Commento su Deuteronomio 28:18

In the blessings he mentioned first the fruit of thy body⁸⁷Above, Verse 4. and afterwards thy basket and thy kneading-trough⁸⁸Ibid., Verse 5. for the fruit of the body is the best and most beloved, but in the curses he delayed it [mentioning first thy basket and thy kneading-trough in Verse 17, and the fruit of thy body in Verse 18] because the punishment extends first to a man’s possessions,⁸⁹Vayikra Rabbah 17:4: “The Merciful One does not smite human life first.” and, if he does not repent, it reaches the fruit of his body. Similarly, in the blessings he mentioned first the smiting of the enemies⁹⁰Above, Verse 6. before the blessing in thy barns, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto,⁹¹Ibid., Verse 8. for triumph over the enemy is the honor and necessity for them in the conquest of the lands, and their dwelling safely among the peoples. And in the curses he mentioned first the diminishing in all that thou puttest thy hand unto to do⁹²Further, Verse 20. and delayed their being smitten before the enemies,⁹³Ibid., Verse 25. for this is the punishment that would reach them afterwards — and in the end they would be exiled.⁹⁴Ibid., Verse 68.