281 'And it hath been, if thou dost hearken diligently to the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all His commands which I am commanding thee to-day, that Jehovah thy God hath made thee uppermost above all the nations of the earth, 2 and all these blessings have come upon thee, and overtaken thee, because thou dost hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God: 3 'Blessed 'art' thou in the city, and blessed 'art' thou in the field. 4 'Blessed 'is' the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, increase of thine oxen, and wealth of thy flock. 5 'Blessed 'is' thy basket and thy kneading-trough. 6 'Blessed 'art' thou in thy coming in, and blessed 'art' thou in thy going out. 7 'Jehovah giveth thine enemies, who are rising up against thee—smitten before thy face; in one way they come out unto thee, and in seven ways they flee before thee. 8 'Jehovah commandeth with thee the blessing in thy storehouses, and in every putting forth of thy hand, and hath blessed thee in the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee. 9 'Jehovah doth establish thee to Himself for a holy people, as He hath sworn to thee, when thou keepest the commands of Jehovah thy God, and hast walked in His ways; 10 and all the peoples of the land have seen that the name of Jehovah is called upon thee, and they have been afraid of thee. 11 'And Jehovah hath made thee abundant in good, in the fruit of the womb, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, on the ground which Jehovah hath sworn to thy fathers to give to thee. 12 'Jehovah doth open to thee his good treasure—the heavens—to give the rain of thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand, and thou hast lent to many nations, and thou—thou dost not borrow. 13 'And Jehovah hath given thee for head, and not for tail; and thou hast been only above, and art not beneath, for thou dost hearken unto the commands of Jehovah thy God, which I am commanding thee to-day, to keep and to do, 14 and thou dost not turn aside from all the words which I am commanding you to-day—right or left—to go after other gods, to serve them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Commentary on Deuteronomy 28:1-14
(Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
This chapter is a very large exposition of two words, the blessing and the curse. They are real things and have real effects. The blessings are here put before the curses. God is slow to anger, but swift to show mercy. It is his delight to bless. It is better that we should be drawn to what is good by a child-like hope of God's favour, than that we be frightened to it by a slavish fear of his wrath. The blessing is promised, upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God. Let them keep up religion, the form and power of it, in their families and nation, then the providence of God would prosper all their outward concerns.