John Gill Commentary Exodus 23:27

"I will send my terror before thee, and will discomfit all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee." — Exodus 23:27 (ASV)

And I will send my fear before you
What should cause fear among the nations of the land of Canaan; either the hornets mentioned in the next verse as the explanative of this; or the fame of his mighty works, which he had done for Israel in Egypt, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness; which struck the inhabitants of Canaan with such a panic, that they were ready to faint and melt away, and lost all courage, (Joshua 2:9–11)

and will destroy all the people to whom you shall come ;
that is, the greatest part of them:

and I will make all your enemies turn their backs unto you ;
flee away, not being able to face them and stand a battle, or, however, not stand it long, but run and make their escape: "or I will give you the neck of them" ^F16 ; cause them to submit, to lay down their necks and be trampled upon; an expression denoting their subjection, and an entire conquest of them, see (Psalms 18:39Psalms 18:40) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F16: (Pre-yttn) "et dabo-cervicem", Pagninus, Montanus; "exponam tibi cervicem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "ponam ad te cervicem", Drusius.