And stay you not, [but] pursue after your enemies,.... That is, do not stay at this cave, but having placed a sufficient guard there, go in pursuit of the enemy, with as much celerity as possible:and smite the hindmost of them; their rear; or "tail" them , as the word is, cut off the tail of them:suffer them not to enter their cities; where they would not only be safe themselves for a while, but would be able to hold out against a siege for some time, and give much trouble to conquer them:for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hands; this he said to encourage them, and quicken them to the pursuit of them with all eagerness and vehemence.
According to the Samaritan Chronicle , the signal or watchword was,"God is strong in battle, God is his name.'' Mtba "caudam eorum caedite", Pagninus, Vatablus, Masius, Drusius; "et decaudetis eos", Montanus; "decaudabitis eos", Munster.
Apud Hottinger. Smegma, p.