As Exodus 23 begins, God instructs His people in mercy and justice. He warns against favoritism, being a malicious witness, perverting justice by siding with the crowd, or denying justice with false charges. God reminds them that they were once oppressed in Egypt and were blessed by His mercy. God's laws of fairness were to be applied even to enemies. God told them He would send His angel to guide them, protect them, and give them further instruction, and go ahead of them and lead them to the promised land. God told them "if you listen carefully and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you... and if you worship the Lord your God, His blessing will be on your food and water.. I will take away sickness from among you, none will miscarry or be barren in your land, and I will give you a full life span".