The Staff of Moses
CHAPTER TEN
THE BLESSING AND CURSE OF
THE LAW IN DEUTERONOMY
Deuteronomy chapters 28 to 30
THE FULFILMENT OF
BIBLICAL PROPHECY IN HISTORY
The Book of Deuteronomy speaks of both the blessings and the curses that will befall Israel if they do not keep the Torah. Many of the threatened results came to pass when the Kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Romans. The Jews were exiled, and often persecuted in their places of exile.
[Deuteronomy 28:14] AND THOU SHALT NOT GO ASIDE FROM ANY OF THE WORDS WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, TO THE RIGHT HAND, OR TO THE LEFT, TO GO AFTER OTHER G-DS TO SERVE THEM.
The Curses and Prophecy Fulfilled
[Deuteronomy 28:15] BUT IT SHALL COME TO PASS, IF THOU WILT NOT HEARKEN UNTO THE VOICE OF THE L-RD THY G-D, TO OBSERVE TO DO ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY; THAT ALL THESE CURSES SHALL COME UPON THEE, AND OVERTAKE THEE:
The Jews of Judah did not keep the Torah and so the curses came upon them.
They would be cursed in the city and field [28:16], in their agricultural produce [28:17], general health and flocks [28:18].
[Deuteronomy 28:19] CURSED SHALT THOU BE WHEN THOU COMEST IN, AND CURSED SHALT THOU BE WHEN THOU GOEST OUT.
They would be cursed in every way [28:20-31] including military weakness:
[Deuteronomy 28:25] THE L-RD SHALL CAUSE THEE TO BE SMITTEN BEFORE THINE ENEMIES: THOU SHALT GO OUT ONE WAY AGAINST THEM, AND FLEE SEVEN WAYS BEFORE THEM: AND SHALT BE REMOVED INTO ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH.
[Deuteronomy 28:32] THY SONS AND THY DAUGHTERS SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO ANOTHER PEOPLE, AND THINE EYES SHALL LOOK, AND FAIL WITH LONGING FOR THEM ALL THE DAY LONG; AND THERE SHALL BE NO MIGHT IN THINE HAND.
This happened on numerous occasions. The children of Jews were frequently kidnapped by Moslems and Christians and brought up as non-Jews. Sometimes this happened on a massive scale and sometimes in individual cases.
[Deuteronomy 28:33] THE FRUIT OF THY LAND, AND ALL THY LABOURS, SHALL A NATION WHICH THOU KNOWEST NOT EAT UP; AND THOU SHALT BE ONLY OPPRESSED AND CRUSHED ALWAY:
[Deuteronomy 28:34] SO THAT THOU SHALT BE MAD FOR THE SIGHT OF THINE EYES WHICH THOU SHALT SEE.
[Deuteronomy 28:35] THE L-RD SHALL SMITE THEE IN THE KNEES, AND IN THE LEGS, WITH A SORE BOTCH THAT CANNOT BE HEALED, FROM THE SOLE OF THY FOOT UNTO THE TOP OF THY HEAD.
[Deuteronomy 28:36] THE L-RD SHALL BRING THEE, AND THY KING WHICH THOU SHALT SET OVER THEE, UNTO A NATION WHICH NEITHER THOU NOR THY FATHERS HAVE KNOWN; AND THERE SHALT THOU SERVE OTHER G-DS, WOOD AND STONE.
These verses were fulfilled mainly by Judah at the time of their exile by the Babylonians and later by the Romans and their subsequent persecution by the Gentile nations. By being forced to serve other peoples who were idolaters it was as if they were serving other gods.
"THY KING WHICH THOU SHALT SET OVER THEE": The commentators point out that it says “the king that YOU shall set over you” (who would be taken into exile) and not the monarch that G-d had appointed. This was fulfilled in Judah. The Hasmonean Kings were Priests (Cohens) of the Tribe of Levi. Their dynasty had been founded by Judah the Maccabee. They were a heroic family who saved Judah from the oppression of the Greek Seleucids. They then made themselves hereditary monarchs over Judah. According to Nachmanides, they were criticised for this since Judah had received a tradition that only someone from the House of David could be rightfully king over them.
Nachmanides (1194-1270) says:
"THE L-RD SHALL BRING THEE, AND THY KING WHICH THOU SHALT SET OVER THEE, UNTO A NATION WHICH NEITHER THOU NOR THY FATHERS HAVE KNOWN" [28:36].
This was referring to to Agrippus [i.e. Herod Agrippa I. He was the father of Herod Agrippas II] who was taken to Rome . It is also possible that the verse is referring to a previous monarch before the time of Agrippus, namely Aristobulos who was siezed by the Roman Commander and taken to Rome in chains and there he was
"AN ASTONISHMENT, A PROVERB, AND A BYWORD, AMONG ALL NATIONS" [28:37]
who had previously been astounded at the heroic might [of Judah and the Hasmonean dynasty in the past] which had now fallen down. After that, Agrippus [i.e. Herod Agrippas II, 48-100 CE] returned to the Land with the emissary of the Roman Emperor. They conquered many great cities in the Land of Judah. Thus, was fulfilled the verse,
“THEREFORE SHALT THOU SERVE THINE ENEMIES WHICH THE L-RD SHALL SEND AGAINST THEE, IN HUNGER, AND IN THIRST” [28:48], and it says “THE L-RD SHALL BRING A NATION AGAINST THEE FROM FAR” [28:49]
For Vespasian and his son Titus came into the Land with a great number of Roman soldiers and they captured all the fortified cities of Judah and oppressed them very much, as recorded in the Literature. They captured the walls of Jerusalem. There was nothing left except the Holy Temple and the Wall of the Courtyard. The inhabitants were eating the flesh of their sons and daughters [as prophesied, 28:53]. Then was fulfilled in them,
“YE SHALL BE PLUCKED FROM OFF THE LAND” [28:63].
They were then taken into captivity by the Romans who took them back to Rome. They were also taken captive by other peoples [who had come with the Romans] from Greece, Egypt, Aram (Syria), and numerous others. Thus was fulfilled,
“AND THE L-RD SHALL SCATTER THEE AMONG ALL PEOPLE[S]” [28:64]. And also,
“AND THY LIFE SHALL HANG IN DOUBT BEFORE THEE” [28:66]:
This was fulfilled due to our fear in exile of the Gentiles with their constant decrees against us [i.e. against the Jewish people and Jewish religion]. It also indicates past generations when the Second Temple was destroyed and the Gentiles were attempting to exterminate the Jews altogether . This is connected with what it says straight afterwards,
“AND THE L-RD SHALL BRING THEE INTO EGYPT AGAIN WITH SHIPS [where they were sold as slaves]” [28:68].
Nachmanides goes on to explain how other verses concerning the Jews in exile were also fulfilled, such as:
“AND YET FOR ALL THAT, WHEN THEY BE IN THE LAND OF THEIR ENEMIES, I WILL NOT CAST THEM AWAY, NEITHER WILL I ABHOR THEM, TO DESTROY THEM UTTERLY, AND TO BREAK MY COVENANT WITH THEM: FOR I AM THE L-RD THEIR G-D.
“BUT I WILL FOR THEIR SAKES REMEMBER THE COVENANT OF THEIR ANCESTORS, WHOM I BROUGHT FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT IN THE SIGHT OF THE HEATHEN, THAT I MIGHT BE THEIR G-D: I AM THE L-RD” [Leviticus 26:44-45] .
Let us remember that:
At the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, 1,100,000 Jews were killed and 97,000 taken into slavery and captivity. In 115 CE the Jews rebelled in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Cyrene (Libya) and Cyprus. Several hundreds of thousands of Jews were killed. In 132-35 CE the Bar Kochba rebellion ended with the death of 500,000 Jews, or much more; thousands were sold into slavery or taken into captivity. After that the Jews were scattered all over the world. They were despised and persecuted and severely oppressed for generation after generation and from one country to another. Even so, it was not all darkness: Compared to their neighbors around them, the Jews were usually in better health, had a better family life, a vigorous religious and intellectual existence, and often were more prosperous. The peoples around them benefited from their presence but were usually not thankful for it. Not all the curses necessarily came to pass regularly, but a good portion of them did and were felt by Judah. The Lost Ten Tribes had a different obligation that they fulfilled to a degree in the past. If the Lost Ten tribes do not continue to act as they should or do not neet change in the way and time they are supposed to, then they too are in danger of the curses:
[Deuteronomy 28:37] AND THOU SHALT BECOME AN ASTONISHMENT, A PROVERB, AND A BYWORD, AMONG ALL NATIONS WHITHER THE L-RD SHALL LEAD THEE.
The passage goes on to speak of threatened agricultural disaster if things are not corrected [28:38-40].
[Deuteronomy 28:41] THOU SHALT BEGET SONS AND DAUGHTERS, BUT THOU SHALT NOT ENJOY THEM; FOR THEY SHALL GO INTO CAPTIVITY.
An enormous number of Jewish children were taken into captivity throughout the centuries up unto now. Most of them lost all knowledge of their origins. Many of their descendants often experience an inexplicable drawing towards the Jews and wish to identify with them. Some are interested in the subject of the Lost Ten Tribes and are active in the organization “Brit-Am” that is concerned with this field.
[Deuteronomy 28:43] THE STRANGER THAT IS WITHIN THEE SHALL GET UP ABOVE THEE VERY HIGH; AND THOU SHALT COME DOWN VERY LOW.
This was partially fulfilled when Herod took control of Judea. Herod had an Idumean father and an Arab mother. He enforced his control with the help of the Romans, his own Idumean people, and sundry foreigners.
[Deuteronomy 28:49] THE L-RD SHALL BRING A NATION AGAINST THEE FROM FAR, FROM THE END OF THE EARTH, AS SWIFT AS THE EAGLE FLIETH; ANATION WHOSE TONGUE THOU SHALT NOT UNDERSTAND;
<<FROM FAR, FROM THE END OF THE EARTH>>: The Romans came from Italy bringing with them German and other mercenaries. This was considered in those days as coming from a great distance.
<<THE END OF THE EARTH>>: This term also applies in the Bible to geography extremities. Britain was one place termed the “end of the earth”. The Lost Ten Tribes will return from “end(s) of the earth” [Deuteronomy 33:13, Isaiah 41:8-9, 43:6, 49:6].
Similarly, the Romans when they destroyed Judah drew their manpower from non-British armies that were stationed in Britain, at “the end of the earth” as occupation forces. In 66 CE the Emperor Nero had ordered Vespasian from his post in southern Britain to travel to Jerusalem to put down the rebellion when the city and the Temple were destroyed. Hadrian in 135 CE attempted to suppress another Jewish revolt. His Roman legions were defeated and he suffered very heavy losses at first. Hadrian sent to Britain for General Severus to travel to Judea to put down the rebellion and he came at the head of his “eagle” legions from the “end of the earth”. These legions were often manned by German and other soldiers in Roman employ.
<<AS SWIFT AS THE EAGLE FLIETH>>: The symbol of the Roman legions was an eagle.
The enemy will show no mercy to anyone [28:50]. He will destroy everything [28:51], and besiege all your towns and cities [28:52]. Some people will become so maddened by hunger that they will eat the flesh of their own offspring [28:53]. This happened.
[Deuteronomy 28:64] AND THE L-RD SHALL SCATTER THEE AMONG ALL PEOPLE, FROM THE ONE END OF THE EARTH EVEN UNTO THE OTHER; AND THERETHOU SHALT SERVE OTHER G-DS, WHICH NEITHER THOU NOR THY FATHERS HAVE KNOWN, EVEN WOOD AND STONE.
The Jews were to be scattered everywhere. They did not however usually practise idolatry in their places of dispersion though they had done so before it. Nevertheless they had to honor the religions of others and be subservient to the worshippers of other gods. On a spiritual level the
effects of this enforced semi-conscious obeisance was the same as worshipping foreign idols (see the Aramaic Translation of Onkelos). They were to be afraid and live in horror with no surety of existence in their places of exile [28:65-66]. This also happened.
[Deuteronomy 28:67] IN THE MORNING THOU SHALT SAY, WOULD G-D IT WERE EVEN! AND AT EVEN THOU SHALT SAY, WOULD G-D IT WERE MORNING! FOR THE FEAR OF THINE HEART WHEREWITH THOU SHALT FEAR, AND FOR THE SIGHT OF THINE EYES WHICH THOU SHALT SEE.
[Deuteronomy 28:68] AND THE L-RD SHALL BRING THEE INTO EGYPT AGAIN WITH SHIPS, BY THE WAY WHEREOF I SPAKE UNTO THEE, THOU SHALTSEE IT NO MORE AGAIN: AND THERE YE SHALL BE SOLD UNTO YOUR ENEMIES FOR BONDMEN AND BONDWOMEN, AND NO MAN SHALL BUY YOU.
This happened to the Jews of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem in the time of the Romans. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 CE and most of the poulation enslaved and exiled. There was another revolt in 115 led by Bar Kochba, and still another in 130 CE, with similar results. Slaves were brought to Gaza, taken in ships to Egypt and there sold at give-away prices. There were more slaves available than were wanted.
Finally, the people are reminded about: How G-d gave them the covenant and commandments [29:1]; all the miracles that were done for them [29:2-3]; how they were looked after for forty years in the wilderness and all their needs met [29:5] and their enemies defeated and part of the land conquered, inherited and apportioned to THE REUBENITES, AND TO THE GADITES, AND TO THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH [29:8].
[Deuteronomy 29:9] KEEP THEREFORE THE WORDS OF THIS COVENANT, AND DO THEM, THAT YE MAY PROSPER IN ALL THAT YE DO.
The message is that in the same way that G-d can punish us He will also bless us if we just try to do His will.
The Uniquely Individual Duty of Each Tribe
[Deuteronomy 29:10] YE STAND THIS DAY ALL OF YOU BEFORE THE L-RD YOUR G-D; YOUR CAPTAINS OF YOUR TRIBES, YOUR ELDERS, AND YOUR OFFICERS, WITH ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL,
Commentary of the “Natziv” (Naphtali Zvi Berlin – an important 19th century Rabbi in Russia whose opinion is still greatly respected) in free translation:
"YOUR CAPTAINS OF YOUR TRIBES": The expression ‘of your tribes’ would appear to be superfluous...rather it comes to teach us that each tribe and its heads are not judged the same way as the others. Each tribe is judged according to its own nature and according to that quality it was recognized to be most adherent to. Each tribe is judged by [the extent of its adherence to or] deviation from its own special characteristic. This is similar to Amos:
"THUS SAITH THE L-RD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF JUDAH, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY HAVE DESPISED THE LAW OF THE L-RD, AND HAVE NOT KEPT HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND THEIR LIES CAUSED THEM TO ERR, AFTER THE WHICH THEIR FATHERS HAVE WALKED [Amos 2:4].
"THUS SAITH THE L-RD; FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF ISRAEL, AND FOR FOUR, I WILL NOT TURN AWAY THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF; BECAUSE THEY SOLD THE RIGHTEOUS FOR SILVER, AND THE POOR FOR A PAIR OF SHOES [Amos 2:6]:
"The main judgment against Judah is because they departed from their good path of keeping HIS commandments, meaning the qualities of the Torah. It is an honor for the Written Law that it be kept very strictly. When Judah departed from the good path it was as if they despised the Torah. This did not apply to the [other] tribes of Israel who had never been really strict about learning the Torah. On the contrary, their main characteristic was kindness [empathy] between a man and his fellow. The main judgment against the [northern Ten] Tribes is because they deviated from the quality of social empathy and sold “THE POOR FOR A PAIR OF SHOES”.
Note the principles enunciated by the Natziv and how important they are for Brit-Am studies:
*Each tribe has its own peculiar characteristics and meritorious traits of its own. It is expected to adhere to these natural inclinations. If it deviates from its own tribal nature it is liable to be punished.
*Not every tribe is judged in the same way. This also applies to individuals.
*Judah is expected to keep the Law and will be punished if it does not.
*The other tribes were less involved with the Law BUT they were connected to the characteristic of social justice.
[Deuteronomy 29:11] YOUR LITTLE ONES, YOUR WIVES, AND THY STRANGER THAT IS IN THY CAMP, FROM THE HEWER OF THY WOOD UNTO THE DRAWER OFTHY WATER:
"THY STRANGER THAT IS IN THY CAMP": From the very beginning they had people of foreign non-Israelite origin with them. These had the same rights and the same obligations as anyone else. Each stranger will be counted as belonging to the tribe he dwells amongst, see Ezekiel 47:22-23.
[Deuteronomy 29:12] THAT THOU SHOULDEST ENTER INTO COVENANT WITH THE L-RD THY G-D, AND INTO HIS OATH, WHICH THE L-RD THY G-D MAKETH WITH THEE THIS DAY:
“Covenant”, says [Brit-Am co-founder] Rabbi Feld, means the strengthening of an existing agreement.
[Deuteronomy 29:13] THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH THEE TODAY FOR A PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF, AND THAT HE MAY BE UNTO THEE A G-D, AS HE HATH SAID UNTO THEE, AND AS HE HATH SWORN UNTO THY FATHERS, TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC, AND TO JACOB.
The people of Israel belong to G-d Almighty.
[Deuteronomy 29:14] NEITHER WITH YOU ONLY DO I MAKE THIS COVENANT AND THIS OATH;
We have an obligation beyond ourselves.
[Deuteronomy 29:15] BUT WITH HIM THAT STANDETH HERE WITH US THIS DAY BEFORE THE L-RD OUR G-D, AND ALSO WITH HIM THAT IS NOT HEREWITH US THIS DAY:
According to tradition (Midrash Tanchuma), the souls were present of all those who were destined to accept the Torah, whether by birth or by conversion. The Covenant was being made with those who were physically there then and with those who were not, but eventually would be, part of the people.
[Deuteronomy 29:16] (FOR YE KNOW HOW WE HAVE DWELT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT; AND HOW WE CAME THROUGH THE NATIONS WHICH YE PASSED BY;
We were slaves in Egypt. Other peoples would not accept us. Jews and “Anglo-Saxons” are disliked without justification by most peoples of the earth. Even in their own countries “Angles” (Anglo-Saxons) often experience hatred and discrimination from foreigners who dwell among them.
[Deuteronomy 29:17] AND YE HAVE SEEN THEIR ABOMINATIONS, AND THEIR IDOLS, WOOD AND STONE, SILVER AND GOLD, WHICH WERE AMONG THEM:
They were all idolaters and in a sense still are. And so are we –in some ways.
[Deuteronomy 29:18] LEST THERE SHOULD BE AMONG YOU MAN, OR WOMAN, OR FAMILY, OR TRIBE, WHOSE HEART TURNETH AWAY THIS DAY FROM THE L-RD OUR G-D, TO GO AND SERVE THE G-DS OF THESE NATIONS; LEST THERE SHOULD BE AMONG YOU A ROOT THAT BEARETH GALL AND WORMWOOD;
<<OR TRIBE>>: The possibility existed of a whole tribe departing from the straight and narrow.
[Deuteronomy 29:19] AND IT COME TO PASS, WHEN HE HEARETH THE WORDS OF THIS CURSE, THAT HE BLESS HIMSELF IN HIS HEART, SAYING, I SHALL HAVE PEACE, THOUGH I WALK IN THE IMAGINATION OF MINE HEART, TO ADD DRUNKENNESS TO THIRST:
Whenever we sin, we say to ourselves that somehow we will escape whatever punishment is entailed.
[Deuteronomy 29:20] THE L-RD WILL NOT SPARE HIM, BUT THEN THE ANGER OF THE L-RD AND HIS JEALOUSY SHALL SMOKE AGAINST THAT MAN, AND ALL THE CURSES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK SHALL LIE UPON HIM, AND THE L-RD SHALL BLOT OUT HIS NAME FROM UNDER HEAVEN.
[Deuteronomy 29:21] AND THE L-RD SHALL SEPARATE HIM UNTO EVIL OUT OF ALL THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, ACCORDING TO ALL THE CURSES OF THE COVENANT THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK OF THE LAW:
[Deuteronomy 29:22] SO THAT THE GENERATION TO COME OF YOUR CHILDREN THAT SHALL RISE UP AFTER YOU, AND THE STRANGER THAT SHALL COME FROM A FAR LAND, SHALL SAY, WHEN THEY SEE THE PLAGUES OF THAT LAND, AND THE SICKNESSES WHICH THE L-RD HATH LAID UPON IT;
The whole Land of Israel, before the Zionist return, was in desolation. Visitors were astonished as to how desolate the Land really was:
"..... A desolate country whose soil is rich enough, but is given over wholly to weeds... a silent mournful expanse.... a desolation.... we never saw a human being on the whole route.... hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country."
(Mark Twain, 1867, "The Innocent Abroad" p. 361-362).
[Deuteronomy 29:23] AND THAT THE WHOLE LAND THEREOF IS BRIMSTONE, AND SALT, AND BURNING, THAT IT IS NOT SOWN, NOR BEARETH, NOR ANY GRASS GROWETH THEREIN, LIKE THE OVERTHROW OF SODOM, AND GOMORRAH, ADMAH, AND ZEBOIM, WHICH THE L-RD OVERTHREW IN HIS ANGER, AND IN HIS WRATH:
[Deuteronomy 29:27] AND THE ANGER OF THE L-RD WAS KINDLED AGAINST THIS LAND, TO BRING UPON IT ALL THE CURSES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK:
The Land of Palestine was utterly desolate, before the Jews began to return. The Talmud says that when you see the Land of Israel begin to once again bring forth its fruits bounteously know that the days of the Messaiah are at hand. This is happening today. Many of the Arabs in the Land of Israel (who call themselves “Palestinians”) are descended from Muslim newcomers who two or three generations ago came from North Africa, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Bosnia, etc. These newcomers flooded the country looking for a living when the British and Jews began to build the place up.
The Tribes Were to be Exiled to The “New World”!
[Deuteronomy 29:28] AND THE L-RD ROOTED THEM OUT OF THEIR LAND IN ANGER, AND IN WRATH, AND IN GREAT INDIGNATION, AND CAST THEM INTO ANOTHER LAND, AS IT IS THIS DAY.
<<INTO ANOTHER LAND>>: In Hebrew is a translation from “Erets Acheret” which can also mean “THE NEW WORLD” an expression that was applied to AMERICA!
The verse says if Israel did not keep the commandments they would be cast out into an “Eretz Acheret”, which is translatable from the Hebrew as meaning both “another land” (Deuteronomy 29;28) and/or a “New World”. The Mishna (Sanhedrin 10) says that this Biblical Prophecy refers to the Lost Ten Tribes who were destined to remain in “Eretz Acheret” until close to the End Times. The American hemisphere when first revealed in our era to European eyes was known as “The New World”. To translate “New World ” into Hebrew one would say either “Olam Chadash” or “Eretz Acheret”. Of these two possibilities, “Olam Chadash” is inncorrect from the standpoint of Biblical Hebrew since it implies another newly created world. On the other hand, “Eretz Acheret” as well as meaning, “New World” or “Another Land” may also be understood to imply “A land that was (revealed) later” or “Newer” cf. “Acheret” in Hebrew connoting both “other” and “later”. Deuteronomy (29:28) and the Mishna, may be therefore understood as saying that the Lost Ten Tribes would be mainly in “The New World” (i.e. “Eretz Acheret”) after its discovery (or re‑discovery) by Europeans, since only then did the term become applicable.
LET US REPENT WHILE WE CAN!
[Deuteronomy 29:29] THE SECRET THINGS BELONG UNTO THE L-RD OUR G-D: BUT THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE REVEALED BELONG UNTO US AND TO OURCHILDREN FOR EVER, THAT WE MAY DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW.
<<THE SECRET THINGS>>: This, in my opinion, includes traumatic experiences that cause criminal behaviour. In many cases it is for the health of society that punishments be administered for wrongdoing even if the perpetrator had a bad childhood, etc. At the same time, quite a few people today are unjustly in prison or excessively under condemnation. The sicknesses and injustices of society that are known about are not “secret”. We will have to give an account as to why we did not attempt to correct them.
[Deuteronomy 30:1] AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN ALL THESE THINGS ARE COME UPON THEE, THE BLESSING AND THE CURSE, WHICH I HAVE SET BEFORE THEE, AND THOU SHALT CALL THEM TO MIND AMONG ALL THE NATIONS, WHITHER THE L-RD THY G-D HATH DRIVEN THEE,
[Deuteronomy 30:2] AND SHALT RETURN UNTO THE L-RD THY G-D, AND SHALT OBEY HIS VOICE ACCORDING TO ALL THAT I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, THOU AND THY CHILDREN, WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL;
We have to love G-d with all that we have and are to do the utmost of our ability, and beyond. This is easier said than done, but it is our duty.
[Deuteronomy 30:3] THAT THEN THE L-RD THY G-D WILL TURN THY CAPTIVITY, AND HAVE COMPASSION UPON THEE, AND WILL RETURN AND GATHER THEE FROM ALL THE NATIONS, WHITHER THE L-RD THY G-D HATH SCATTERED THEE.
If you turn to G-d, HE will help you. G-d will help our peoples and our tribes and through us all of mankind. Each one of us has a duty beyond that of loking after himself and his family. Many are dependent upon us. If we repent we will be multiplied beyond the blessing of our forefathers [30:5].
[Deuteronomy 30:6] AND THE L-RD THY G-D WILL CIRCUMCISE THINE HEART, AND THE HEART OF THY SEED, TO LOVE THE L-RD THY G-D WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, THAT THOU MAYEST LIVE.
We need the help of G-d Himself to serve Him properly. If we turn to Him, He will guide and help us.
[Deuteronomy 30:7] AND THE L-RD THY G-D WILL PUT ALL THESE CURSES UPON THINE ENEMIES, AND ON THEM THAT HATE THEE, WHICH PERSECUTED THEE.
Those that persecuted you will be punished.
The Ten Tribes had their obligations under the Law suspended. Unlike the Lost Ten Tribes Judah remained bound by Torah Law. We saw that in Judah the curses to Israelites who do not fulfil the Torah were fulfilled. Some of these curses were detailed in Deuteronomy 28. The Jews were exiled and their king who they had set over them [28:36] was taken away. Jerusalem was beseiged and the people suffered starved. They were taken to Egypt in ships and sold for slaves at give-away prices [28:68]. In their places of exile the Jews were frequently despised and persecuted as had been predicted [28:37]. Their children were taken away from them on numerous occasions [28:41]. The stranger who was amongst them took over from them [28:43] and the Roman eagle brought men from the ends of the earth to fight against them [28:49]. The details of the prophecy were fulfilled. In the future G-d promises that he will have mercy on the Jews and comfort them. The comforting of Judah will come to pass. The disasters came just as they were predicted to, and so too, will redemption come after them.
.."If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky way. properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and had done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"
Mark Twain.