Deuteronomy 28:23 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ver. 23. The heaven—shall be brass, and the earth—iron— A proverbial mode of speech, importing a grievous and general famine: that the heavens should yield no more rain than if they were brass, and the earth no more fruit than if it were iron. Maimonides observes, that the ancient Zabii taught the people to worship the planets, because the fruitfulness of the earth, health, and other blessings, depended upon their will and pleasure. In opposition to which, Moses teaches the Israelites, that the way to enjoy all these blessings was, to worship the Lord of heaven and earth, the only giver of rain and fruitful seasons.