THE BLESSING AND THE CURSE
This chapter properly follows Deuteronomy 26:19, and concludes the
second discourse. It enforces the injunctions given, by exhibiting the
blessings associated with the keeping of them, and the curses entailed
upon disobedience.
1-14. The Blessings for Obedience.... [ Continue Reading ]
STORE] lit. 'kneading-trough' as in Exodus 12:34. The basket is that
used for holding bread: see Genesis 40:17; Leviticus 8:2; Matthew
14:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN WAYS] (at once), a proverbial saying expressing a disorderly
rout.... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Leviticus 26:4 and on chapter Deuteronomy 11:10.
15-48. The Curse for Disobedience.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SWORD] rather, 'drought.'
23, 24. A graphic description of long-continued drought. In Palestine
the E. wind is hot and dry; and, blowing from the desert, is often
full of fine sand-dust which gives the sky the appearance of burnished
metal. When this wind (called the 'sirocco') is strong, it pr... [ Continue Reading ]
FRAY] frighten, or scare: cp. 1 Samuel 17:44; 2 Samuel 21:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BOTCH OF EGYPT] the boil with which the Egyptians were plagued:
see Exodus 9:9. EMERODS] hæmorrhoids, as in 1 Samuel 5:6. What is
meant is probably the Oriental bubonic plague.... [ Continue Reading ]
They will be afflicted with mental as well as bodily diseases.
30-34. These troubles are the consequences of defeat in war and
oppression by foreign nations. For a historical instance see Judges
6:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SIGHT OF THINE EYES] i.e. on account of what you see.... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVE OTHER GODS] see on Deuteronomy 4:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. 1 Kings 9:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Haggai 1:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL CAST ITS FRUIT] i.e. unripe.... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Exodus 10:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Chaldeans or Assyrians are meant: see Jeremiah 5:15; Habakkuk 1:6.
53-57. This crowning horror of a longcontinued siege actually took
place during the siege of Samaria by the Syrians (2 Kings 6:26), in
the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (Lamentations 4:10), and
later in the final overthro... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FAILING OF THE EYES indicates the gradual extinction of hope: cp.
Deuteronomy 28:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
After the capture of Jerusalem the Roman general Titus sent a great
many captives to the Egyptian mines.
NO MAN SHALL BUY YOU] This does not mean 'shall redeem you,' but
'purchase you as slaves.' They would be exposed for sale as slaves,
and no man would consider them worth the buying.... [ Continue Reading ]