Deu 28:7 | KD | STEP | describe the influence and effect of the blessing upon all the circumstances and situations in which the nation might be placed: in , with reference ( a ) to the attitude of Israel towards its enemies ( ); ( b ) to its trade and handicraft ( ); ( c ) to its attitude towards all the nations of the earth ( , ). The optative forms, יתּן and יצו (in and ), are worthy of notice. They show that Moses not only proclaimed the blessing to the people, but desired it for them, because he knew that Israel would not always or perfectly fulfil the condition upon which it was to be bestowed. “ May the Lord be pleased to give thine enemies...smitten before thee ,” i.e., give them up to thee as smitten (לפני נתן, to give up before a person, to deliver up to him: cf. ), so that they shall come out against thee by one way, and flee from thee by seven ways, i.e., in wild dispersion (cf. ).

‏ Deuteronomy 28:7

Deu 28:7-14 describe the influence and effect of the blessing upon all the circumstances and situations in which the nation might be placed: in Deu 28:7-10, with reference (a) to the attitude of Israel towards its enemies (Deu 28:7); (b) to its trade and handicraft (Deu 28:8); (c) to its attitude towards all the nations of the earth (Deu 28:9, Deu 28:10). The optative forms, יתּן and יצו (in Deu 28:7 and Deu 28:8), are worthy of notice. They show that Moses not only proclaimed the blessing to the people, but desired it for them, because he knew that Israel would not always or perfectly fulfil the condition upon which it was to be bestowed. “May the Lord be pleased to give thine enemies...smitten before thee,” i.e., give them up to thee as smitten (לפני נתן, to give up before a person, to deliver up to him: cf. Deu 1:8), so that they shall come out against thee by one way, and flee from thee by seven ways, i.e., in wild dispersion (cf. Lev 26:7-8).