“Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”
Deuteronomy 28 contains a chapter known as the blessings and curses. In this chapter, Moses, under the inspiration of God, speaks to the Israelites about the consequences of their obedience or disobedience to the commandments of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 28:48 is part of the section that describes the curses that would come upon the Israelites if they turned away from God and followed other gods or engaged in disobedience. It depicts a severe consequence that would befall the Israelites if they failed to obey God’s commandments.
Let’s break down the verse to gain a deeper understanding:
- “Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee”: This part implies that as a result of their disobedience, the Israelites would become subject to servitude under their enemies. The Lord would allow these enemies to rise against them as a form of punishment.
- “In hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things”: The Israelites would experience various forms of deprivation and need while serving their enemies. They would lack food, water, basic necessities, and suffer from want in every aspect of life. This portrays the harsh conditions and suffering they would endure during their servitude.
- “And he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck until he have destroyed thee”: This phrase symbolizes the oppressive bondage the Israelites would face. The yoke of iron represents a heavy burden and servitude that would continue until the enemy destroys them as a nation.
It is essential to note that these verses in Deuteronomy were specific to the covenant between God and the Israelites. They were a warning to the Israelites about the consequences of disobedience and a call to faithfulness. The fulfilment of these prophecies can be seen in the historical accounts of Israel’s exile and various periods of oppression they faced due to their unfaithfulness to God.
