INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 4 This chapter shows how that Israel sinning was delivered into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, by whom they were oppressed twenty years, Judges 4:1; and that Deborah and Barak consulted together about their deliverance, Judges 4:4; and that Barak, encouraged by Deborah, g... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AGAIN DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD,.... Which was the fruit and effect of the long rest and peace they enjoyed; and which is often the case of a people favoured with peace, plenty, and prosperity, who are apt to abuse their mercies, and forget God, the author and give... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SOLD THEM,.... Delivered them into a state of bondage and slavery, where they were like men sold for slaves, see Judges 3:8; INTO THE HAND OF JABIN KING OF CANAAN, THAT REIGNED IN HAZOR; there was a city of this name, and a king of it of the same name, as here, in the times of Joshua,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CRIED UNTO THE LORD,.... Because of their hard bondage, and begged deliverance from it, being brought to a sense of their sins, and humbled for them: FOR HE HAD NINE HUNDRED CHARIOTS OF IRON; the same with the αρματα το δρεπανηφορα, chariots which carried scythes at the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DEBORAH, A PROPHETESS, THE WIFE OF LAPIDOTH,.... Deborah was a name common to women with the eastern people, see Genesis 35:8; as Melissa, which is of the same signification with the Greeks, and both signify a "bee"; and to which Deborah answered in her industry, sagacity, and sweetness of tempe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE DWELT UNDER THE PALM TREE OF DEBORAH,.... Her dwelling house was under a palm tree, or rather she sat under one, in the open air, when the people came to her with their cases, and it was called from hence after her name; though some, as Abarbinel observes, think it was so called, because Deb... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE SENT AND CALLED BARAK THE SON OF ABINOAM OUT OF KEDESHNAPHTALI,.... So called to distinguish it from other places of the same name, this being in the tribe of Naphtali, and a city of refuge, Joshua 20:7; of which tribe and place Barak was, but who he and his father Abinoam were we have no ot... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL DRAW UNTO THEE,.... Which are the words of the Lord by Deborah, as are the preceding, signifying, that by the secret and powerful influence of his providence he would so order things, and the circumstances of them; and so powerfully operate on the mind and heart of the Canaanitish general... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BARAK SAID UNTO HER,.... To Deborah, after she had delivered the words of the Lord unto him: IF THOU WILT GO WITH ME, THEN I WILL GO; which showed faith hi the word of the Lord, for which he is commended, and a readiness to do the will of God, and courage to engage in such a work with a powerfu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE SAID, I WILL SURELY GO WITH THEE, She made no hesitation about it, but agreed at once to go with him for his encouragement; perceiving some degree of weakness in him, and yet an hearty and sincere inclination to engage in the work proposed, and that this might be no hinderance, she readily a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BARAK CALLED ZEBULUN AND NAPHTALI TO KEDESH,.... This he did either by the sound of a trumpet, as Ehud did, or by sending messengers to them to collect ten thousand men from among them, which they accordingly did, and came to him in Kedesh: AND HE WENT UP WITH TEN THOUSAND MEN AT HIS FEET; they... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW HEBER THE KENITE,.... A descendant of Kain, a principal man among the Midianites; the Targum calls him the Salmaean: [WHICH WAS] OF THE CHILDREN OF HOBAB THE FATHER IN LAW OF MOSES; who came along with the children of Israel through the wilderness into the land of Canaan, and first settled abou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHOWED SISERA,.... Either some of the Canaanites that dwelt near Tabor, or some spies that Sisera had out; though some think the Kenites told him, who were at peace with Jabin, Judges 4:17; yet whether out of good will or ill will cannot be said: however, so it was ordered by the providence... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SISERA GATHERED TOGETHER ALL HIS CHARIOTS,.... Or "therefore" he gathered them together, which might lie some in one place, and some in another, for the better quartering of the men that belonged to them: [EVEN] NINE HUNDRED CHARIOTS OF IRON; and which, as before observed, are magnified by Jose... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DEBORAH SAID UNTO BARAK, UP,.... Not go up higher for they were upon the top of a mountain; but rise, bestir thyself, prepare for battle, put the army in rank and file, and march and meet the enemy without delay: FOR THIS [IS] THE DAY IN WHICH THE LORD HATH DELIVERED SISERA INTO THINE HAND; by... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD DISCOMFITED SISERA AND ALL [HIS] CHARIOTS, AND ALL [HIS] HOST,.... Frightened them, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, or disturbed them with a noise and tumult, as the word signifies; with a noise in the heavens, which were in their ears, as Abarbinel observes, like the nois... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BARAK PURSUED AFTER THE CHARIOTS, AND AFTER THE HOST, UNTO HAROSHETH OF THE GENTILES,.... The place from whence they came, and to which they endeavoured to escape: but he followed them, so close all that way, and made such havoc of them, that ALL THE HOST OF SISERA FELL UPON THE EDGE OF THE SWO... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT, SISERA FLED AWAY ON HIS FEET,.... Got off, and made his escape TO THE TENT OF JAEL, THE WIFE OF HEBER THE KENITE; before spoken of, Judges 4:11; and he made to that, because he might think himself safer in a tent than in a town; and especially in the tent of a woman, where he might imagine... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JAEL WENT OUT TO MEET SISERA,.... Seeing him coming, and knowing him full well, she stepped forward towards him, to invite him into her tent: some think she was looking out, that if she saw Israelite in distress to take him in; and very probably had been some time at her tent door, to inquire th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HER, GIVE ME, I PRAY THEE, A LITTLE WATER TO DRINK, FOR I AM THIRSTY,.... Which might be occasioned by the heat of the battle, and by the heat of the day, and by heat in running; he asks for a little water, that being very desirable by persons athirst. Some think he did not ask for... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HER, STAND IN THE DOOR OF THE TENT,.... This he said, not in an imperious way, as some think, but by entreaty: AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN ANY MAN SHALL COME AND INQUIRE OF THEE; seeing her at the door, and where he desired she would stand to prevent their coming into the tent: AND SAY,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JAEL, HEBER'S WIFE, TOOK A NAIL OF THE TENT,.... When she perceived he was fast asleep, and it being now put into her heart to kill him, having an impulse upon her spirit, which she was persuaded, by the effect it had upon her, that it was of God; not filling her with malice and revenge, but a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, AS BARAK PURSUED SISERA,.... Knowing the way he took, at least as he supposed: JAEL CAME OUT TO MEET HIM; as she did Sisera, but with greater pleasure: AND SAID UNTO HIM, COME, AND I WILL SHOW THEE THE MAN WHOM THOU SEEKEST; for she full well knew whom he was in pursuit of: AND WHEN... [ Continue Reading ]
SO GOD SUBDUED ON THAT DAY JABIN KING OF CANAAN BEFORE THE CHILDREN, OF ISRAEL. Freed Israel from subjection to him and delivered him into the hands of the Israelites; for Josephus o says, that as Barak went towards Hazor, he met Jabin, and slew him; who perhaps having heard of the defeat of his arm... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HAND OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, PROSPERED AND PREVAILED AGAINST JABIN, THE KING OF CANAAN,.... They continued their wars with him, in which they were successful: UNTIL THEY HAD DESTROYED JABIN, KING OF CANAAN; took him, and put him to death, and took his cities, and destroyed the inhabitant... [ Continue Reading ]