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-Ezekiel : or Deuteronomy 28:5-Ezekiel :?). In favour of this conclusion note: ( a) Moses speaks in the first person as in Deuteronomy 28:5-Ezekiel :. ( b) It forms a fitting hortatory conclusion to Deuteronomy 28:12-Ezekiel : (or Deuteronomy 28:5-Ezekiel :); cf. Exodus 23:20-Micah :, and Leviticus 26:3-John :, 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 22:11-1 Chronicles :; 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-Tobit :, all of which presuppose the Exile; Deuteronomy 28:49-Philemon :, which imply the Chaldean invasion, and Deuteronomy 28:10 ( cf. Leviticus 24:11).

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 Chronicles : . 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 *.