וְעָבַדְתָּ֣ אֶת־אֹיְבֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְשַׁלְּחֶ֤נּוּ יְהוָה֙ בָּ֔ךְ בְּרָעָ֧ב וּבְצָמָ֛א וּבְעֵירֹ֖ם וּבְחֹ֣סֶר כֹּ֑ל וְנָתַ֞ן עֹ֤ל בַּרְזֶל֙ עַל־צַוָּארֶ֔ךָ עַ֥ד הִשְׁמִיד֖וֹ אֹתָֽךְ׃
maka engkau akan menjadi hamba bagi musuh-musuhmu yang akan dikirim oleh Yang Mahakekal untuk melawan engkau, dalam kelaparan, dalam kehausan, dalam ketelanjangan, dan dalam kekurangan segala sesuatu; dan ia akan memasang kuk besi pada lehermu sampai ia memusnahkan engkau.
Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael
What is more, (Devarim 28:48) "And you shall serve your foes whom the L–rd sends against you."
Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael
When they do not do the will of the L-rd, their work is done by themselves. (Hence, the second verse.)
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Ib. b) R. Chanina b. Papa pointed out the following contradiction: "It is written (Hos. 2, 11.) And I shall take away my corn in its time. It is also written (Deu. 11, 14.) That thou mayest gather in thy corn and thy wine and thy oil. It is not difficult to reconcile [these two verses]. The latter refers to the time when Israel is doing the will of God, and the former refers to the time when Israel is not doing the will of God." Our Rabbis taught: That thou mayest gather in thine corn. (Ib.) Why is this commandment necessary? [Would not the people do it as a matter of course?] Because, it is written (Joshua, 1, 8.) This book of Torah shall not depart out of thy mouth. One may perhaps say that those words are meant literally [that a man must never cease studying], therefore it is written Thou shalt gather in the season, thy corn, thy wine and thy oil, conduct yourselves in regard to them as is the custom of the world." This is according to R. Ishmael; but R. Simon b. Jochai says: "How is it possible, if a man plows in the plowing season, sows in the sowing season, reaps in the harvest season, threshes in the threshing season, and winnows when there is a wind? What will become of the Torah? [For there will not remain any time to study]. "But said R. Simon b. Jochai, "when Israel is doing the will of God then their work is done through others, as is said (Is. 61, 5.) And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks. But when Israel is not performing the will of God, then their work is to be done by themselves, as it is said (Deu. 11, 14.) And thou shalt gather in thy corn in season; moreover the work of other people is done by Israel, as is said (Deu. 28, 48.) Thou shall serve thine enemies." Abaye said: "Many who conducted themselves according to the opinion of R. Ishmael succeeded, but many who conducted themselves according to the opinion of R. Simon b. Jochai were not successful." Raba [being the head of an academy] was in the habit of saying to the disciples: "I beg of you, do not come before me [to the academy] during the days of Nisan (in Spring) nor during the days of Tishrei (in Fall), in order that you may not have any trouble in supporting yourselves during the entire year." Rabba b. b. Chana in the name of R. Jochanan quotes R. Juda b. Elai: "Come and see the great difference between the former generations and the later ones; the former generations made the study of the Torah their regular engagement and their vocation a temporary profession, and both endured with them. But the later generations made the study of the Torah their temporary engagement and their vocation a regular profession and neither endured with them."