Exodus 14:8

14:8 But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he chased after the Israelites. Now the Israelites were going out defiantly. ¹ 

Exodus 19:21

19:21 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down and solemnly warn ²  the people, lest they force their way through to the Lord to look, and many of them perish. ³ 

Exodus 20:19

20:19 They said to Moses, “You speak ⁴  to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die.”

Exodus 23:29

23:29 I will not drive them out before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild animals ⁵  multiply against you.

¹ tn Heb “with a high hand”; the expression means “defiantly,” “boldly,” or “with confidence.” The phrase is usually used for arrogant sin and pride, the defiant fist, as it were. The image of the high hand can also mean the hand raised to deliver a blow (Job 38:15). So the narrative here builds tension between these two resolute forces.

² tn The imperative הָעֵד (ha’ed) means “charge” them – put them under oath, or solemnly warn them. God wished to ensure that the people would not force their way past the barriers that had been set out.

³ tn Heb “and fall”; NAB “be struck down.”

³ tn The verb is a Piel imperative. In this context it has more of the sense of a request than a command. The independent personal pronoun “you” emphasizes the subject and forms the contrast with God’s speaking.

⁴ tn Heb “the beast of the field.”