Deu 28:26 | KD | STEP | Defeat in battle, the very opposite of the blessing promised in Deu 28:7. Israel should become לזעוה, “ a moving to and fro ,” i.e., so to speak, “a ball for all the kingdoms of the earth to play with” ( Schultz ). זעוה, here and at , is not a transposed and later form of זועה, which has a different meaning in , but the original uncontracted form, which was afterwards condensed into זועה; for this, and not זועה, is the way in which the Chethib should be read in ; ; ; , and , where this threat is repeated (vid., Ewald , §53, b .). The corpses of those who were slain by the foe should serve as food for the birds of prey and wild beasts - the greatest ignominy that could fall upon the dead, and therefore frequently held out as a threat against the ungodly ( ; ; 1Ki 14:11, etc.).

‏ Deuteronomy 28:26

Defeat in battle, the very opposite of the blessing promised in Deu 28:7. Israel should become לזעוה, “a moving to and fro,” i.e., so to speak, “a ball for all the kingdoms of the earth to play with” (Schultz). זעוה, here and at Eze 23:46, is not a transposed and later form of זועה, which has a different meaning in Isa 28:19, but the original uncontracted form, which was afterwards condensed into זועה; for this, and not זועה, is the way in which the Chethib should be read in Jer 15:4; Jer 24:9; Jer 29:18; Jer 34:17, and 2Ch 29:8, where this threat is repeated (vid., Ewald, §53, b.). The corpses of those who were slain by the foe should serve as food for the birds of prey and wild beasts - the greatest ignominy that could fall upon the dead, and therefore frequently held out as a threat against the ungodly (Jer 7:33; Jer 16:4; 1Ki 14:11, etc.).