Exodus 23:20-33

Exodus 23:20 E. Closing Discourse (Exodus 23:23 a, Exodus 23:27, and Exodus 23:31 b - Exodus 23:33 Rd). This passage is highly complex. The verses just noted bear marks of the school of D; they condemn pillare, which E approves (Exodus 24:4 and elsewhere); their warning tone is inconsistent with the dominant tone of promise; and they reflect the view of the Conquest as a clean sweep, which Rd expresses throughout Jos. E's Covenant Book has its epilogue (cf. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28) presenting God as the Guide and Guardian of His faithful people. While J regards the pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21) and the Ark (Numbers 10:23), if not Hobab (Numbers 10:31), as the instrument of the Divine guidance, E here promises the companionship of an angel, who is, however, equivalent to God, whose name is in Him (Exodus 23:21, cf. Genesis 24:7, etc.). The conception of God as manifested under the guise of an angel may be viewed as a preparation for the revelation of the Incarnate Son and the Indwelling Spirit. Abundance, health, fertility, long life, and national stability should follow loyalty to His leading (Exodus 23:25 d - Exodus 23:26). A plague of hornets should help in the conquest (Exodus 23:28), which should, however (Exodus 23:29 f.), be gradual (cf. Judges 1:19, etc.), till it reached the Euphrates (Exodus 23:31), as once happened under David and Solomon. In Exodus 23:31 b - Exodus 23:33 Rd, Israel, not God, is to drive out the Canaanites. Perhaps originally in E this epilogue followed the ratification of the covenant (Exodus 24:3) and the construction of the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 33:7).