Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, Ver. 1. _Then sang Deborah and Barak._] Like as before had done Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15:1,21, which chapter and this are by one called monumental Chapter s. Deborah was a poetess as well as a prophetess, learned, eloquent, in... [ Continue Reading ]
Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. Ver. 2. _When the people willingly offered themselves._] As Judges 4:10. Barak had no power to press them, but did only persuade with them, as the word Mashar there importeth. He gave goodly words, as being... [ Continue Reading ]
Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, [even] I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing [praise] to the LORD God of Israel. Ver. 3. _Hear, O ye kings._] Hear and give ear, be not proud, cast down your crowns, and give glory to God. The altar of incense was compassed about with a crown of pure g... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. Ver. 4. _Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir._] When thou marchedst before thy people through the wilderness. Thus this good woman recognise... [ Continue Reading ]
The mountains melted from before the LORD, [even] that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel. Ver. 5. _The mountains melted from before the Lord._] Heb., Flowed. “ _Ruunt de montibus amnes._ ” There was a general concussion, and the nations were all affrighted. See Psa 68:15-16 Joshua 5:1 .... [ Continue Reading ]
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. Ver. 6. _In the days of Shamgar._] From the death of Ehud until this conflict with Jabin: for though Shamgur did worthily, - especially if without help of others he... [ Continue Reading ]
Judges 5:7 [The inhabitants of] the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. Ver. 7. _The inhabitants of the villages ceased._] As now they do in Hungary, where the Turk wasteth at pleasure. They want but another Hunniades at the heels of... [ Continue Reading ]
They chose new gods; then [was] war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? Ver. 8. _They chose new gods._] τα καινα κενα: _Nihil mihi antiquius, id est potius:_ We should set a jealous eye upon novelties, and say, The old is better. Idolatry is ancient, but n... [ Continue Reading ]
My heart [is] toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD. Ver. 9. _My heart is toward the governors of Israel._] Heb., Those in whom was the legislative power, that they should lay by their parliament robes and gird on their swords to fight... [ Continue Reading ]
Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. Ver. 10. _Speak, ye that ride on white asses._] Ye nobles and circuit judges; ye merchants and marketmen, that while durst not be seen abroad for Tories and cut throats, speak out God's worthy praises for the re-enjoy... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Judges 5:11 _[They that are delivered] from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, [even] the righteous acts [toward the inhabitants] of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates._ Ver.... [ Continue Reading ]
Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. Ver. 12. Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake.] As the cock clapping first his own sides awakeneth himself, and then calleth up others; so doth Deborah here, and finding haply some i... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty. Ver. 13. _Then he made him that remaineth,_] i.e., Once he made the relics of the Canaanites to rule over the nobles of Israel; but now the Lord hath made me or my people... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of Ephraim [was there] a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. Ver. 14. Out of Ephraim was there a root _a_ of them.] Deborah, an Ephraimite, was the root and rise of thi... [ Continue Reading ]
And the princes of Issachar [were] with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great thoughts of heart. Ver. 15. _For the divisions of Reuben._] Who deserted their brethren in this war, there were great thoughts of heart... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great searchings of heart._ Ver. 16. _Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds?_] Minding only thine own wealth and ease. Of the Portuguese it is said, that they are ready to obey any,... [ Continue Reading ]
Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. Ver. 17. _Gilead abode beyond Jordan,_] _i.e., _ Gad and the other half tribe of Manasseh, the degenerate offspring of valiant Machir. _ And why did Dan remain in ships? &c._]... [ Continue Reading ]
Zebulun and Naphtali [were] a people [that] jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. Ver. 18. _That jeoparded their lives._] Or, Devoted, exposed; and are therefore worthily renowned and never enough commended. They that "do worthily in Ephrata," shall be "famous in Bet... [ Continue Reading ]
The kings came [and] fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. Ver. 19. _The kings came and fought._] They could combine, but so could not the Israelites. What a shame is it that the great Turk should be heard to say, that he sooner exp... [ Continue Reading ]
They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. Ver. 20. _They fought from heaven._] Where the Lord of hosts hath his _Magnleh cheloth,_ his upper forces, say the Rabbins, as on earth he hath his _Matteh cheloth,_ his lower forces ready prest. And sins unpardoned can soon... [ Continue Reading ]
The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. Ver. 21. _The river of Kishon swept them away._] For fear they ran into this river and there perished; which yet I, a weak woman, have manfully passed over on foot, without such da... [ Continue Reading ]
Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones. Ver. 22. _Then were the horse hoofs broken,_] viz., With hasty flight; as afterwards it fell out at the battle of Spurs - so the battle of Terwin was called, where Henry VIII routed the French. _a_ a... [ Continue Reading ]
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. Ver. 23. _Curse ye Meroz._] So effectual was this curse, that, as the fig tree cursed by our Saviour withered immediately... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. Ver. 24. _Above women in the tent._] A fit place for women to be found in, but not for the men of Meroz; they should have been active in the field against the Church's enemies, as she was i... [ Continue Reading ]
He asked water, [and] she gave [him] milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. Ver. 25. _She gave him milk._] See Judges 4:19 . _ Butter in a lordly dish._] Butter to eat, as well as milk to drink. Such are the murdering morsels of sin, εχθρων αδωρα δωρα και ιυκ ονησιμα : the giftless gifts... [ Continue Reading ]
She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. Ver. 26. _She smote off his head._] Sept., She bored through, or pierced his head; as Ulysses perforated Pol... [ Continue Reading ]
At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead. Ver. 27. _At her feet he bowed, he fell._] He was soon despatched, and could never tell who hurt him. There now lies the greatness of Sisera: he that had vaunted of his iron chariots,... [ Continue Reading ]
The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot [so] long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots? Ver. 28. _The mother of Sisera._] _Per hypotyposin, Mulierum hostilium iactationes cum sarcasmo traducit._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,_ Ver. 29. _Her wise ladies._] The wicked's hopes fail them when at highest, and prove to be "as the giving up of the ghost." Job 11:20... [ Continue Reading ]
Have they not sped? have they [not] divided the prey; to every man a damsel [or] two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, [meet] for the necks of [them that take] the spoil? Ver. 30. _Have they not sped?_] Yes, t... [ Continue Reading ]
So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but [let] them that love him [be] as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years. Ver. 31. _So let all thine enemies perish, &c._] "Let them be as dung for the earth"; Psa 83:10 yes, do thou dung thy vineyard with their dead c... [ Continue Reading ]