(10) Ye purpose.--Literally, Ye are saying or proposing (2ch. 1:18).
To keep under.--Subdue, or reduce to bondmen, Genesis 1:28 (kabash).
Unto you.--Yourselves.
But are there not with you.--An abrupt question: Are there no trespasses at all with you yourselves? i.e., "Are you yourselves wholly guiltless, that your indignation was so hot against your brethren? (Genesis 20:11). Or, "Are there no trespasses with you only?" . . . Are you the only guiltless people, so that you are justified in these severities?" (Job 1:15). The reference in either case may be to the calves of Bethel and Dan.
Verse 10. - For bondmen and bondwomen unto you. The denunciation of Deuteronomy 28:68 may be instructively compared with the emphatic prohibition of Leviticus 25:46. The moral thread of ordinance that runs everywhere through the divinely established economy of the Old Testament Judaism should be devoutly observed. The verse, in the position of its words, furnishes an example of almost classical pattern: And now persons who are children of Judah and Jerusalem, ye are resolving within yourselves (literally, saying) to subdue into bondmen and bondwomen for yourselves.
28:1-27 The wicked reign of Ahaz in Judah. - Israel gained this victory because God was wroth with Judah, and made them the rod of his indignation. He reminds them of their own sins. It ill becomes sinners to be cruel. Could they hope for the mercy of God, if they neither showed mercy nor justice to their brethren? Let it be remembered, that every man is our neighbour, our brother, our fellow man, if not our fellow Christian. And no man who is acquainted with the word of God, need fear to maintain that slavery is against the law of love and the gospel of grace. Who can hold his brother in bondage, without breaking the rule of doing to others as he would they should do unto him? But when sinners are left to their own heart's lusts, they grow more desperate in wickedness. God commands them to release the prisoners, and they obeyed. The Lord brought Judah low. Those who will not humble themselves under the word of God, will justly be humbled by his judgments. It is often found, that wicked men themselves have no real affection for those that revolt to them, nor do they care to do them a kindness. This is that king Ahaz! that wretched man! Those are wicked and vile indeed, that are made worse by their afflictions, instead of being made better by them; who, in their distress, trespass yet more, and have their hearts more fully set in them to do evil. But no marvel that men's affections and devotions are misplaced, when they mistake the author of their trouble and of their help. The progress of wickedness and misery is often rapid; and it is awful to reflect upon a sinner's being driven away in his wickedness into the eternal world.
And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you,.... As seemed by taking and bringing captive such a number of them, contrary to the law, Leviticus 25:39.
but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God? for which they deserved to be chastised as well as their brethren the men of Judah, and might expect it, and especially if they used them in a barbarous manner, and contrary to the will of God.
To keep under.--Subdue, or reduce to bondmen, Genesis 1:28 (kabash).
Unto you.--Yourselves.
But are there not with you.--An abrupt question: Are there no trespasses at all with you yourselves? i.e., "Are you yourselves wholly guiltless, that your indignation was so hot against your brethren? (Genesis 20:11). Or, "Are there no trespasses with you only?" . . . Are you the only guiltless people, so that you are justified in these severities?" (Job 1:15). The reference in either case may be to the calves of Bethel and Dan.
but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God? for which they deserved to be chastised as well as their brethren the men of Judah, and might expect it, and especially if they used them in a barbarous manner, and contrary to the will of God.