Exodus 23:20

“Behold, I send an angel before thee, etc.] Not a created angel, but the uncreated one, the Angel of God’s presence, that was with the Israelites at Sinai, and in the wilderness; who saved, redeemed, bore, and carried them all the days of old, whom they rebelled against and tempted in the wilderness; as appears by all the characters after given of him, which by no means agree with a created angel: Aben Ezra observes, that some say this is the book of the law, because it is said, “my name is in him”, or “in the midst of it”; others say, the ark of the covenant; but he says this angel is Michael; and if indeed by Michael is intended the uncreated angel, as he always is in Scripture, he is…”

“Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way--The communication of these laws, made to Moses and by him rehearsed to the people, was concluded by the addition of many animating promises, intermingled with several solemn warnings that lapses into sin and idolatry would not be tolerated or passed with impunity.”

“An Angel - See Exodus 3:2, Exodus 3:8; Joshua 5:13; Isaiah 63:9. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Behold, I send an angel before thee - The angel of the covenant: Accordingly the Israelites in the wilderness are said to tempt Christ. It is promised that this blessed anger should keep them in the way, though it lay through a wilderness first, and afterwards through their enemies country; and thus Christ has prepared a place for his followers. Exodus 23:21”

“23:20-33 If the people kept the covenant stipulations just listed, the Covenant Lord agreed to protect them from enemies (23:22-23) and from illness (23:25-26) and give them a land to possess (23:27-31). These covenant promises were contingent upon absolute loyalty to the Covenant Lord. In particular, it would be an act of rebellion (23:21) to worship the gods (23:24, 32-33) of the dispossessed peoples. 23:20-23 an angel: Probably the “angel of the Lord,” who was often a manifestation of the Lord himself (see 3:2).”

“Angel: Exo 3:2-6, Exo 14:19, Exo 32:34, Exo 33:2, Exo 33:14; Gen 48:16; Num 20:16; Jos 5:13, Jos 6:2; Psa 91:11; Isa 63:9; Mal 3:1; Co1 10:9, Co1 10:10 prepared: Gen 15:18; Mat 25:34; Joh 14:3 Exodus 23:21”

“Relation of Jehovah to Israel. - The declaration of the rights conferred by Jehovah upon His people is closed by promises, through which, on the one hand, God insured to the nation the gifts and benefits involved in their rights, and, on the other hand, sought to promote that willingness and love which were indispensable to the fulfilment of the duties incumbent upon every individual in consequence of the rights conferred upon them. These promises secured to the people not only the protection and help of God during their journey through the desert, and in the conquest of Canaan, but also preservation and prosperity when they had taken possession of the land. Exo 23:20-27 Jehovah would send…”