Deuteronomy 28:64

64 The Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the farthest parts of the earth to the ends thereof: and there thou shalt serve strange gods, which both thou art ignorant of and thy fathers, wood and stone.

Deuteronomy 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.''

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.

Deuteronomy 28:64 In-Context

62 And you shall remain few in number, who before were as the stars of heaven for multitude, because thou heardst not the voice of the Lord thy God.
63 And as the Lord rejoiced upon you before doing good to you, and multiplying you: so he shall rejoice destroying and bringing you to nought, so that you shall be taken away from the land which thou shalt go in to possess.
64 The Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the farthest parts of the earth to the ends thereof: and there thou shalt serve strange gods, which both thou art ignorant of and thy fathers, wood and stone.
65 Neither shalt thou be quiet, even in those nations, nor shall there be any rest for the sole of thy foot. For the Lord will give thee a fearful heart, and languishing eyes, and a soul consumed with pensiveness:
66 And thy life shall be as it were hanging before thee. Thou shalt fear night and day, neither shalt thou trust thy life.
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