Deuteronomy 28

1 sin autem audieris vocem Domini Dei tui ut facias atque custodias omnia mandata eius quae ego praecipio tibi hodie faciet te Dominus Deus tuus excelsiorem cunctis gentibus quae versantur in terra

2 venientque super te universae benedictiones istae et adprehendent te si tamen praecepta eius audieris

3 benedictus tu in civitate et benedictus in agro

4 benedictus fructus ventris tui et fructus terrae tuae fructusque iumentorum tuorum greges armentorum et caulae ovium tuarum

5 benedicta horrea tua et benedictae reliquiae tuae

6 benedictus eris et ingrediens et egrediens

7 dabit Dominus inimicos tuos qui consurgunt adversum te corruentes in conspectu tuo per unam viam venient contra te et per septem fugient a facie tua

8 emittet Dominus benedictionem super cellaria tua et super omnia opera manuum tuarum benedicetque tibi in terra quam acceperis

9 suscitabit te Dominus sibi in populum sanctum sicut iuravit tibi si custodieris mandata Domini Dei tui et ambulaveris in viis eius

10 videbuntque omnes terrarum populi quod nomen Domini invocatum sit super te et timebunt te

11 abundare te faciet Dominus omnibus bonis fructu uteri tui et fructu iumentorum tuorum fructu terrae tuae quam iuravit Dominus patribus tuis ut daret tibi

12 aperiet Dominus thesaurum suum optimum caelum ut tribuat pluviam terrae tuae in tempore suo benedicet cunctis operibus manuum tuarum et fenerabis gentibus multis et ipse a nullo fenus accipies

13 constituet te Dominus in caput et non in caudam et eris semper supra et non subter si audieris mandata Domini Dei tui quae ego praecipio tibi hodie et custodieris et feceris

14 ac non declinaveris ab eis nec ad dextram nec ad sinistram nec secutus fueris deos alienos neque colueris eos

15 quod si audire nolueris vocem Domini Dei tui ut custodias et facias omnia mandata eius et caerimonias quas ego praecipio tibi hodie venient super te omnes maledictiones istae et adprehendent te

16 maledictus eris in civitate maledictus in agro

17 maledictum horreum tuum et maledictae reliquiae tuae

18 maledictus fructus ventris tui et fructus terrae tuae armenta boum tuorum et greges ovium tuarum

19 maledictus eris ingrediens et maledictus egrediens

20 mittet Dominus super te famem et esuriem et increpationem in omnia opera tua quae facies donec conterat te et perdat velociter propter adinventiones tuas pessimas in quibus reliquisti me

21 adiungat Dominus tibi pestilentiam donec consumat te de terra ad quam ingredieris possidendam

22 percutiat te Dominus egestate febri et frigore ardore et aestu et aere corrupto ac robigine et persequatur donec pereas

23 sit caelum quod supra te est aeneum et terra quam calcas ferrea

24 det Dominus imbrem terrae tuae pulverem et de caelo descendat super te cinis donec conteraris

25 tradat te Dominus corruentem ante hostes tuos per unam viam egrediaris contra eos et per septem fugias et dispergaris per omnia regna terrae

26 sitque cadaver tuum in escam cunctis volatilibus caeli et bestiis terrae et non sit qui abigat

27 percutiat te Dominus ulcere Aegypti et parte corporis per quam stercora digeruntur scabie quoque et prurigine ita ut curari nequeas

28 percutiat te Dominus amentia et caecitate ac furore mentis

29 et palpes in meridie sicut palpare solet caecus in tenebris et non dirigas vias tuas omnique tempore calumniam sustineas et opprimaris violentia nec habeas qui liberet te

30 uxorem accipias et alius dormiat cum ea domum aedifices et non habites in ea plantes vineam et non vindemies eam

31 bos tuus immoletur coram te et non comedas ex eo asinus tuus rapiatur in conspectu tuo et non reddatur tibi oves tuae dentur inimicis tuis et non sit qui te adiuvet

32 filii tui et filiae tuae tradantur alteri populo videntibus oculis tuis et deficientibus ad conspectum eorum tota die et non sit fortitudo in manu tua

33 fructus terrae tuae et omnes labores tuos comedat populus quem ignoras et sis semper calumniam sustinens et oppressus cunctis diebus

34 et stupens ad terrorem eorum quae videbunt oculi tui

35 percutiat te Dominus ulcere pessimo in genibus et in suris sanarique non possis a planta pedis usque ad verticem tuum

36 ducet Dominus te et regem tuum quem constitueris super te in gentem quam ignoras tu et patres tui et servies ibi diis alienis ligno et lapidi

37 et eris perditus in proverbium ac fabulam omnibus populis ad quos te introduxerit Dominus

38 sementem multam iacies in terram et modicum congregabis quia lucustae omnia devorabunt

39 vineam plantabis et fodies et vinum non bibes nec colliges ex ea quippiam quoniam vastabitur vermibus

40 olivas habebis in omnibus terminis tuis et non ungueris oleo quia defluent et peribunt

41 filios generabis et filias et non frueris eis quoniam ducentur in captivitatem

42 omnes arbores tuas et fruges terrae tuae robigo consumet

43 advena qui tecum versatur in terra ascendet super te eritque sublimior tu autem descendes et eris inferior

44 ipse fenerabit tibi et tu non fenerabis ei ipse erit in caput et tu eris in caudam

45 et venient super te omnes maledictiones istae et persequentes adprehendent te donec intereas quia non audisti vocem Domini Dei tui nec servasti mandata eius et caerimonias quas praecepit tibi

46 et erunt in te signa atque prodigia et in semine tuo usque in sempiternum

47 eo quod non servieris Domino Deo tuo in gaudio cordisque laetitia propter rerum omnium abundantiam

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

53 et comedes fructum uteri tui et carnes filiorum et filiarum tuarum quas dedit tibi Dominus Deus tuus in angustia et vastitate qua opprimet te hostis tuus

54 homo delicatus in te et luxuriosus valde invidebit fratri suo et uxori quae cubat in sinu suo

55 ne det eis de carnibus filiorum suorum quas comedet eo quod nihil habeat aliud in obsidione et penuria qua vastaverint te inimici tui intra omnes portas tuas

56 tenera mulier et delicata quae super terram ingredi non valebat nec pedis vestigium figere propter mollitiem et teneritudinem nimiam invidebit viro suo qui cubat in sinu eius super filii et filiae carnibus

57 et inluvie secundarum quae egrediuntur de medio feminum eius et super liberis qui eadem hora nati sunt comedent enim eos clam propter rerum omnium penuriam in obsidione et vastitate qua opprimet te inimicus tuus intra portas tuas

58 nisi custodieris et feceris omnia verba legis huius quae scripta sunt in hoc volumine et timueris nomen eius gloriosum et terribile hoc est Dominum Deum tuum

59 augebit Dominus plagas tuas et plagas seminis tui plagas magnas et perseverantes infirmitates pessimas et perpetuas

60 et convertet in te omnes adflictiones Aegypti quas timuisti et adherebunt tibi

61 insuper et universos languores et plagas quae non sunt scriptae in volumine legis huius inducet Dominus super te donec te conterat

62 et remanebitis pauci numero qui prius eratis sicut astra caeli prae multitudine quoniam non audisti vocem Domini Dei tui

63 et sicut ante laetatus est Dominus super vos bene vobis faciens vosque multiplicans sic laetabitur disperdens vos atque subvertens ut auferamini de terra ad quam ingredieris possidendam

64 disperget te Dominus in omnes populos a summitate terrae usque ad terminos eius et servies ibi diis alienis quos et tu ignoras et patres tui lignis et lapidibus

65 in gentibus quoque illis non quiesces neque erit requies vestigio pedis tui dabit enim tibi Dominus ibi cor pavidum et deficientes oculos et animam maerore consumptam

66 et erit vita tua quasi pendens ante te timebis nocte et die et non credes vitae tuae

67 mane dices quis mihi det vesperum et vespere quis mihi det mane propter cordis tui formidinem qua terreberis et propter ea quae tuis videbis oculis

68 reducet te Dominus classibus in Aegyptum per viam de qua dixi tibi ut eam amplius non videres ibi venderis inimicis tuis in servos et ancillas et non erit qui emat

Deuteronomy 28 Commentary

Chapter 28

The blessings for obedience. (1-14) The curses for disobedience. (15-44) Their ruin, if disobedient. (45-68)

Verses 1-14 This chapter is a very large exposition of two words, the blessing and the curse. They are real things and have real effects. The blessings are here put before the curses. God is slow to anger, but swift to show mercy. It is his delight to bless. It is better that we should be drawn to what is good by a child-like hope of God's favour, than that we be frightened to it by a slavish fear of his wrath. The blessing is promised, upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God. Let them keep up religion, the form and power of it, in their families and nation, then the providence of God would prosper all their outward concerns.

Verses 15-44 If we do not keep God's commandments, we not only come short of the blessing promised, but we lay ourselves under the curse, which includes all misery, as the blessing all happiness. Observe the justice of this curse. It is not a curse causeless, or for some light cause. The extent and power of this curse. Wherever the sinner goes, the curse of God follows; wherever he is, it rests upon him. Whatever he has is under a curse. All his enjoyments are made bitter; he cannot take any true comfort in them, for the wrath of God mixes itself with them. Many judgments are here stated, which would be the fruits of the curse, and with which God would punish the people of the Jews, for their apostacy and disobedience. We may observe the fulfilling of these threatenings in their present state. To complete their misery, it is threatened that by these troubles they should be bereaved of all comfort and hope, and left to utter despair. Those who walk by sight, and not by faith, are in danger of losing reason itself, when every thing about them looks frightful.

Verses 45-68 If God inflicts vengeance, what miseries his curse can bring upon mankind, even in this present world! Yet these are but the beginning of sorrows to those under the curse of God. What then will be the misery of that world where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched! Observe what is here said of the wrath of God, which should come and remain upon the Israelites for their sins. It is amazing to think that a people so long the favourites of Heaven, should be so cast off; and yet that a people so scattered in all nations should be kept distinct, and not mixed with others. If they would not serve God with cheerfulness, they should be compelled to serve their enemies. We may justly expect from God, that if we do not fear his fearful name, we shall feel his fearful plagues; for one way or other God will be feared. The destruction threatened is described. They have, indeed, been plucked from off the land, ver. ( 63 ) . Not only by the Babylonish captivity, and when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans; but afterwards, when they were forbidden to set foot in Jerusalem. They should have no rest; no rest of body, ver. 65, but be continually on the remove, either in hope of gain, or fear of persecution. No rest of the mind, which is much worse. They have been banished from city to city, from country to country; recalled, and banished again. These events, compared with the favour shown to Israel in ancient times, and with the prophecies about them, should not only excite astonishment, but turn unto us for a testimony, assuring us of the truth of Scripture. And when the other prophecies of their conversion to Christ shall come to pass, the whole will be a sign and a wonder to all the nations of the earth, and the forerunner of a general spread of true christianity. The fulfilling of these prophecies upon the Jewish nation, delivered more than three thousand years ago, shows that Moses spake by the Spirit of God; who not only foresees the ruin of sinners, but warns of it, that they may prevent it by a true and timely repentance, or else be left without excuse. And let us be thankful that Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, by being made a curse for us, and bearing in his own person all that punishment which our sins merit, and which we must otherwise have endured for ever. To this Refuge and salvation let sinners flee; therein let believers rejoice, and serve their reconciled God with gladness of heart, for the abundance of his spiritual blessings.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 28

In this chapter Moses enlarges on the blessings and the curses which belong, the one to the doers, the other to the transgressors of the law; the blessings, De 28:1-14; the curses, some of which concern individual persons, others the whole nation and body of people, and that both under the former and present dispensations, and which had their fulfilment in their former captivities, and more especially in their present dispersion, De 28:15-68.