But if thou wilt go. — Rather, But go thyself; in contrast with the prohibition, “Let not the army of Israel go.”
Do it, be strong for the battle. — Compare 1 Chronicles 22:16 : “Arise! act!”
God shall make thee fall. — Before these words, the expression wĕlô’, “and not,” must have dropped out of the text. “Venture on the expedition by thyself. with a good courage,” says the prophet, “and God will not let thee stumble before the foe.”
For God hath power. — For there is strength in God, to help and to make to stumble. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 20:6; 1 Chronicles 29:12; Psalms 9:3.) The ancient versions were evidently embarrassed by the passage. The LXX. render: “Because if thou think to prevail through them, then will the Lord rout thee before thy foes; because it is from the Lord both to be strong and to rout.” Vulg.: “But if thou thinkest that wars depend on the strength of an army, God will make thee to be overcome by the enemy.” Syriac: “Because thou art going to make war, the Lord will cast thee down before thy foes; because thou hast not praised the Lord, who is the helper and uplifter.” It is noticeable that no version inserts the required negative; the omission, therefore, is ancient.