Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 28:29
And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].
29. The mental weakness and even infatuation which possess nations and individuals physically debilitated lead to their oppression by stronger peoples; the details of which are illustrated in the next Deu 28:30-34.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 29. Thou shalt be only oppressed, &c.] Perhaps no people under the sun have been more oppressed and spoiled than the rebellious Jews. Indeed, this has been their portion, with but little intermission, for nearly 1,800 years. And still they grope at noon day, as the blind gropeth in darkness-they do not yet discover, notwithstanding the effulgence of the light by which they are encompassed, that the rejection of their own Messiah is the cause of all their calamities.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
At noon-day, i.e. in the most clear and evident matters thou shalt grossly mistake and miss thy way.
Thou shalt not prosper in thy ways; thy counsels and enterprises shall be frustrated, and turn to thy destruction.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29-33. thou shalt grope at noondayageneral description of the painful uncertainty in which they wouldlive. During the Middle Ages the Jews were driven from society intohiding-places which they were afraid to leave, not knowing from whatquarter they might be assailed and their children dragged intocaptivity, from which no friend could rescue, and no money ransomthem.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And thou shalt grope at noon day as the blind gropeth in darkness,…. That is, being in darkness through the loss of their sight; otherwise the darkness and the light are alike to them, and they grope in the one as well as in the other. This comparison shows that the darkness and blindness of the Jews, threatened them, is to be understood not of the darkness of their bodily eyes, but of their minds; not being able to understand, or form a judgment of things that are as clear as noon day; and being at the utmost loss what methods to take and pursue, when they are plain and manifest before them; but being infatuated and besotted, follow the lusts and counsels of their own hearts, which lead them wrong:
and thou shall not prosper in thy ways; in any steps they may take to extricate themselves out of their difficulties, distresses, and calamities, or to bring themselves into easy and comfortable circumstances; to get wealth and riches, and honour and esteem with men; but, on the contrary, become forlorn and miserable, poor and wretched, mean and despicable:
and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore; continually, every day, all the days of their lives, oppressed with taxes and tributes, with mulcts and fines, and spoiled of their goods and substance under one pretence or another; which has been generally their case in Popish countries; for this seems not to refer to the Babylonish captivity, where they built houses, and dwelt in them, and planted gardens, and ate the fruit of them; and in the peace of cities had peace themselves, Jer 29:5;
and no man shall save [thee]; from the oppressions, exactions, and spoils of their enemies, nor deliver them out of their hands; whereas in process of time they had deliverance and salvation from the Babylonish captivity, by the means of Cyrus king of Persia.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(29) Thou shalt not prosper in thy ways.The exact opposite is promised to Joshua (Deu. 1:8) if he follows the Book of the Law. (Comp. Isa. 29:10-14.) When men find it no longer possible to follow the word of God, it is written that the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Oppressed.The children of Israel and of Judah were oppressed together (Jer. 50:33). But it is added, Their Redeemer is strong (Deu. 28:34).
Spoiled.The word occurs again in Deu. 28:31 : Violently taken away.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. Grope at noonday In the clear light of God’s requirements they will be blind. Comp. Joh 12:35.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 29-31. Thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, &c. See ver. 33. How often has this threatening been verified! What frequent seizures have been made of their effects in almost all countries! How often have they been fined and fleeced by almost all governments! Instances are innumerable: we will only cite an historian of our own, who says, that “Henry III. always polled the Jews at every low ebb of his fortunes. One Abraham, who was found delinquent, was forced to pay seven hundred marks for his redemption. Aaron, another Jew, protested, that the king had taken from him at times thirty thousand marks of silver, besides two hundred marks of gold, which he had presented to the queen; and in like manner he used many others of the Jews.” See Daniel in Kennet, vol. 1: p. 179. And when they were banished in the reign of Edward I. their estates were confiscated, and immense sums thereby accrued to the crown. See Bishop Newton, and Basnage, as before.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Deu 28:29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].
Ver. 29. And thou shalt be only oppressed. ] As the Thebans, ever till then victorious, were, after the death of Epaminondas, famous only for their overthrows: as Rome, since Antichristian, was never besieged by an enemy, but it was taken and plundered: as the Jews since Christ’s death never attempted anything but miscarried. An evil, an only evil, &c. Eze 7:5
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
grope: Job 5:14, Job 12:25, Psa 69:23, Psa 69:24, Isa 59:10, Lam 5:17, Zep 1:17, Rom 11:7-10, Rom 11:25, 2Co 4:3, 2Co 4:4
thou shalt be: Jdg 3:14, Jdg 4:2, Jdg 4:3, Jdg 6:1-6, Jdg 10:8, Jdg 13:1, 1Sa 13:5-7, 1Sa 13:19-22, Neh 9:26-29, Neh 9:37, Psa 106:40-42, Lam 5:8, Act 21:24
Reciprocal: Deu 28:33 – thou shalt be 2Ch 13:12 – ye shall not Psa 106:41 – and they Psa 109:11 – strangers Isa 42:22 – a spoil Jer 9:19 – we are Lam 3:2 – brought Lam 4:14 – have wandered Mic 2:4 – We Rom 1:21 – their foolish
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
28:29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the {n} blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].
(n) In things most evident and clear you will lack discretion and judgment.