Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Therefore the curse is poured upon us - It is probable that he alludes here to the punishment of certain criminals by pouring melted metal upon them; therefore he uses the word תתך tittach . it is poured out, like melted metal, for this is the proper meaning of the root נתך nathach .

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Yea, all Israel have transgressed … - Embracing not only the tribe and the kingdom of Judah, but the whole nation. The calamity, therefore, had come upon them all.

Even by departing - By departing from thy commandments; or by rebellion against thee.

That they might not obey thy voice - By refusing to obey thy voice, or thy commands.

Therefore the curse is poured upon us - As rain descends, or as water is poured out. The “curse” here refers to what was so solemnly threatened by Moses in case the nation did not obey God. See Deuteronomy 28:15-68.

And the oath that is written in the law of Moses … - The word here rendered “oath” (שׁבועה shebû‛âh ) means, properly, a “swearing,” or “an oath;” and hence, either an oath of promise as in a covenant, or an oath of cursing or imprecation - that is, a curse. It is evidently used in the latter sense here. See Gesenius, “Lexicon” Daniel saw clearly that the evils which had been threatened by Moses Deuteronomy 28 had actually come upon the nation, and he as clearly saw that the cause of all these calamities was thai which Moses had specified. He, therefore, frankly and penitently confessed these sins in the name of the whole people, and earnestly supplicated for mercy.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law,.... Even God's professing people, on whom he had bestowed distinguishing favours and blessings, and gave them such a law as no other people had, and yet they transgressed it; not a few, or the greatest part only, but the whole body of them: and indeed there is no man that lives without sin, or the transgression of the law, in thought, word, or deeds; no, not a just man; but these transgressed the law in a very heinous manner, both the first as well as the second table of it, committing idolatry, and all manner of impiety, in which they continued:

even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; by departing from the law, and the precepts of it; from God and his worship; from the temple of God, and the service of it; and from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin: it seems to have some respect to the separation of the ten tribes under Jeroboam, who set up the calves at Dan and Bethel, that the people might not obey the voice of the Lord, in going to worship at the solemn feasts in Jerusalem:

therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God: that is, the just punishment of their sins was inflicted on them; or the curse the law threatened the transgressors of it with was come upon them in its large extent, and overflowed them like a flood; which God swore he would bring upon them, if they transgressed his law; or which they by an oath imprecated and pronounced upon themselves, should they not hearken to it, but transgress and disobey it:

because we have sinned against him; and therefore this curse was not a causeless one; sin, the transgression of the law, was the cause of it.

Geneva Study Bible

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the ⁱ curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

(i) As in (Deuteronomy 27:15), or the curse confirmed by an oath.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

all — (Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:12).

the curse  …  and  …  oath  …  in  …  law — the curse against Israel, if disobedient, which God ratified by oath (Leviticus 26:14-39; Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Deuteronomy 29:1-29).

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Daniel 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

Ver. 11. Yea, all Israel.] There is a general defection; the whole body of Israel hath deeply revolted, a rabble of rebels have taken up arms against heaven, even a giant-like generation.

Therefore the curse.] Confirmed by oath, by adjuration, and execration.

Is poured upon us.] As by whole pailfuls. The Vulgate hath it, Stillavit super nos maledictio, The curse hath dropped upon us. There may be much poison in little drops howsoever.

Because we have sinned against him.] This he hath never done with, but still holdeth his finger on this sore, as his greatest grievance.

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

Daniel 9:11. By departing, &c.— By departing, so, as not to obey, &c.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

1. When sin is epidemical, it is sad and fatal to a nation, as in Psalms 14:3 Romans 3:12: so a deluge of sin brought a deluge of judgment, Genesis 6:13,17.

2. This makes the gap great, and leaves none to stand in it. Then the curse comes upon a people, i.e. the punishment of the breach of God’s law, Jeremiah 42:18 44:12. This,

1. Shows the holiness of God’s law.

2. It shows the sinfulness and heinousness of sin, the breach of it.

3. It shows the necessity and excellency of Jesus Christ, who was sent of God to bless us, in freeing us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

“Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even turning aside that they should not obey your voice. Therefore has the curse been poured out on us, and the oath that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God. For we have sinned against him.”

Daniel points back to the written Law. Remember his reference to Deuteronomy earlier. They have broken God’s Law. And they have also refused to listen to the voice of God through His prophets. That is why they have been cursed, as indeed God had warned them that they would be (Jeremiah 44:22; Deuteronomy 27:26; Deuteronomy 29:20; and in detail Deuteronomy 28:15 onwards; Leviticus 26:14 onwards).

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Fallen, by drops, (stillavit. Deuteronomy xxvii. 13. &c.) (Haydock) like an inundation.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

transgressed. Hebrew. "abar. App-44.

therefore the curse is, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:14, &c. Deuteronomy 27:15, &c.; Daniel 28:15, &c; Daniel 29:20; Daniel 30:17, Daniel 30:18; Daniel 31:17; Daniel 32:19).

is poured upon = hath come pouring upon.

Moses the servant of God. See note on 1 Chronicles 6:49. Nehemiah 10:29. App-92.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

Yea, all Israel have transgressed - "all" (Psalms 14:3 ; Romans 3:12).

Therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law - the curse against Israel, if disobedient, which God ratified by oath (Leviticus 26:14-39; Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Deuteronomy 29:1-29).

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) The curse.—The passages in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, to which Daniel refers, had already been noticed by Isaiah (Isaiah 1), as having received a partial fulfilment in his times. It remains for Daniel to realise the complete “pouring” out of the curse. It is poured out like a torrent of rain (see Exodus 9:33); as the fire melts the silver (Ezekiel 22:20-22), so does the curse cause the nation to melt away.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

all

2 Kings 17:18-23; Isaiah 1:4-6; Jeremiah 8:5-10; 9:26; Ezekiel 22:26-31

the curse

Leviticus 26:14-46; Deuteronomy 27:15-26; 28:15-68; 29:20-29; 30:17-19; 31:17,18; Deuteronomy 32:19-42

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:31 - sinned;  Deuteronomy 4:30 - all these;  Deuteronomy 8:20 - so shall ye perish;  Deuteronomy 27:14 - General;  Deuteronomy 29:27 - all the curses;  2 Kings 21:9 - they hearkened;  2 Kings 22:16 - all the words;  Ezra 9:7 - into the hand;  Nehemiah 1:7 - which thou;  Jeremiah 2:29 - ye all have;  Jeremiah 7:20 - Behold;  Jeremiah 26:6 - a curse;  Jeremiah 32:23 - therefore;  Jeremiah 40:3 - because;  Jeremiah 42:18 - As mine;  Jeremiah 44:23 - therefore;  Ezekiel 7:8 - pour;  Ezekiel 20:33 - surely;  Daniel 9:13 - As it is;  Zechariah 1:2 - Lord;  Zechariah 1:6 - did;  Zechariah 5:3 - the curse;  Zechariah 7:12 - therefore;  Zechariah 8:13 - a curse;  Malachi 4:6 - and smite;  Mark 12:3 - and sent;  1 John 3:4 - transgresseth;  Revelation 15:3 - the servant