Deuteronomy 32:23

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

I will heap mischiefs on them; I will spend my arrows on them.

American King James Version (AKJV)

I will heap mischiefs on them; I will spend my arrows on them.

American Standard Version (ASV)

I will heap evils upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them:

Basic English Translation (BBE)

I will send a rain of troubles on them, my arrows will be showered on them.

Webster's Revision

I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend my arrows upon them.

World English Bible

"I will heap evils on them. I will spend my arrows on them.

English Revised Version (ERV)

I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them:

Clarke's Deuteronomy 32:23 Bible Commentary

I will spend mine arrows upon them - The judgments of God in general are termed the arrows of God, Job 6:4; Psalm 38:2, Psalm 38:3; Psalm 91:5; see also Ezekiel 5:16; Jeremiah 50:14; 2 Samuel 22:14, 2 Samuel 22:15. In this and the following verses, to the 28th inclusive, (Deuteronomy 32:23-28), God threatens this people with every species of calamity that could possibly fall upon man. How strange it is that, having this law continually in their hands, they should not discern those threatened judgments, and cleave to the Lord that they might be averted!

It was customary among the heathens to represent any judgment from their gods under the notion of arrows, especially a pestilence; and one of their greatest deities, Apollo, is ever represented as bearing a bow and quiver full of deadly arrows; so Homer, Il. i., ver. 43, where he represents him, in answer to the prayer of his priest Chryses, coming to smite the Greeks with the pestilence: -

Ὡς εφατ' ευχομενος· του δ' εκλυε Φοιβος Απολλων·

Βη δε κατ' Ουλυμποιο καρηνων χωομενος κηρ,

Τοξ' ωμοισιν εχων αμφηρεφεα τε φαρετρην. -

Ἑζετ' επειτ' απανευθε νεων· μετα δ' ιον ἑηκε·

Δεινη δε κλαγγη γενετ' αργυρεοιο βιοιο. κ. τ. λ.

"Thus Chryses pray'd; the favoring power attends,

And from Olympus' lofty tops descends.

Bent was his bow the Grecian hearts to wound;

Fierce as he moved, his silver shafts resound; -

The fleet in view, he twang'd his deadly' bow,

And hissing fly the feather'd fates below.

On mules and dogs the infection first began;

continued...

Wesley's Deuteronomy 32:23 Bible Commentary

32:23 Spend mine arrows - Even empty my quiver, and send upon them all my plagues, which, like arrows shot by a skilful and strong hand, shall speedily reach and certainly hit and mortally wound them.

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