Deuteronomy 29:28
And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Deuteronomy 29 records Moses' third address to Israel on the plains of Moab, just before entering Canaan. This covenant renewal ceremony occurred approximately 1406 BC, forty years after the exodus. Moses, knowing he would not enter the Promised Land, urgently warned the new generation about the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness.
The historical context includes recent memory of God's judgment on the wilderness generation for unbelief, the destruction of rebellious Israelites (Numbers 16), and the visible warning of nations God had already judged (the Amorites, Moabites, etc.). Moses' prophecy of exile must have seemed unthinkable to a people about to possess their inheritance, yet it proved tragically accurate.
Ancient Near Eastern treaties (suzerainty covenants) regularly concluded with curses against treaty violators, often invoking the gods to enforce these sanctions. Israel's covenant followed this pattern structurally but differed theologically—Yahweh Himself would execute judgment, not capricious deities. The phrase 'as it is this day' suggests later Israelites, experiencing exile, read these words with profound recognition. Archaeological evidence of Judah's destruction in 586 BC—burned cities, broken walls, destroyed temple—confirms the historical fulfillment of this warning. Yet even in exile, prophets like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel sustained hope of restoration, proving that God's judgment, though severe, was not final abandonment but redemptive discipline.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's willingness to judge His own covenant people challenge contemporary assumptions about divine love and grace?
- What patterns of persistent disobedience in our own lives or church might we be ignoring, despite God's clear warnings?
- How can we balance confidence in God's promises with appropriate fear of the consequences of unfaithfulness?
- In what ways did exile serve redemptive purposes in Israel's history, and how might God use discipline redemptively in our lives today?
- How does the historical fulfillment of this prophecy strengthen our trust in unfulfilled biblical prophecies about Christ's return and final judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day. This sobering verse warns of covenant judgment—specifically the threat of exile that would befall Israel for persistent disobedience. The Hebrew verb natash (נָתַשׁ, "rooted out") conveys violent uprooting, like a plant torn from the soil, emphasizing the totality and trauma of exile. This imagery powerfully contrasts with Israel being "planted" in the Promised Land (Exodus 15:17), showing how covenant violation reverses covenant blessing.
The threefold intensification—"anger," "wrath," and "great indignation"—underscores the severity of God's righteous response to covenant violation. This is not capricious fury but judicial indignation against persistent rebellion and idolatry. The phrase "cast them into another land" prophetically anticipates the Assyrian exile of the northern kingdom (722 BC) and the Babylonian captivity of Judah (586 BC). The concluding phrase "as it is this day" likely reflects later editorial awareness that this prophecy had been fulfilled, serving as historical testimony to God's faithfulness to both promises and warnings.
Theologically, this verse affirms several critical truths:
Yet even in judgment, God's redemptive purposes continue, as exile ultimately served to purify Israel from idolatry and prepare the way for Messiah's coming.