Deuteronomy 32:42 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ver. 42. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, &c.— Houbigant very justly observes, that the order is here transposed. He translates it, my sword shall devour flesh: I will make mine arrows drunk with blood; with the blood of the slain and of the captives, with the flesh of the impious and the enemy. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, is a strong poetical figure, implying the abundance of blood which should be shed. Le Clerc translates it thus, they shall be captives from the head of the enemies' domination; i.e. from him who is invested with the supreme dominion; to make sense of which, to men of the lowest rank must be understood. This interpretation is in agreement with that of the LXX. It would be endless to recount the variety of conjectures on this text. Patrick, Jackson, Martin, Vitringa, Venema, Schultens, have all a different exposition. That given by Parkhurst, in his Lexicon, seems to us as probable as any. פרעות peraot, says he, the word here used, signifies locks of hair growing freely, without being cut or shaved; Ezekiel 44:20 as in this place; I will make mine arrows drunk with blood—with the blood of the slain and captives, (with blood coming) מראשׁ פרעות peraot merosh, from the hairy head, (or, as we say, from the head of hair,) of the enemy. Schultens in his Animad. Philolog. gives nearly the same interpretation.