Exodus 23:27

27 "I will 1send My terror ahead of you, and 2throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will 3make all your enemies turn their backs to 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 ) .


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 "But you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst.
26 "There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
27 "I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
28 "I will send hornets ahead of you so that they will drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites before you.
29 "I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Genesis 35:5; Exodus 15:16; Deuteronomy 2:25; Joshua 2:9
  • 2. Deuteronomy 7:23
  • 3. Psalms 18:40; Psalms 21:12
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