And the Lord, he [it is] that doth go before
thee
The Word of the Lord, his Shechinah, according to the above
Targum, and so in the next clause; the same that brought Israel
out of Egypt, had gone before them in the wilderness, and now
would go before Joshua and them into the land of Canaan:
he will be with thee;
to guide and direct, to assist and strengthen, to protect and
defend, to give success to his arms, and victory over his
enemies:
he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee;
not fail to give him counsel and direction, to afford him
strength, and to fill him with courage, and to deliver his
enemies into his hands; nor forsake him till he had finished the
work he was to do, had made a complete conquest of the
Canaanites, and settled the people of Israel in their land:
fear not, neither be dismayed;
at the number and strength of the enemy, nor at any difficulties
that might lie in the way of finishing so great an undertaking,
since the Lord would be with him; see ( Romans 8:31 ) .