Charles Ellicott Commentary Deuteronomy 28:38-42

"Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather little in; for the locust shall consume it. Thou shalt plant vineyards and dress them, but thou shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather [the grapes]; for the worm shall eat them. Thou shalt have olive-trees throughout all thy borders, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast [its fruit]. Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be thine; for they shall go into captivity. All thy trees and the fruit of thy ground shall the locust possess." — Deuteronomy 28:38-42 (ASV)

These are contrary to Deuteronomy 28:11; and Deuteronomy 28:44 is contrary to Deuteronomy 28:12-13. From the order of the passage, it might seem that these particular troubles were to come upon Israel after their captivity. And perhaps it is not accidental that something very like a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 28:38-40 is found in Haggai 1:6-11. (Compare also Isaiah 5:10, Ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.)