For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by
flight
As persons afraid of their enemies, of being pursued, overtaken,
and detained by them; privily or by stealth, like fugitives, as
the Oriental versions render it; in like manner as the Israelites
went out of Egypt: but it signifies, that they should go out
openly, boldly, quietly, and safely, and without fear of their
enemies; yea, their enemies rather being afraid of them. So the
witnesses, when they shall rise, will ascend to heaven in the
sight of their enemies; which will be followed with a great
slaughter of some, and the terror of others, ( Revelation
11:12 Revelation
11:13 ) : for the Lord will go before you, and the God
of Israel will be your
rearward;
the Lord will be their Captain, and will lead the van, so that
they shall follow in order, and without any tumult or fear; and
though they shall make all necessary dispatch, yet no more haste
than good speed; the Lord, going before, will check all
tumultuous and disorderly motions; and he also will bring up the
rear, so that they shall be in no fear of the enemy attacking
them behind, and where generally the weaker and more feeble part
are; but the Lord will be gathering them up, or closing them, as
the word F17 signifies; so that they shall be in
the utmost safety, and march out of Babylon with the greatest
ease and freedom, without any molestation or disturbance. The
allusion may be to the Lord's going before, and sometimes behind
Israel, in a pillar of fire and cloud by night and day, as they
passed through the wilderness.