John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 28:25

"Jehovah will cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies; thou shalt go out one way against them, and shalt flee seven ways before them: and thou shalt be tossed to and from among all the kingdoms of the earth." — Deuteronomy 28:25 (ASV)

The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies. What He had briefly threatened in His mention of “the sword,” He now more fully pursues: that they should be given up to the will of their enemies, so as to be indiscriminately slaughtered. We have previously seen that those who execute punishment on the transgressors of the Law are stirred up and armed by the just judgment of God. Moses does not now touch on that point, but merely declares that the enemies of the people should be their conquerors, should cruelly treat them and pursue them in their flight.

Moreover, in order that God’s judgment might be more conspicuous, He says that when they have gone out to battle by one way, i.e., with their army in regular order, they should return by seven ways, because, in the confusion of their flight, they would be dispersed in all directions. From this we gather that the bravery of men is in God’s power, so that He can make cowards of the boldest whenever He so pleases.

And we must bear in mind what we shall see elsewhere: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except God had sold them and had shut them up under their hand? (Deuteronomy 32:30). For this reason, God calls Himself the God of hosts, so that believers may live securely under His guardianship, while the wicked and the despisers of the Law should dread the slightest motion when He is angry with them.

Regarding what follows—that they should be “for ²⁴¹ a removing in all the kingdoms of the earth”—some take this to mean that they would be a laughing-stock, because we usually shake or move our heads by way of insult. Others, however, explain it as meaning that they would be wanderers and vagabonds in unknown places of exile. The first interpretation is the one I prefer. In Ezekiel²⁴² (Ezekiel 23:46), it is used for a tumultuous rout; and I am also inclined to understand it in this way: that whatever nations may assail them, they would be shaken by their slightest attacks.

²⁴¹ See Margin, A..V. “In commotionem.” — . “In commotionem.” — Lat. The first exposition, approved by . The first exposition, approved by C., is that of ., is that of S..M. and Malvenda, who refers to . and Malvenda, who refers to Psalm 21:8, and , and 44:15. See Poole’s Synopsis . See Poole’s Synopsis in loco..

²⁴² This reference is omitted altogether in Fr..