Deuteronomy 28:50

50 gentem procacissimam quae non deferat seni nec misereatur parvulo

Deuteronomy 28:50 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 28:50

A nation of fierce countenance
Or, "strong of face" F25; which aptly describes the old Romans, who are always represented as such; and whereas it is said of the Chaldeans, that they were a nation dreadful and terrible, ( Habakkuk 1:7 ) ; the same is said of the fourth beast, or Roman empire, ( Daniel 7:7 ) ; who were a terror to all the world:

which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the
young:
cruel, unmerciful, and uncompassionate, to persons of whatsoever age or sex; which, as it was the character of the Chaldeans, ( 2 Chronicles 36:17 ) ; so of the Romans, who especially showed no mercy to the Jews, as Josephus F26, who was an eyewitness, testifies.

``The Romans (says he) showed no mercy to any age, out of hatred to the nation (of the Jews), and in remembrance of the injuries done to Cestius;''

one of their governors, when among them. And in another place he says {a},

``the Romans, remembering what they suffered in the siege, spared none, and showed no mercy.''


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (Mynp ze) "fortem faciebus", Montanus; "robustam facie", Vatablus.
F26 De Bello Jud. l. 3. c. 7. sect. 1.
F1 Ibid. sect. 34.

Deuteronomy 28:50 In-Context

48 servies inimico tuo quem inmittet Dominus tibi in fame et siti et nuditate et omnium penuria et ponet iugum ferreum super cervicem tuam donec te conterat
49 adducet Dominus super te gentem de longinquo et de extremis finibus terrae in similitudinem aquilae volantis cum impetu cuius linguam intellegere non possis
50 gentem procacissimam quae non deferat seni nec misereatur parvulo
51 et devoret fructum iumentorum tuorum ac fruges terrae tuae donec intereas et non relinquat tibi triticum vinum et oleum armenta boum et greges ovium donec te disperdat
52 et conterat in cunctis urbibus tuis et destruantur muri tui firmi atque sublimes in quibus habebas fiduciam in omni terra tua obsideberis intra portas tuas in omni terra quam dabit tibi Dominus Deus tuus
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.