Exodus 23:22

22 But if you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, then I'll be an enemy to your enemies and fight those fighting you.

Exodus 23:22 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:22

But, if thou shall indeed obey his voice
Or "hearkening hearken", ^F14 to it attentively, listen to it, and diligently and constantly observe and obey in whatever he shall direct and order:

and do all that I speak;
by him; or whatsoever he had spoke, or was about to speak; for as yet all the laws and statutes were not delivered, especially those of the ceremonial kind:

then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine
adversaries;
which they should either meet with in their passage through the wilderness, or when they came into the land of Canaan; signifying hereby that he would protect them from them, subdue them under them, and give them victory over them, as that they should be utterly destroyed, and so way made for their possession of their land, as in the following words.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (emvt ewmv) "audiendo audieris", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius, Piscator.

Exodus 23:22 In-Context

20 I'm about to send a messenger in front of you to guard you on your way and to bring you to the place that I've made ready.

21 Pay attention to him and do as he says. Don't rebel against him. He won't forgive the things you do wrong because I am with him

22 But if you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, then I'll be an enemy to your enemies and fight those fighting you.

23 When my messenger goes in front of you and brings you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I wipe them out,

24 don't bow down to their gods, worship them, or do what they do. Instead, you should completely destroy them and smash their sacred stone pillars to bits.