Deuteronomy 32:30

²⁸ For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

²⁹ O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

³¹ For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

³² For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?
KJV: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
WEB: How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had delivered them up?
ASV: How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And Jehovah had delivered them up?
DARBY: How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Were it not that their Rock had sold them, And Jehovah had delivered them up?
BLB: How does one pursue a thousand, and two put to flight a myriad, if not that their Rock had sold them and YHWH had surrendered them?

ÅB: Hvordan kunne én forfølge tusen, og to drive ti tusen på flukt, hvis ikke deres klippe hadde solgt dem, og Herren overgitt dem?
OTB: Hvordan kunne én ha jaget tusen, og to ha satt ti tusen på flukt, med mindre deres Klippe hadde gitt dem opp, og Herren hadde overgitt dem?
B1930: Hvorledes kunde én forfølge tusen, og to drive ti tusen på flukt, hvis ikke deres klippe hadde solgt dem, og Herren overgitt dem?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Leviticus 26:8
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
Read in context
Joshua 23:10
One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
Read in context
Isaiah 30:17
One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
Read in context
Psalms 31:8
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Read in context
Psalms 44:12
Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
Read in context
Judges 7:22–23
And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath.
Read in context
1 Samuel 14:15–17
And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
Read in context
Judges 3:8
Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years.
Read in context