Deuteronomy 28:68
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Deuteronomy 28:68
68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
Chapter Context
Deuteronomy 28 is a covenant blessing and curse chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of righteousness, redemption, faith. Written during the end of the wilderness wandering (c. 1406 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Moses delivered these speeches as Israel prepared to enter a land filled with different Canaanite city-states.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-68: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Deuteronomy and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Deuteronomy 28:68
68 And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
Analysis
And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships—this reverses the Exodus, Israel's founding narrative. The Hebrew wĕhešîḇǝḵā YHWH miṣrayim bāʾŏniyyôṯ (וֶהֱשִׁיבְךָ יְהוָה מִצְרַיִם בָּאֳנִיּוֹת, 'and the LORD will return you to Egypt in ships') means literal return to slavery. By the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again references God's promise in Deuteronomy 17:16 that Israel would never return to Egypt. And there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you—so worthless that even as slaves, no one wants you.
This final curse epitomizes total reversal: from freedom to slavery, from Promised Land to Egypt, from God's treasured possession to rejected merchandise. 'With ships' may reference slave ships or deportation vessels. The phrase 'no man shall buy you' is devastating—valueless even as slaves. After the Bar Kokhba revolt (AD 135), Romans sold so many Jewish slaves that the market was glutted and prices collapsed—literal fulfillment.
Historical Context
After AD 70, Vespasian sold thousands of Jews as slaves. After Bar Kokhba (AD 135), Hadrian sold Jewish captives so cheaply at Mamre that the slave market crashed—buyers couldn't be found. Some were shipped to Egypt. This verse's specific fulfillment demonstrates divine authorship of Scripture.
Reflection
- How does returning to 'Egypt' symbolize the complete failure of covenant relationship?
- What does the worthlessness of Israel as slaves teach about the consequences of rejecting God?
- How does Christ's redemption price (His blood) contrast with Israel's worthlessness under curse?
Word Studies
- Lord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai) H3068 - The LORD / Lord
Cross-References
- References Lord: Deuteronomy 17:16, Exodus 20:2, Jeremiah 43:7, Hosea 8:13, 9:3
- References Egypt: Jeremiah 44:12
- Parallel theme: Nehemiah 5:8, Esther 7:4, Luke 21:24