Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 28:7

Your enemies who rise up against you: this seems to indicate that the enemies are attacking; so New Jerusalem Bible has “The enemies who attack you….” For a comment on enemies see 1.42.

The LORD will cause … to be defeated before you: that is, Yahweh will defeat them. Bible en français courant says “the LORD will give you victory over them,” and New Jerusalem Bible “Yahweh will defeat before your eyes.” The text may mean either that Yahweh will defeat the enemy by himself, or else that Yahweh will give the Israelites victory over them; the second meaning seems preferable.

They shall come … one way, and flee … seven ways: the enemy will attack as a disciplined body of troops marching together, but then will flee in disarray in all directions. Seven represents totality: “in all directions” (Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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