Deuteronomy 32:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Spirit of the Lord rested upon Samson, compelling him to seize the jawbone of a donkey and vanquish a thousand adversaries (Judges 15:14-15). This act serves as a testament to the Spirit’s extraordinary power, rendering any disbelief as a reflection of human limitation. Thus, Moses wisely stated, “how could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Advocate had delivered them, and the Lord had surrendered them.”

Truly, it is evident that the fearless Samson single-handedly routed thousands, just as the courageous Judith, alongside her servant, drove away tens of thousands of enemies. Can you not perceive the goodness in offering prayers and gratitude to our Lord God?

To disregard the assistance of God due to the abundance of people is truly unwise. Rather, they ought to wisely recall that with Him and through Him, "one shall reap one thousand thousands, and two shall move the darkness." The source of all goodness, the Provider, and the ever-present supplier of strength to conquer adversaries is God. As the wise Moses proclaimed, "The Lord that breaketh strife, the Lord is his name" (Ex. 15:3), illustrating that through Him and in Him, "there shall reap one thousand and two engines of darkness."

With determination let us boldly approach... undeterred by the fabrications that may come forth in abundance. For He who proclaimed that ‘one shall reap thousands, and two shall move darkness’ is trustworthy, as it is righteousness, rather than sheer numbers, that holds strength in the struggle.

Moses states, "one of you will harvest a thousand," referencing the time of David (1 Sam. 18:7), and "two forces of darkness," noted during Gideon's era (Judg. 7:22). The phrases can be rephrased to read: "how can one gather a thousand?"

How could one chase a thousand, and two send away shadows, if God had not handed them over, and the Lord had not abandoned them? Consider that the Lord God was united with the Holy Spirit from eternity.