Devarim 28:64

64 And Hashem shall scatter thee among kol ha’ammim, from the one end of ha’aretz even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve elohim acherim, which neither thou nor Avoteicha have known, even etz va’even.

Devarim 28:64 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:64

And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the
one end of the earth even to the other
Which refers to their present dispersion, being now, more or fewer, in all parts of the world, east, west, north, and south:

and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy
fathers have known, [even] wood and stone:
it may be observed, that the phrase, "which either thou nor fathers have known", is fitly added here, which is not used of them, ( Deuteronomy 28:36 ) ; and well agrees with the idols of the Papists, their images of the Virgin Mary, and saints departed, made of wood and stone, which were such the fathers of the Jews never knew; just as it is said of the host, the consecrated wafer, the breaden god honoured by antichrist, that it is "a god who his fathers knew not", ( Daniel 11:38 ) ; the apostles and ancient fathers of the church. Now in Popish countries the Jews have often been prevailed upon to change, or at least dissemble their religion, and embrace Popery: and have worshipped images of wood and stone. The author of the history of their calamities and sufferings owns this;

``multitudes (he says ^F16) in Spain and Portugal forsook the law of Moses, and joined the Papists, pretending at least to be of their religion.''

He makes mention of sixteen thousand at one time ^F17, and some, he say {r},

``that were driven out of Spain, came into Italy, where the young men pressed with famine could not bear it, and changed their religion, and began to worship images that they might have to satisfy their hunger; and the Papists used to go about with a crucifix in one hand, and a piece of bread in the other, promising the bread to those that would worship the crucifix; and so many famishing persons forsook the law of Moses, and mixed with them:''

and to this day the convents of monks and nuns in Spain are full of them; and most of their canons, inquisitors, and bishops, are Jews ^F19. The Targum of Jonathan indeed, to clear them from idolatry itself, gives another sense of these words, paraphrasing them,

``ye shall pay tribute to the worshippers of idols.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Shebet Judah, p. 108, 154, 312, 313, 338, 339.
F17 Ibid. p. 312.
F18 Ibid. sect. 56. p. 327.
F19 See Addison's present State of the Jews, c. 3. p. 3o, 31. Dr. Newton ut supra, (Prophesies, vol. 1. Dissert. 7.) sect. 15. p. 197.

Devarim 28:64 In-Context

62 And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the kokhavim of Shomayim for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of Hashem Eloheicha.

63 And it shall come to pass, that as Hashem rejoiced over you to do you good, to multiply you, so Hashem will rejoice over you to make you shmad, to bring you to nothing; and ye shall be plucked from off the adamah whither thou goest to possess it.

64 And Hashem shall scatter thee among kol ha’ammim, from the one end of ha’aretz even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve elohim acherim, which neither thou nor Avoteicha have known, even etz va’even.

65 And among these Goyim shalt thou find no mano’ach [see Ruth], neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest; but Hashem shall give thee there a lev rogez (anxious heart), and failing of eyes, and da’avon nefesh (suffering of soul);

66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear lailah and yomam, and shalt have none assurance of thy life;