Deuteronomy 28:60
Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.
The verse is part of the covenant curses Moses read to the assembled Israelites, warning that disobedience would bring adversity upon them. The specific curse is that all the diseases of Egypt, which Israel feared and dreaded, would be brought upon disobedient Israel and would cleave to them and remain with them. The curse comes if Israel will not observe to do all the words of the law written in the book so as to fear the glorious and fearful name of the Lord, transgressing God's commands and law.
The diseases belong to great, sore, and long-continued plagues and sicknesses leading to destruction, reduction to few in number, scattering among all peoples, a restless fearful life without assurance, and return to Egypt for bondage. Disease is no mystery and comes not by chance, but because sin breaks down the barriers God in His providence erected to preserve His people in health and holiness. Obedience to God's commandments was presented as protection from these diseases: diligently hearkening to His voice, doing right in His sight, hearing His commandments and keeping His statutes keeps them away, for the Lord is the healer, while persistent rebellion and uncontrolled appetite brought judgment and sickness.
Christ, leading Israel enshrouded in the pillar of cloud to preserve a people who keep God in remembrance, desires to keep under His sheltering wing of preservation all who will do His will and learn obedience, and by His power alone can cure the evils of the human heart. The chapter shows the Lord's promises to Israel were conditional on obedience, setting the curses that follow disobedience in contrast to the blessings promised for obedience. This conditional principle explains why the adult generation of the army that left Egypt was refused entry into the promised land, and is illustrated by Israel's defeat when the ark could not protect them while they profaned the commandments it contained, showing that prosperity and adversity depended on obedience to God's law.
Together with Deuteronomy 26 and Deuteronomy 27, Deuteronomy 28 is a plain statement of the blessings of obedience that expresses the principles of the law of God's kingdom in specific form so minds are not left in ignorance and uncertainty. It lays a never-ceasing obligation on all blessed with life and health and temporal and spiritual advantages. Its message has not grown weak with age but its claims are just as binding now and just as fresh in importance as His gifts are fresh and continual.