John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And five of you shall chase an hundred , etc.] One man chase twenty; and an hundred of you put ten thousand to flight ; which, had it been in proportion to the other number, should have been two thousand, as in ( Deuteronomy 32:30); where there is a proportion observed; and Abendana observes, there are some that give the sense of it thus, an hundred of you, an hundred times five, that is, five hundred, and so it comes up to a right computation; but here it seems to be a certain number for an uncertain, and only a proverbial expression, signifying that a very few, under the blessing of divine Providence, should get the advantage over a large number, and oblige them to retire, and pursue them closely: instances we have of large bodies of the enemy being defeated by a small number of Israelites, ( Judges 7:21,22); and even many by a single person or two, ( 1 Samuel 14:13,14 2 Samuel 23:8-16); and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword ; (see Gill on “ Leviticus 26:7”).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - This chapter contains a general enforcement of all the laws given by Moses; by promises of reward in case of obedience, on the one hand; an threatenings of punishment for disobedience, on the other. While Israe maintained a national regard to God's worship, sabbaths, and sanctuary and did not turn aside to idolatry, the Lord engaged to continue to them temporal mercies and religious advantages. These great an precious promises, though they relate chiefly to the life which now is were typical of the spiritual blessings made sure by the covenant of grace to all believers, through Christ. 1. Plenty and abundance of the fruits of the earth. Every good and perfect gift must be expected from above, from the Father of lights. 2. Peace under the Divine protection Those dwell in safety, that dwell in God. 3. Victory and success in their wars. It is all one with the Lord to save by many or by few. 4 The increase of their people. The gospel church shall be fruitful. 5 The favour of God, which is the fountain of all Good. 6. Tokens of his presence in and by his ordinances. The way to have God's ordinance fixed among us, is to cleave closely to them. 7. The grace of the covenant. All covenant blessings are summed up in the covenan relation, I will be your God, and ye shall be my people; and they ar all grounded upon their redemption. Having purchased them, God woul own them, and never cast them off till they cast him off. (Le 26:14-39)
Original Hebrew ורדפו7291 מכם4480 חמשׁה2568 מאה3967 ומאה3967 מכם4480 רבבה7233 ירדפו7291 ונפלו5307 איביכם341 לפניכם6440 לחרב׃2719
