John Gill Commentary Deuteronomy 28:50

"a nation of fierce countenance, that shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young," — Deuteronomy 28:50 (ASV)

A nation of fierce countenance
Or, "strong of face" ^F25 ; which aptly describes the old Romans, who are always represented as such; and whereas it is said of the Chaldeans, that they were a nation dreadful and terrible, (Habakkuk 1:7); the same is said of the fourth beast, or Roman empire, (Daniel 7:7); who were a terror to all the world:

which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the
young :
cruel, unmerciful, and uncompassionate, to persons of whatsoever age or sex; which, as it was the character of the Chaldeans, (2 Chronicles 36:17); so of the Romans, who especially showed no mercy to the Jews, as Josephus ^F26, who was an eyewitness, testifies.

The Romans (says he) showed no mercy to any age, out of hatred to the nation (of the Jews), and in remembrance of the injuries done to Cestius;'' one of their governors, when among them. And in another place he says ^F1, ``the Romans, remembering what they suffered in the siege, spared none, and showed no mercy.''

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FOOTNOTES:

• F25: (Mynp ze) "fortem faciebus", Montanus; "robustam facie", Vatablus.
• F26: De Bello Jud. l. 3. c. 7. sect. 1.
• F1: Ibid. sect. 34.