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Bible Commentaries
Peake's Commentary on the Bible Peake's Commentary
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Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
These files are public domain.
Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.
Bibliographical Information
Peake, Arthur. "Commentary on Deuteronomy 28". "Peake's Commentary on the Bible ". https://beta.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/pfc/deuteronomy-28.html. 1919.
Peake, Arthur. "Commentary on Deuteronomy 28". "Peake's Commentary on the Bible ". https://beta.studylight.org/
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Introduction
Deuteronomy 28. Blessings and Curses.— This chapter is held by Kuenen, Dillmann, Driver, Addis, etc. to belong in the main to D ( Deuteronomy 28:12-26 or Deuteronomy 28:5-26?). In favour of this conclusion note: ( a) Moses speaks in the first person as in Deuteronomy 28:5-26. ( b) It forms a fitting hortatory conclusion to Deuteronomy 28:12-26 (or Deuteronomy 28:5-26); cf. Exodus 23:20-33, and Leviticus 26:3-43, 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 22:11-13; 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 28:63-67, all of which presuppose the Exile; Deuteronomy 28:49-57, which imply the Chaldean invasion, and Deuteronomy 28:10 ( cf. Leviticus 24:11).
Verses 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 28:12-26 or Deuteronomy 28:5-26?). In favour of this conclusion note: ( a) Moses speaks in the first person as in Deuteronomy 28:5-26. ( b) It forms a fitting hortatory conclusion to Deuteronomy 28:12-26 (or Deuteronomy 28:5-26); cf. Exodus 23:20-33, and Leviticus 26:3-43, 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 22:11-13; 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 28:63-67, all of which presuppose the Exile; Deuteronomy 28:49-57, which imply the Chaldean invasion, and Deuteronomy 28:10 ( cf. Leviticus 24:11).
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 . 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 *.
Verses 15-68
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 . The curses to follow disobedience. These answer generally to the blessings of Deuteronomy 28:1-6, only that the order Deuteronomy 28:5; Deuteronomy 28:4 is presumed and Deuteronomy 28:1 b and Deuteronomy 28:2 b are ignored.
Deuteronomy 28:21 . pestilence: a general term; so Jeremiah 14:12.
Deuteronomy 28:22 . See Deuteronomy 28:7 *.— fiery heat: i.e. a violent fever.— sword: read (with Targ., Vulg., same Heb. consonants), “ drought.”
Deuteronomy 28:23 . thy heaven . . . brass: so that no rain can come through.— the earth . . . iron: so that nothing can grow out of it.
Deuteronomy 28:25 . seven: see Deuteronomy 28:7 *.
Deuteronomy 28:26 . See 1 Samuel 17:44, 2 Samuel 21:10.— fray: frighten.
Deuteronomy 28:27 . boil, etc.: see Exodus 9:9 *.
Deuteronomy 28:28 . They will suffer in mind as well as in body: see Zechariah 12:4.
Deuteronomy 28:34 . for . . . see: i.e. through what thou shalt see.
Deuteronomy 28:35 . Cf. Deuteronomy 28:27, as a dittograph of which it should probably be omitted.
Deuteronomy 28:36 . thy king: i.e. probably Jehoiachin, who in 597 B.C. was taken as captive to Babylon (see 2 Kings 24:8 f.).— other gods: see Deuteronomy 3:24 *.
Deuteronomy 28:41 . repetition of Deuteronomy 28:32: omit.
Deuteronomy 28:43 . stranger: better, “ sojourner” ( Deuteronomy 1:16 *).
Deuteronomy 28:49 . a nation, etc.: i.e. the Chaldeans (see Jeremiah 5:15, Habakkuk 1:6-8).
Deuteronomy 28:58 . this law . . . written: implying that the Deuteronomic law (if here meant) existed already in writing (see Deuteronomy 5:6, Deuteronomy 29:20 f., Deuteronomy 30:10). This contradicts Deuteronomy 31:9: perhaps a section of D is meant: it may be the genuine parts of the present chapter.— name: i.e. the person named; see Leviticus 24:11 and Psalms 79:9 (Cent.B).