Deuteronomy 28:8

The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Thy storehouses.—The word is only found here and in Proverbs 3:9-10, “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” There is the same kind of contrast here which has been already pointed out in Deuteronomy 28:5. The “gathering in” to the barn, and the “putting forth” of the hand—the income and the expenditure—are alike blessed. This contrast is clear in the Hebrew words employed.

And he shall bless thee in the land.—Fixity of tenure in the Divine inheritance is promised here.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

28:1-14 This chapter is a very large exposition of two words, the blessing and the curse. They are real things and have real effects. The blessings are here put before the curses. God is slow to anger, but swift to show mercy. It is his delight to bless. It is better that we should be drawn to what is good by a child-like hope of God's favour, than that we be frightened to it by a slavish fear of his wrath. The blessing is promised, upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God. Let them keep up religion, the form and power of it, in their families and nation, then the providence of God would prosper all their outward concerns.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The "basket" or bag was a customary means in the East for carrying about whatever might be needed for personal uses (compare Deuteronomy 26:2; John 13:29).

The "store" is rather the kneading-trough Exodus 8:3; Exodus 12:34. The blessings here promised relate, it will be observed, to private and personal life: in Deuteronomy 28:7 those which are of a more public and national character are brought forward.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. flee before thee seven ways—that is, in various directions, as always happens in a rout.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Shall command, i.e. shall by his sovereign and powerful providence give it, even when it seems furthest from thee, and not likely to come to time without a word of command from God himself.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses,.... Barns, granaries, and cellar, where their corn, wine, and oil, were laid up; by preserving the corn from being devoured by vermin, and the casks of wine and oil from bursting and running out:

and in all thou settest thine hand unto; in all their manufactures, occupations, and trades, in which they were employed, and in the culture of their vines, olives, and other fruit trees:

and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee; with health and long life in it, and with an abundance of all good things, it being a land flowing with milk and honey.

Geneva Study Bible

The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine {g} hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(g) God will bless us, if we do our duty and are not idle.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. shall command] Heb. has the jussive, command; it is uncertain which we should read; upon thee, lit. with thee.

barns] Only here and Proverbs 3:10. Cp. above, Deuteronomy 15:10.

and he shall bless thee] LXX (except some cursives) omits.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - The effect of the blessing should be seen, not only in the supremacy of Israel over all opposition, but in the abundance of their possessions, in the success of their undertakings, and in the respect in which they should be held by all nations. Storehouses. The Hebrew word (אֲסָמִים), which occurs only here and in Proverbs 3:10, is properly thus rendered. It comes from a root which signifies to lay up. Deuteronomy 28:8

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

"May the Lord command the blessing with thee (put it at thy disposal) in thy barns (granaries, store-rooms) and in all thy business" ("to set the hand;" see Deuteronomy 12:7).