Joshua 24:12

And I sent the hornet before you "Misique ante vos crabrones" Vulg.: "And I sent before зou hors fleeзis," Wyclif, or "flies with venemouse tongis." In Exodus 23:28, we find it predicted "And I will send hornetsbefore thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee;" and in Deuteronomy 7:20, "Moreover the Lord thy God will send the hornetamong them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed." Elsewhere the bees appear as an image of terrible foes. Comp. Deuteronomy 1:44, "And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah." Psalms 118:12, "They compassed me about like bees" Not only were bees exceedingly numerous in Palestine, but hornets in particular infested some parts of the country. Some would understand the word here in its literal sense, but it more probably expresses under a vivid image the consternation, with which Jehovah would inspire the enemies of the Israelites. Comp. Deuteronomy 2:25; Joshua 2:11.

not with thy sword Compare the same thought in Psalms 44:3.