And Overtake You

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Degel Machaneh Ephaim, Parshas Ki Savo:

And these blessings will come upon you and overtake you… (Devarim 28:2)

What is the significance of the redundant phrase, "these blessings will come upon you and overtake you"? Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to say, "you will reach and attain these blessings"? People are shortsighted. They fail to discern what is beneficial to them, and often they will run away from true blessings. That is what David Hamelech had in mind when he said, "May only goodness and kindness pursue me." (Tehillim 23:6). He meant to say, "Many times I don't pursue goodness and kindness. In my folly I even try to elude them because I fail to recognize them for what they are. Therefore I pray that goodness and kindness may pursue me and overtake me." This too is implied in the above-mentioned verse, "…these blessings will come upon you and overtake you…" Even if in your ignorance you try to avoid these blessings, they will run after you and reach you.