Exodus 23:27

27 I will send terror of me ahead of you, throwing into confusion all the people to whom you come; and I will make all your enemies turn their backs on you.

Exodus 23:27 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:27

And I will send my fear before thee
What should cause fear among the nations of the land of Canaan; either the hornets mentioned in the next verse as the explanative of this; or the fame of his mighty works, which he had done for Israel in Egypt, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness; which struck the inhabitants of Canaan with such a panic, that they were ready to faint and melt away, and lost all courage, ( Joshua 2:9-11 )

and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come;
that is, the greatest part of them:

and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee;
flee away, not being able to face them and stand a battle, or, however, not stand it long, but run and make their escape: "or I will give thee the neck of them" ^F16; cause them to submit, to lay down their necks and be trampled upon; an expression denoting their subjection, and an entire conquest of them, see ( Psalms 18:39 Psalms 18:40 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (Pre-yttn) "et dabo-cervicem", Pagninus, Montanus; "exponam tibi cervicem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "ponam ad te cervicem", Drusius.

Exodus 23:27 In-Context

25 "You are to serve ADONAI your God; and he will bless your food and water. I will take sickness away from among you.

26 In your land your women will not miscarry or be barren, and you will live out the full span of your lives.

27 I will send terror of me ahead of you, throwing into confusion all the people to whom you come; and I will make all your enemies turn their backs on you.

28 I will send hornets ahead of you to drive out the Hivi, Kena'ani and Hitti from before you.

29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, which would cause the land to become desolate and the wild animals too many for you.