Devarim 11:17

17 And then Hashem’s wrath be kindled against you, and He shut up the Shomayim, that there be no matar, and that ha’aretz yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish meherah (quickly) from off ha’aretz hatovah which Hashem giveth you.

Devarim 11:17 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:17

And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you
For their idolatry, nothing being more provoking to him than that, it being contrary to his nature and being, as well as to his will, and to his honour and glory:

and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain;
the treasures and storehouses of it there, or the windows of it, the clouds, which when opened let it down, but when shut withhold it; the key of rain is one of the keys which the Jews say ^F11 the Lord keeps in his own hand, and with it he opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens; see ( Deuteronomy 28:12 ) ( Malachi 3:10 )

and that the land yield not her fruit;
which is unavoidably the case when rain is withheld:

and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth
you;
for if the land does not yield its fruits sufficient to support the inhabitants of it, they must in course perish.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Targum Jon. in Deut. xxviii. 12.

Devarim 11:17 In-Context

15 And I will send esev in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.

16 Take heed to yourselves, that your lev be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve elohim acherim, and worship them;

17 And then Hashem’s wrath be kindled against you, and He shut up the Shomayim, that there be no matar, and that ha’aretz yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish meherah (quickly) from off ha’aretz hatovah which Hashem giveth you.

18 Therefore shall ye lay up these My devarim in your lev and in your nefesh, and bind them for an ot upon your hand, that they may be as totafos (ornaments, Shemot 13:16, Shabbos 57a) between your eyes.

19 And ye shall teach them your banim, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine bais, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.