Deuteronomy 11:28-29
pronounce ... blessing <01293 05414> [put the blessing.]
Gerizim <01630> [Gerizim.]
Gerizim and Ebal, mountains west of Jordan, and in the tribe of Ephraim, are opposite, or parallel to each other, extending from east to west; mount Gerizim being on the south, and mount Ebal on the north. They are separated by the beautiful valley in which Shechem or Nablous is situated, which is only about 200 paces in width. Both mountains are much alike in length, height, and figure; being about a league in length, in the form of a semicircle, and so steep, on the side of Shechem, that there is scarcely any shelving: their altitude appeared to Mr. Buckingham nearly equal, not exceeding 700 or 800 feet from the level of the valley, which is itself elevated. But though they resemble each other in these particulars, yet in another they are very dissimilar; for, says Maundrell, "though neither of the mountains has much to boast of as to its pleasantness, yet, as one passes between them, Gerizim seems to discover a somewhat more verdant, fruitful aspect then Ebal: the reason of which may be, because fronting towards the north, it is sheltered from the heat of the sun by its own shade; whereas Ebal, looking southward, and receiving the sun that comes directly upon it, must by consequence be rendered more scorched and unfruitful." A LIST OF THE MOST FAMOUS MOUNTAINS NAMED IN SCRIPTURE Amalek, in the tribe of Ephraim. Jud 12:15. Calvary, near Jerusalem. Lu 23:33. Carmel, near the Mediterranean. Jos 19:26 Ebal, near to Gerizim. Jos 8:30. En-gedi, near the Dead Sea. Jos 15:62. Gaash, in the tribe of Ephraim. Jos 24:30. Gilboa, south of the valley of Israel. 2 Sa 1:21. Gilead, beyond Jordan. Ge 31:21-25 Gerizim, on which afterwards stood a temple of the Samaritans. Jud 9:7. Hermon, beyond Jordan. Jos 11:3. Hor, in Idum‘a. Nu 20:22. Horeb, in Arabia Petr‘a, near to Sinai. De 1:2. Lebanon, separates Syria from Palestine. De 3:25. Moriah, where the temple was built. 2 Ch 3:1. Nebo, part of the mountains of Abarim. Nu 32:3. Olives, east of Jerusalem, divided only by brook Kidron. 1 Ki 11:1, 7. 2 Ki 23:13. Ac 1:12. Paran, in Arabia Petr‘a. Ge 14:6. De 1:1. Pisgah, beyond Jordan. Nu 21:20. De 34:1. Seir, in Idum‘. Ge 14:6. Sinai, in Arabia Petr‘a. Ex 19:2. De 33:2. Sion, near to mount Moriah. 2 Sa 5:7. Tabor, in the Lower Galilee. Jud 4:6.
Deuteronomy 27:15-26
Cursed .... one <0779 0376> [Cursed be.]
makes <06213> [maketh.]
something abhorrent <08441> [an abomination.]
sets it up <07760> [and putteth.]
people <05971> [And all.]
Amen <0543> [Amen.]
To each of the curses the people were to say Amen, as well as to the blessings; to denote a profession of their faith in the truth of them, that they were the real declarations of the wrath of God; and an acknowledgement of the equity of these curses. It was such an imprecation upon themselves, as strongly obliged them to have nothing to do with those evil practices on which the curse is entailed. We read of those who entered a curse to walk in God's law. Ne 10:29. All the people, by saying this Amen, became bound one for another, that they would observe God's laws, by which every man was obliged, as far as he could, to prevent his neighbour from breaking these laws, and to reprove those that had offended, lest they should bear sin and the curse for them.
Cursed <0779> [Cursed.]
refuses <06965> [confirmeth.]
Deuteronomy 28:15-68
ignore <08085> [if thou wilt.]
curses <07045> [all these curses.]
The same variety of expression is used in these terrible curses, as in the preceding blessings, to intimate every kind of prosperity or adversity, personal, relative, and public. Consulting the marginal references will generally lead to the best exposition of the terms employed; and will frequently point out the fulfilment of the promises and threatenings.
city <05892> [in the city.]
field <07704> [in the field.]
children ......... produce <0990 06529> [the fruit of thy body.]
soil <0127> [thy land.]
send <07971> [send.]
confusing <04103> [vexation.]
<06213> [for to do. Heb. which thou wouldest do. until thou be.]
weakness <07829> [a consumption.]
sword <02719> [sword. or, drought. blasting.]
The language here is remarkable: "Thy heaven;" that part of the atmosphere which was over Judea, instead of being replenished with aqueous vapours, should become, with respect to moisture, like brass: and consequently their land would become as hard as iron, and wholly incapable of cultivation; while the clouds might give showers in abundance, and the earth be moist and fruitful in other regions.
will make ... rain <04306 05414> [make the rain.]
This was a natural consequence of their heaven's being brass, or yielding no rain; for the surface of the earth being reduced to powder, and frequently taken up by strong winds, would fall down in showers instead of rain. These showers of sand frequently, in the East, bury whole caravans.
allow ..... struck <05414 05062> [cause thee.]
terror <02189> [removed. Heb. for a removing.]
boils <07822> [the botch.]
<02914> [emerods.]
eczema <01618> [scab.]
feel ... way along ....................... constantly .... continually <04959> [grope.]
oppressed <06231> [thou shalt be.]
engaged <0781> [betroth.]
build <01129> [build.]
begin <02490> [gather. Heb. profane, or, use it as common meat.]
ox <07794> [ox.]
returned ..... flock <07725 06629> [be restored to thee. Heb. return to thee.]
sons <01121> [sons.]
In several countries, particularly in Spain and Portugal, the children of the Jews have been taken from them, by order of the government, to be educated in the Popish faith.
vain <03616> [fail.]
produce <06529> [The fruit.]
oppressed <06231> [thou shalt be.]
boils <07822> [botch.]
king <03212 04428> [bring thee.]
serve <05647> [there shalt thou.]
The Israelites, who were carried captive by the Assyrians, and many of the Jews in Chaldea, were finally incorporated with the nations among whom they lived, and were given up to their idolatry. It is probable, however, that this refers to Jews being compelled, in Popish countries, to conceal their religion, and profess that of the Romish church.
occasion of horror <08047> [become.]
proverb <04912> [a proverb.]
The name of Jew has long been a proverbial mark of detestation and contempt among all the nations whither they have been dispersed, and is so to this day, whether among Christians, Mohmammedans, or Pagans.
take <03318> [shalt carry.]
locusts <0697> [for the locust.]
worms <08438> [for the worms.]
anoint ..... oil <05480 08081> [anoint thyself.]
<03212> [thou shalt not enjoy them. Heb. they shall not be thine. for.]
tree <06086> [thy trees.]
<03423> [consume. or, possess.]
curses <07045> [Moreover.]
obey <08085> [because.]
sign <0226> [a sign.]
serve <05647> [serve.]
hunger <07458> [in hunger.]
yoke <05923> [a yoke.]
raise up .... nation ................. nation <01471 05375> [bring a nation.]
Though the Chaldeans are frequently described under the figure of an eagle, yet these verses especially predict the desolations brought on the Jews by the Romans; who came from a country far more distant than Chaldea; whose conquests were as rapid as the eagle's flight, and whose standard bore this very figure; who spake a language to which the Jews were then entire strangers, being wholly unlike the Hebrew, of which the Chaldee was merely a dialect; whose appearance and victories were terrible; and whose yoke was a yoke of iron; and the havoc which they made tremendous.
eagle <05404> [as the eagle.]
nation ................. nation ... language <01471 03956> [a nation whose.]
understand <08085> [understand. Heb. hear.]
stern ....... regard <05794 06440> [of fierce countenance. Heb. strong of face.]
<05375> [shall not.]
offspring ....... produce <06529> [the fruit.]
leave <07604> [which also.]
offspring <06529> [the fruit.]
offspring <0990> [body. Heb. belly.]
<05869> [his eye.]
wife .... remaining <0802 03499> [and toward.]
The Roman armies at length besieged, sacked, and utterly desolated Jerusalem: and during this seige, the famine was so extreme, that even rich and delicate persons, both men and women, ate their own children, and concealed the horrible repast, lest others should tear it from them! "Women snatched the food out of the very mouths of their husbands, and sons of their fathers, and (what is most miserable) mothers of their infants." "In every house, if there appeared any semblance of food, a battle ensued, and the dearest friends and relations fought with one another; snatching away the miserable provisions of life." "A woman distinguished by birth and wealth, after she had been plundered by the tyrants (or soldiers) of all her possessions, boiling her own sucking child, ate half of him, and concealing the other half, reserved it for another time!"
children <01121> [his children.]
[in the seige.]
delicate <06028> [and delicate.]
<05869 03415> [her eye shall be evil.]
afterbirth <07988> [young one. Heb. after-birth. cometh out.]
eat <0398> [for she shall.]
obey <08104> [If thou wilt.]
fear ... glorious ... awesome <03513 03372> [fear this glorious.]
mentioned .......... perished <05927 08045> [bring upon thee. Heb. cause to ascend.]
few <04592 04962> [few in number.]
In the seige of Jerusalem there died 1,100,000 persons, and more than 90,000 were carried captive; and, having afterwards provoked the Romans by their crimes and rebellions, they persecuted them nearly to extirpation; to which, if the tens of thousands which were slaughtered year after year in every country be added, it appears wonderful that there were any remains left.
stars <03556> [as the stars.]
delighted .... good ........... delight <07797 03190> [rejoiced over.]
delighted .............. delight ... destroying <07797 06> [rejoice over.]
uprooted .... land <05255 0127> [plucked from.]
scatter <06327> [scatter.]
worship <05647> [there thou shalt.]
those <01992> [among.]
After the conquest of their country by the Romans, Hadrian, by a public decree, ratified by the senate, forbad any Jew to come even within sight of Judea; and hence they were dispersed over every quarter of the globe, where they found no alleviation or respite from misery. In no country are they treated as denizens; all suspect them as enemies, and behave to them as aliens; if they do not, as had been too frequently the case, harass, oppress, and persecute them, even unto death.
rest <07280> [shalt thou.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
failing eyesight <05869 03631> [failing of eyes.]
return ... Egypt <04714 07725> [bring thee into Egypt.]
This verse seems especially to point out an event, which took place subsequently to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, and the desolation made by Hadrian. Numbers of the captives were sent by sea into Egypt (as well as into other countries), and sold for slaves at a vile price, and for the meanest offices; and many thousands were left to perish from want; for the multitude was so great, that purchasers could not be found for them all at any price!
sell <04376> [there ye shall.]
Deuteronomy 29:19-28
oath <0423> [this curse.]
blesses <01288> [that he bless.]
<03588 03212> [though I walk.]
stubborn <08307> [imagination. or, stubborness.]
destroy <05595> [to add.]
A very forcible metaphor, denoting the natural progress and increasing avidity of sinful passions and depraved inclinations; which lead men to drink down iniquity as the drunkard does his liquor, without regard to the consequences. Some render, "to add thirst to drunkenness;" and then it implies the insatiableness of men's sinful passions, which hanker for more and more indulgence after the greatest excesses.
watered ..... parched <07302 06771> [drunkenness to thirst. Heb. the drunken to the thirsty.]
will ... unwilling ... forgive <014 05545> [will not spare.]
anger <0639> [the anger.]
rage <07068> [his jealousy.]
intense <06225> [smoke.]
curses <0423> [all the curses.]
obliterate <04229> [blot out.]
single <0914> [separate.]
written <03789> [are written. Heb. is written.]
Lord <03068 02470> [which the Lord hath laid upon it. Heb. wherewith the Lord hath made it sick.]
brimstone <01614> [brimstone.]
salt <04417> [salt.]
destruction <04114> [like the.]
abandoned <05800> [Because.]
abandoned <05800> [they have forsaken.]
<03212> [they went.]
gods ..... gods ..... know <0430 03045> [gods whom.]
permit <02505> [whom he had, etc. or, who had not given to them any portion. given. Heb. divided.]
curses <07045> [all the curses.]
uprooted ..... land <05428 0127> [rooted them.]
today <03117> [as it is this day.]
Psalms 109:17-20
made <03847> [As he.]
poured <0935> [so let.]
seeped into <07130> [into his bowels. Heb. within him.]
garment <0899> [as the garment.]
repay <06468> [Let this.]
say <01696> [them.]
Proverbs 3:33
curse <03994> [curse.]
blesses <01288> [he blesseth.]
Isaiah 24:6
curse <0423> [hath.]
handful <04213> [and few.]
Isaiah 43:28
defiled <02490> [I have.]
princes <08269> [princes. or, holy princes.]
handed ... over <05414> [and have.]
Jeremiah 26:6
do ............. make <05414> [will I. See on ch.]
curses <07045> [a curse.]
Daniel 9:11
Israel <03478> [all.]
judgment <0423> [the curse.]
Malachi 3:9
Malachi 4:6
return <07725> [turn.]
come <0935> [lest.]
strike <05221> [and smite.]
Matthew 25:41
on <1537> [them.]
Depart <4198> [Depart.]
you accursed <2672> [ye cursed.]
eternal <166> [everlasting.]
has been prepared <2090> [prepared.]
Galatians 3:10-13
all <3745> [as many.]
under <5259> [under.]
Cursed <1944> [Cursed.]
because <3754> [that.]
righteous <1342> [The just.]
law <3551> [the law.]
<444> [The man.]
redeemed <1805> [redeemed.]
by becoming <1096> [being.]
Cursed <1944> [Cursed.]
Hebrews 6:6-8
to renew <340> [to renew.]
are crucifying <388> [they crucify.]
holding ... up to contempt <3856> [an open.]
ground <1093> [the earth.]
<1223> [by. or, for. receiveth.]
produces <1627> [beareth.]
<3739> [whose.]
Revelation 21:8
cowards <1169> [the fearful.]
detestable persons ...... and ......... and ................. and <2532 948> [and the.]
and ....... idol worshipers and ................. and <2532 1496> [and idolaters.]
and ......... and all ................ and <2532 3956> [and all.]
lake <3041> [the lake.]
<3603> [which is.]
Revelation 22:15
Outside <1854> [without.]
dogs <2965> [dogs.]
sorcerers <5333> [sorcerers.]
sexually immoral <4205> [whoremongers.]
everyone <3956> [whosoever.]
