³ But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you^(A) like a devouring fire.^(B) He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly,^(C) as the Lord has promised you.

²⁰ Then we will be like all the other nations,^(A) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

²⁴ As soon as you hear the sound^(A) of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front^(B) of you to strike the Philistine army.”