_Aod. Samgar is passed over, either because he was only a private man, who performed a feat of valour like Jahel, (chap. v. 6.; Salien) or because his government was so short and limited. Hence we need not wonder that he could not put a stop to the ravages of the Chanaanites, nor to the disorders of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asor. Josue defeated the king of this country, Josue xi. 8. But some of his successors had contrived to raise themselves again to power. His dominion probably extended only over the tribes of Nephthali, Zabulon, and Issachar, while Debbora judged in Mount Ephraim, and Samgar in Juda. --- He dwelt.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Scythes. Hebrew, "chariots of iron." (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Lapidoth, signifies "lamps," and Barac, "thunder;" which has given rise to various conjectures, as if they were the same person. St. Ambrose thinks that Debbora was a widow at this time, and the mother of Barac. But St. Jerome says there is no proof of either. Others suppose that the excellence of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Name. Hebrew, "she dwelt (or sat to judge) under the palm-tree of Debbora." "The oak of weeping," allon Bachuth, under which Debbora, the nurse of Rebecca, was interred, was also near Bethel, Genesis xxxv. 8. (Haydock) --- This city was on the confines of the tribes of Ephraim and of Benjamin, over... [ Continue Reading ]
Cedes. There was another city of this name in Juda. (Haydock) --- Barac was of the tribe of Nephthali. (Calmet) --- The Lord, &c. Protestants translate, "hath not the Lord?" &c., as if the will of God had been notified to him before. We find that he make some demur, ver. 8. (Haydock) --- Thabor. A c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hand. Cison flows through a luxuriant vale or champaign country, on the south of Mount Thabor, whence Barac came rushing down the rocks and precipices upon the army of Sisara, chap. v. 15. (Calmet) --- This general was delivered into the hand of Barac, to be routed, though he was afterwards slain b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Not go. Septuagint and St. Augustine (q. 26,) add, "because I know not when the Lord will send his angel to grant me success." St. Paul (Hebrews xi. 32,) praises the faith of Barac, so that he spoke thus out of prudence, that the people, seeing (Calmet) their revered prophetess in his company, (Hay... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thee. Protestants, "the journey that thou takest, shall not be for thine honour, for the Lord shall sell Sisara," &c. It is certain, however, that Barac acquired great commendations on this occasion: but if he had not been accompanied by Debbora, he would not have shared the glory of the victory wi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Valley. Hebrew elon, may denote also, (Septuagint) "a wood of oaks," (Calmet) or a plain. (Haydock) --- Haber probably left the first settlement of the Cinites near Engaddi, when his brethren went (Calmet) into the southern parts of the tribe of Juda, chap. i. 16. This is mentioned, that we might k... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cison. Part of this torrent falls into the Mediterranean, and part into the sea of Tiberias. It rises from Mount Thabor, (which is about two hour's walk, south-west of Nazareth) and from Gelboa, &c. (Menochius) --- Here Sisara displayed his immense army, if we may credit Josephus, Jonathan, &c. But... [ Continue Reading ]
_Terror. The most dreadful storms of thunder, lightning, &c., (chap. v. 20,) discomfited the enemy, while the sword of Barac (Calmet) dealt death around, so that Sisara and all his army presently turned their backs, (Haydock) and the general himself being stricken with a panic, leapt from his chario... [ Continue Reading ]
_Multitude. Josephus allots Sisara the same number of horse and foot as he did to Jabin, whom Josue defeated and slew, chap. xi. 4. But instead of 20,000 chariots, he only gives Sisara 3000, which number appears to be far too great, and unauthorized by the Scripture. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Tent. The women had separate tents from their husbands. Haber, it seems, was from home, and was not molested by the Chanaanites. He continued neuter during this war. What then must we think of the conduct of his wife? Commentators generally justify her, as the Scripture gives her great commendations... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cloak, or rough hairy bed coverlet. Hebrew Semica, occurs no where else. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Milk, out of a shew of greater civility. The Rabbins say the milk was sour, which is conformable to the manners of the oriental nations. Valle remarks, that the Arabs still give the preference to it. The bottle is which it was kept was made of leather, ( utrem) and the milk was like cream, chap. v.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tent. Such nails were used to fasten down the skins, of which the tent was composed. (Calmet) --- This resembled a stake, though Josephus says it was made of iron. (Menochius) --- And died. Thus he met a more ignoble fate, which would be more hateful to a warrior. Abimelech ordered his armour-beare... [ Continue Reading ]
_Humbled Jabin, though he was not present in this battle. The Israelites followed up the victory, and presently brought their late oppressor to ruin, that all might confess, none could resist their power, when God was propitious to them; as, on the other hand, the most feeble state was able to reduc... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER IV.... [ Continue Reading ]