Exodus 23:28
And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to read "hornets" literally, but God's word often uses vivid imagery. Here, "hornets" likely represents a divinely-sent terror or plague that would demoralize the enemy, making their defeat less about Israel's might and more about God's direct intervention. This isn't just about conquering land; it's about God clearing the way through means that highlight His power and the enemy's fear.
This verse comes in the middle of God's detailed instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He's outlining the terms of His covenant, promising blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, and now He's detailing how He will help them conquer the powerful nations already living in Canaan. The promise of "hornets" serves as a divine assurance that He will actively disorient and drive out their enemies before the Israelites even have to face them in full battle.
Imagine an army being driven out not by swords and shields, but by... hornets? This verse uses a powerful image that sparks questions about how God truly fights for us.
The mention of 'hornets' in Exodus 23:28 is fascinating. While some scholars suggest it refers to literal swarms of insects, potent enough to cause panic and flight, others propose it's a figure of speech.
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Israel's conquest wasn't just about military might. God's promise here speaks to a deeper, more complete victory that goes beyond the battlefield.
The promise of God sending 'hornets' to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites highlights that victory over our enemies – whether external or internal – is a gift from God.
Understand the original words
tsirah · Hebrew Noun
Insects, specifically wasps or hornets, often used metaphorically or literally in Scripture as agents of divine judgment or removal of enemies from the Promised Land.
garash · Hebrew Verb
To clear out, cast out, or drive away; used in the context of God's sovereign removal of the inhabitants of Canaan to make room for Israel.
This passage echoes Exodus 23:28, stating that God will also send hornets to drive out the Hivites and Canaanites, highlighting this as a consistent divine strategy.
Joshua 24:12This verse provides historical context, explicitly stating that God 'sent hornets before you' which drove out the two Amorite kings, illustrating the literal effectiveness of this divine intervention.
This non-canonical but influential text interprets the 'hornets' literally, portraying them as a divine plague sent to punish the wicked and make way for the Israelites, reflecting a common understanding of the passage's intent.
This psalm uses similar imagery of overwhelming, encroaching enemies described as 'hornets,' suggesting that this concept was understood metaphorically for devastating, relentless attacks.
pulpitExodus 23:28: "And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee."
Verse 28. - And I will send hornets before thee. This is scarcely to be taken literally, since no actual plague of hornets is mentioned in the historical narrative. "Hornets" here, and in Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12, are probably plagues or troubles of any kind, divinely sent to break the power of the heathen nations, and render them an easier prey to the I…
ellicottExodus 23:28: "And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee."
(28) I will send hornets. —Heb., the hornet. Comp. Joshua 24:12 , where “the hornet” is said to have been sent. No doubt hornets might be so numerous as to become an intolerable plague, and induce a nation to quit its country and seek another (see Bochart, Hierozoic. iv. 13). But as we have no historical account of the kind in connection with the Canaanite rac…
It's easy to read "hornets" literally, but God's word often uses vivid imagery. Here, "hornets" likely represents a divinely-sent terror or plague that would demoralize the enemy, making their defeat less about Israel's might and more about God's direct intervention. This isn't just about conquering land; it's about God clearing the way through means that highlight His power and the enemy's fear.
This verse comes in the middle of God's detailed instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He's outlining the terms of His covenant, promising blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, and now He's detailing how He will help them conquer the powerful nations already living in Canaan. The promise of "hornets" serves as a divine assurance that He will actively disorient and drive out their enemies before the Israelites even have to face them in full battle.
This verse comes in the middle of God's detailed instructions to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He's outlining the terms of His covenant, promising blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, and now He's detailing how He will help them conquer the powerful nations already living in Canaan. The promise of "hornets" serves as a divine assurance that He will actively disorient and drive out their enemies before the Israelites even have to face them in full battle.
"And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you." — It's easy to read "hornets" literally, but God's word often uses vivid imagery. Here, "hornets" likely represents a divinely-sent terror or plague that would demoralize the enemy, making their defeat…
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