Were their Black Hebrews mention in Deuteronomy 28 :68 ?

Does Deuteronomy 28:68 prove that the original Israelites were black?

What does Deuteronomy 28:68 mean? Read commentary on this popular Bible verse and understand the real meaning behind God's Word using the Heritage Edition of the Holy Bible.

“And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.”

Deuteronomy 28:68 is a verse with profound significance within the larger context of God’s covenant with the Israelites. Let’s explore its meaning:

"And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you."

In this verse, we encounter a vivid and sobering description of the consequences of disobedience and the severity of God’s judgment. Here are the key points:

Return to Egypt: The mention of returning to Egypt is symbolic. Just as the Exodus from Egypt marked the birth of the Israelite nation into its covenant relationship with God, the return to Egypt signifies their spiritual death and abandonment due to disobedience.

Mode of Conveyance: The phrase “with ships” emphasizes the contrast between the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea during the Exodus (without ships) and the future return to Egypt (with ships). This return would not be triumphant but rather a descent into bondage.

Bondage and Slavery: The Israelites would be sold into slavery by their enemies. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled during various periods:

After Jerusalem’s fall to Titus, Jews were sent to work in mines in Egypt.

Following the Roman conquest, many Jews were transported to Egypt and sold as slaves.

Despite being offered for sale, there would be no buyers, signifying their despised state.

Deuteronomy 28:68 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the faithfulness of God’s warnings. It underscores the importance of obedience and fidelity to the covenant.

How does this verse relate to historical events?

Deuteronomy 28:68 has historical significance and has been interpreted in various ways. Let’s explore some of the connections to historical events:

The Babylonian Exile (586 BCE):

During the Babylonian conquest of Judah, many Israelites were forcibly taken into exile in Babylon. They were transported there, not by ships, but by land. However, this event marked a significant period of captivity and separation from their homeland.

While not a direct fulfillment of the verse, the concept of exile and bondage resonates with the broader theme of disobedience leading to consequences.

The Roman Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE):

After the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, many Jews were captured and enslaved by the Romans.

Some Jewish captives were indeed transported by ships to Egypt, where they faced servitude and hardship.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade:

Some interpreters associate Deuteronomy 28:68 with the transatlantic slave trade, which began in the 16th century.
African slaves were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, often in horrific conditions aboard ships.

While this interpretation is not universally accepted, it highlights the enduring impact of the verse on collective memory.

Symbolic Interpretations:

Beyond literal historical events, some scholars view this verse symbolically. Egypt represents a state of spiritual bondage, and the ships symbolize the means of transportation.

This verse comes at the end of a long list of consequences and curses for disobedience should the Israelites turn from the God who has saved and blessed them. The chapter begins thusly: “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.

All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” (Deut 28:1-2). It will be well indeed for the chosen people of God. They will be blessed, they will be fruitful, and they will be safe from their enemies, at the top of the list of all nations.

The message is that disobedience leads to separation from God and enslavement to sin.

But to whom much is given, much is required. The Israelites have seen mighty salvation and have been shown generous and miraculous provision since God led them out of Egypt. If after all this revelation, signs, and wonders the Israelites foolishly choose to turn to idols, worshiping what their hands have made, rather than God in heaven, Moses relays here that there will be severe consequences.

For Christians, who have been saved by the same mighty hand from the even greater oppressors, Satan, sin, our flesh, and even death, turning away from what we know to false gods and unbelief would lead to hell. Most orthodox Christians subscribe to the doctrine of eternal security, meaning, if you are truly saved, you will not fall away.

But because the local church is filled with nominal believers who do not truly believe, the warnings are a means of grace to draw us to God continually.

#1 “The Lord will send you back in ships to Egypt.

The grand finale of all the curses and consequences of the chosen people’s rejection of their Creator and Savior, this trip back to Egypt would be seen as the ultimate punishment, and as a statement from God that he wishes he had never saved them.

#2 “…on a journey I said you should never make again.”

God not only promised that they would never go back to Egypt again, but they were also warned to never go back on their own volition. They were never to go to Egypt for assistance of any kind. They were never to view current hardships and compare to the relative provision and security of being “kept” by their Egyptian slave masters.

To return to Egypt for any kind of help would be like the Christian turning back to his old ways of coping and living, after having accepted new life in Christ and the free gift of salvation.

#3 “There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves,”

The humiliation of being forced to offer themselves as slaves to the very people from whom they were rescued out of slavery would be doubled by the rejection of those people.

The book of Deuteronomy has the following structure of Moses' final four orations, collectively constitute a restatement of the israelite covenant first pronounced in Ex 19-23.

First Oration: Deut 1:6 – 4:43. Historical background.

Second Oration: Deut 4:44 – 26:19. The Law of the Ten Commandments expanded.

Third Oration: Deut 27:1 – 28:68. Blessings and Curses of the covenant.

Fourth Oration: Deut 29:1 – 30:20. Renewal of the Covenant.

The third oration consists of a series of blessings for keeping the covenant and a series of curses for not keeping the covenant.

The curses are not "threats" but simple statements of fact of what would happen if Israel abandoned God. They are equivalent to saying something like, "If people do not keep the law of the land, anarchy will erupt!" That is not a threat, it is a simple statement of sociological fact. Thus, they are not specific prophecies.

Verse 58 warns the people that if they do not carefully follow all the words of the law given to them by God, and if they do not revere the glorious and awesome name of the Lord their God, then their disobedience would be punished.

Deuteronomy 28:68 has been associated with various historical contexts, both literal and symbolic. Its themes of consequences, captivity, and divine judgment continue to resonate throughout history.