Verse 35 already mentioned lack of rain. Why does it now mention hunger?
Radak: There can be rain, but still hunger, like the verse continues, due to Shidafon, Yerakon or locusts.
What is "Shidafon"?
Rashi (Devarim 28:22): It is parched by the east-wind.
What is "Yerakon"?
Rashi: The grain does not grow on the stalk to make sheaves.
Rashi (Devarim 28:22): It dries and turns straw-yellow.
Why did he mention particularly these afflictions?
Malbim: These are the four harsh punishments mentioned in Yechezkel Perek 14 - sword, hunger, evil beasts and plague. This includes all kinds of evils found in the world; they are the Avos of all of them. They correspond to nature itself (hunger), man's nature that changed for evil (plague), beings with desire (evil beasts), and beings with choice (sword). We find (Devarim 32:24-25) "Mezei Ra'av u'Lechumei Reshef Shen Behemos..; mi'Chutz Teshakel Cherev", and so they are ordered in the Tochachah (curses) in Vayikra. Here, locusts correspond to evil beasts, and "his enemy" corresponds to the sword.
Why does it say "Ki Yatzar Lo Oyvo"? Is the enemy connected to the previous afflictions?
Radak: It means "Oh Ki" (or if
What is "b'Eretz She'arav"?
Radak: It is b'Artzo bi'Sha'arav - "v'Hetzar Lecha b'Chol She'recha" (Devarim 28:52).
Why did he say "Kol Nega v'Chol Machalah"?
Radak: Even though I requested for particular needs, so I say about every illness that a person will have.
Malbim: "Kol Nega" corresponds to all derivatives of three types of afflictions - hunger, evil beasts 1 and sword (refer to 8:37:4:1), "v'Chol Machalah" includes all derivatives of plague.
Surely texts that say 'plague' are mistaken. Right after this, he says that "v'Chol Machalah" includes all derivatives of plague! (PF)
