(18)  The  blind.—"  He  that  is  in  the  dark  upon  any
matter,  when  one  deceives  him  with  evil  counsel
(Rashi).
(24)  That  smiteth  his  neighbour  seoretly. —
"  Spoken  of  a  backbiting  tongue  "  (Rashi).
(26)  Cursed  be  he  that  confirmeth  not  all  the
words  of  this  law  to  do  them.—'*  Here  he  sums
up  the  whole  Law,  all  of  it,  and  they  took  it  upon  them
with  a  curse  and  an  oath  "  (Rashi).  From  this  verse
St.  Paul  also  reasons  that  "as  many  as  are  of  the
works  of  the  law-are  under  a  curse."  For  no  man  can
do  all  of  them.  And  therefore  it  is  impossible  to
secure  the  blessing  of  Gerizim  except  thiH)ugh  Him
who  bare  the  curse  of  Ebal  "  Christ  hath  redeemed
us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for  us,
as  it  is  written,  cwrsed  is  every  one  thai  hangeth  on  a
<rec."  In  all  these  curses  the  verb  is  wanting.
"  Cursed  is  he,"  would  be  a  more  correct  translatioQ
in  modem  English.  These  curses  are  not  imprecations
so  much  as  declarations  of  fact.
72


The  Blessings


DEUTERONOMY,  XXVIII.
of  Obedience.
CHAPTEE  XXVni.— (DAnd  it  shaJl
come  to  pass,  'if  thou  shalt  hearken
diligently  unto  the  voice  of  the  Lord
thy  God,  to  observe  and  to  do  all  his
commandments  which  I  command  thee
this  day,  that  the  Lord  thy  God  will
set  thee  on  high  above  aU  nations  of
the  earth :  <^)  and  all  these  blessings
shall  come  on  thee,  and  overtake  thee,
if  thou  shalt  hearken  unto  the  voice  of


a  LeT.S8.8.
1   Or/  douah,  or.
kiuading  mrivA«.
XXVIIL


Sanctions  ov  thb  Law  in  Detjtebonomt.
The  Blbssino  and  the  Curse.
