Deuteronomy 28:1-14

Deuteronomy 28. Blessings and Curses. This chapter is held by Kuenen, Dillmann, Driver, Addis, etc. to belong in the main to D (Deuteronomy 28:12 or Deuteronomy 28:5?). In favour of this conclusion note: (a) Moses speaks in the first person as in Deuteronomy 28:5. (b) It forms a fitting hortatory conclusion to Deuteronomy 28:12 (or Deuteronomy 28:5); cf. Exodus 23:20, and Leviticus 26:3, which close the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 20:22 to Exodus 23:33) and H (Leviticus 17-26) respectively. (c) Many stylistic features characteristic of D recur in this chapter. (d) The curses of Deuteronomy 28:15 ff. may easily have excited in Josiah the strong emotion described in 2 Kings 22:11; cf. 2 Kings 22:16 f. Of this chapter the following parts are probably late additions: Deuteronomy 28:25 b, Deuteronomy 28:36 f., Deuteronomy 28:41; Deuteronomy 28:47 f., Deuteronomy 28:63, all of which presuppose the Exile; Deuteronomy 28:49, which imply the Chaldean invasion, and Deuteronomy 28:10 (cf. Leviticus 24:11).

Deuteronomy 28:1. The blessings annexed to obedience to the new law are all of a temporal character (the consecration to Yahweh in 9f. is to special privileges as His elect people).

Deuteronomy 28:5. basket: see Deuteronomy 26:2; it shall be blessed, i.e. full. kneading-trough: see Exodus 8:3; Exodus 12:34.

Deuteronomy 28:6. comest in and goest out: all the activities of human life (see Deuteronomy 31:2; Psalms 121:8).

Deuteronomy 28:7. seven: an indefinite number, implying many (see Deuteronomy 28:22, seven plagues), Deuteronomy 28:25.

Deuteronomy 28:12. See Deuteronomy 11:10 *.