This Angel must have been the Lord himself, for Stephen said expressly that the Angel was with Moses at the burning bush, where Jehovah revealed Himself, and the very ground was holy. Besides, we are told here that God's Name-i.e., His nature-was in Him. The Son of God, therefore, must have been the leader of that pilgrim-host, preceding the march, and preparing for their needs.
Notice that God would also send the hornet before His people, Exodus 23:28. The Presence, which is an Angel for God's children, becomes a hornet to the rebellious and ungodly. To one it is a savor of life, and to the other of death. The sun that bleaches linen white, tans the hands that expose it; the cloud which is light to Israel is thick darkness to Egypt. Grieve not the Holy One, who will overcome your enemies and satisfy your soul with goodness, if you will obey His voice. [source]
Chapter Summary: Exodus 23
1Of slander, false witness, and partiality 4Of charitableness 6Of justice in judgment 8Of taking bribes 9Of oppressing a stranger 10Of the year of rest 12Of the Sabbath 13Of idolatry 14Of the three feasts 18Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice 20An angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him
What do the individual words in Exodus 23:32 mean?
NoYou shall makewith themnor with their godscovenant
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּרַת
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.