

56, 57. The tender and delicate woman &c.] The following deed, “horrible to relate, and incredible to bear,” occurred near the end of the siege. Mary, the daughter of Eleasar, a woman of distinguished rank and fortune, at the breaking out of the troubles had fled to Jerusalem from Bethesda, the place of her residence beyond Jordan, with the reliques of her fortune, and whatever stock of provisions she could procure. But of these she was plundered every day in the domiciliary visits of

the soldiers. Provoked at this, she often endeavoured to exasperate the plunderers by reproaches and imprecations to kill her; but in vain. Being reduced at length to absolute want, she was driven by pressing hunger to kill her suckling babe; and when she had dressed it, she ate the half of it, and kept the remainder covered up. Immediately the seditious came to her; and attracted by the scent, threatened to slay her instantly, unless she produced the provision, which she had prepared. Accordingly she uncovered what was left of her son, telling them that she had reserved a good share for them. Struck with horrors and amazement at the spectacle, they departed trembling, and with reluctance left the remains to the wretched mother. Dr. Hales. Moses saith, “The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness:” and there cannot be a more natural and lively description of a woman, who was, according to Josephus, illustrious for her family and riches. Moses saith, “she shall eat them for want of all things:” and according to Josephus, she had been plundered of all her substance and provisions by the tyrants and soldiers. Moses saith, that she should do it “secretly:” and according to Josephus, when she had boiled and eaten half, she covered up the rest, and kept it for another time. Moses had foretold the same thing before, Lev. xxvi. 29. And it was fulfilled about 600 years after his time among the Israelites, when Samaria was besieged by the king of Syria, 2 Kings vi. 28, 29. It was fulfilled again about 900 years after his time among the Jews in the siege of Jerusalem before the Babylonish captivity, Jer. iv. 10; Bar. ii. 1, &c. Again it was fulfilled about 1500 years after his time in the last siege of Jerusalem by Titus. At so many different times and distant periods hath this prophecy been fulfilled: and one would have thought that such distress and horrors had almost transcended imagination, and much less that any person could certainly have foreseen and foretold it. Bp. Newton.

Deuteronomy 28:58

58. If thou wilt not observe &c.] The sack of the temple-quarter of the city is thus described by Josephus himself, an eye-witness of the heart-rending spectacle: “Whilst the temple was burning, (to which

Curves for disobedience Before CHRIST 1461. fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

Deuteronomy 28:62

62. And ye shall be left few in number.] Josephus reckons that 1,100,000 souls perished during the siege of Jerusalem, by the sword, pestilence, or famine; beside 97,000 whom they took captives. The greater part of these were of the same nation, but not of the same country. For they had assembled from all parts, to celebrate the feast of the passover, and were suddenly surrounded by the Romans; and the whole of this vast multitude, composing the whole nation, shut up as it were in an inclosure by destiny. In the ensuing rebellion, excited by the impostor Barchocab, signifying “son of the star,” or Christ, so demonstrated in Balaam’s prophecies, Julius Severus, the general of Adrian, according to Dio, destroyed 580,000 Jews in the publick combats, beside an innumerable multitude which perished by famine, misery, and fire: so that very few of them escaped this war; in which were plundered and burnt fifty fortified castles, and 985

Deuteronomy 28:63

63. — and ye shall be plucked from off the land &c.] They were so, when the ten tribes were carried captive into Assyria; and when the two other tribes were carried captive to Babylon. They were so again, when “the Romans took away their place and nation.” Afterwards when the emperor Adrian had subdued the rebellious Jews, he published an edict forbidding them upon pain of death to set foot in Jerusalem, or even to approach the country round about it. From that time to this, their country hath been in the possession of foreign lords and masters, few of the Jews dwelling in it, and those only of a low servile condition. In the 12th century Jerusalem was almost entirely abandoned by the Jews, not above 200 living there, who were for the most part dyers of wool. The rest of the Holy Land was still more depopulated. Sandys says, “it is for the most part now inhabited by Moors and Arabians; those possessing the valleys, and these the mountains. Turks there be few: but many Greeks, with other Christians of all sects and nations, such as impute to the place an adherent holiness. Here be also some Jews; yet inherit they no part of the land, but in their own country do live as aliens.” Bp. Newton.

Deuteronomy 28:64

64. And the Lord shall scatter thee &c.] Nehemiah confesseth that these words were fulfilled in the Babylonish captivity, chap. i. 8, 9; but they have more amply been fulfilled, since the great dispersion of the Curses for disobedience. Before CHRIST 1451.

and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

Deuteronomy 28:65

65—67. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, &c.] Since their calamitous expulsion from their native territory, the Jews have wandered over every portion of the globe, without national possessions, an acknowledged constitution, or independent laws. They were represented by the Roman historian as actuated, previously to their dispersion, by a spirit of hatred towards the whole human race. Since that dreadful calamity they have lived almost constantly in a state of reciprocal hatred with mankind. Though generally submissive to the laws, and strangers to political intrigue, they have frequently been exposed to persecution and plunder, even with the connivance of governments, which in all other instances have guarded as sacred the property of individuals. Though abundantly possessed of riches, which usually command the respect of mankind, and ennoble even ignorance and folly, they have been generally treated with contempt by the powerful, and sometimes even followed with insult by the populace. They have been driven from city to city, from country to country; even their children have sometimes been forcibly taken from their parental protection, and educated in a religion, which is the object of their hereditary aversion. Their lives have not unfrequently been estimated without any regard to the high importance usually annexed to the existence of human beings. In Christian countries, and under regular governments, they have in some instances been sacrificed to a wanton

and unrelenting spirit of cruelty, in violation of all laws human and divine, and in opposition to the feelings of our nature. They seem, as it were, to have lost their rank in the creation, and to have sunk nearly below humanity. Their fellow-creatures appear in many countries to have refused to them alone the justice due to all, and the compassion inherent in man.

Such is the faithful though melancholy picture of a people, once distinguished by the peculiar favour of the Almighty; for whom the sea was divided in Egypt, and the sun stood still upon Gibeon; whose laws were brought down from heaven, and whose ancestors walked with God. Richards.

Deuteronomy 28:67

67.— for the fear of thine heart &c.] It may be graciously intended for our benefit, that in the present distressful state of the chosen people, we should behold an example of Divine justice, faithfully coinciding with our natural conceptions respecting the attributes of the Deity. The more forcible were their incentives to duty, the more heinous has been their crime of disobedience. The more signal were the favours once indulged to them, the more severe, it is natural to expect, would be the punishment, with which their aggravated guilt should be visited. If the great powers of nature were miraculously diverted from their course, for the sake of animating and confirming their faith, it is not surprising that the laws of social life should cease to operate, and the natural feelings of benevolence be suspended, in order that an extraordinary vengeance may be taken on them for the crucifixion of the Lord of life, and for their long and stubborn rejection of His Gospel. If once, while placed under the solemn trial of fidelity to their God, they appeared among mankind with His glory visibly displayed before their armies, and awfully present in their temple, it surely is consistent with the plan of Divine justice, that, after a lengthened course of rebellion and iniquity, they should be exposed to the view of the human race, manifestly impressed with the mark of His displeasure. This singular condition may be intended for our admonition. The suffering Jew is a sensible and most solemn example to the careless Christian and the hardened Infidel. If upon the favoured people such a severe punishment has been inflicted, the world at large can have no reasonable hope of escape. The guilt of their incredulity was aggravated in proportion as their means of knowledge were more abundant. And let him, who now perversely turns away from the volume of Divine Revelation, while he beholds their calamity, reflect upon its cause; and prudently endeavour to “know the things that belong unto his peace, before they shall be finally hidden from his eyes.” Richards.