Matthew Poole and continuators on Judges 5

THEN sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

The composer of this Song, as may be gathered from v. 7.

2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel , when the people willingly offered themselves .

Give him the praise who hath done the work.

Or, for taking Vengeance, to wit, upon his and their Enemies, by Israel, or for Israel, for Israels benefit, or for the injuries and violences offered by them to Israel.

Chiefly Zebulun and Naphtali, below v. 18. and 4. 6. and others hereafter mentioned.

When neither Deborah nor Barak had any power to compel them.

3 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 .

You especially that live near to Israel, and have evil minds and designs against Israel, know this for your instruction, and caution, and terror too, if you shall presume to molest them.

Who, as you see by this plain instance, is both able and resolved to defend them from all their enemies.

4 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 .

Seir and Edom are the same place; and these two expressions note the same thing, even Gods marching in the head of his people from Seir or Edom, towards the Land of Canaan: Whilest the Israelites were encompassing Mount Seir, there were none of the following effects; but when once they had done that, and got Edom on their backs, then they marched directly forwards towards the Land of Canaan; the Prophetess being to praise God for the present Mercy, takes her rise higher, and begins her Song with the Commemoration of the former and ancient deliverances afforded by God to his people, the rather because of the great resemblance this had with them, in the extraordinary and miraculous manner of them.

Either, 1. The Inhabitants of the Earth or Land; or 2. The Earth, properly taken as the following passages are; God prepared the way for his People, and struck a dread into their Enemies, by Earthquakes, as well as by other Terrible Signs.

i. e. Thou didst send most dreadful Showers of Rain, Storms and Tempests, Thunder and Lightning, and other tokens of thy displeasure upon thine Enemies, as may appear by comparing this with other parallel Texts.

Marginal references: Deut. 33. 2.; Psal. 68. 8. Isa. 64. 1. Hab. 3. 10.

5 The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai , from before the LORD God of Israel.

Or, [illegible: 1+ letters]owed, with Floods of Water poured out of the Clouds upon them, and from them flowing down in a mighty Etream upon the lower grounds, and carrying down some part of the Mountain with it, as is usual in excessive Showers.

She s[illegible: 1+ letters]ides into the mention of another, and a more ancient appearance of God for his People, to wit, in Sinai; it being usual in Scripture repetitions of former actions, to put divers together into a narrow compass, and in few words. The sense is, No wonder that the Mountains of the Amorites and Canaanites melted and trembled when thou didst lead thy People towards them, for even Sinai it sel[illegible: 1+ letters] could not bear thy Presence, but melted in like manner before thee. Or, as that Sinai did upon a like manifestation of thy self; so there is onely a defect of the Particle as, which I have shewed[illegible: 1+ letters] to be frequent.

Marginal references: Psal. 97. 5.; Heb. [illegible: 1+ letters]med.; Psal. 68. [illegible: 1+ letters].

6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael , the high ways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways .

Whilest Shamgar lived, who was, if not a Judg, yet an eminent person for Strength and Valour, Iudg. 3. 31.

Iael, though an Illustrious Woman, and of great Authority and Influence upon the People, did effect nothing for the Deliverance of Gods People, till God raised me up, &c.

Partly, because of the Canaanites, who besides the publick Burdens and Tributes which they laid upon them, waited for all opportunities of doing them mischief secretly; their Soldiers watching for Travellers in Common Roads, as is usual with such in times of War; and partly, because of the Robbers even of their own people, who having cast off the [illegible: 1+ letters]r and Worship of God, and there being no King or Rule[illegible: 1+ letters] in Israel to restrain or punish them, and being also many of them reduced to great want, through the Oppression of the Canaanites; it is not strange, if in those times of publick disorder and ataxy, divers of the Israelites themselves did break forth into acts of Injustice and Violence, even against their own Brethren, whom they could meet with in convenient places, which made Travellers seek [illegible: 1+ letters]or by-paths.

Marginal references: Chap. 4. 18.; Heb. walkers of paths.; Heb. crooked ways.

7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased , they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

The people forsook all their unfortified Towns, as not being able to protect them from Military Insolence.

i. e. To be to them as a Mother, to Instruct, and Rule, and Protect them, which Duties a Mother oweth to her Children, as far as she is able.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 49. 23.

8 They chose new gods ▪ then was war in the gates : was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel ?

They did not onely submit to Idolatry when they were forced to it by Tyrants, but they freely chose it.

New to them, and unknown to their Fathers, and new in comparison of the true and everlasting God of Israel, being but Up-starts, and of yesterday.

i. e. In their Walled Cities, which have Gates and Bars; Gates are oft put for Cities, as Gen. 22. 17. Deut. 17. 2. Obad. v. 11. Then their strongest Holds fell into the hands of their Enemies.

i. e. There was not; the meaning is not, that all the Israelites had no Arms, for here is mention made onely of Shields or Spears, so they might have Swords, and Bows and Arrows to offend their Enemies; but, either that they had but few Arms among them, being many Thousands of them disarmed by the Canaanites; or that they generally neglected the use of Arms, as being utterly dis-spirited, and without all hope of recovering their lost Liberty, and being necessitated to other employments for subsistence.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 13. 19, [illegible: 1+ letters]2.

9 My heart is toward the governours of Israel that o[illegible: 1+ letters]ered themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye the LORD .

I greatly honour and love those, who being the chief of the people in Wealth and Dignity, did not withdraw themselves from the work, as such usually do; but did expose themselves to the same hazards, and joyned with their meaner Brethren in this noble, but dangerous attempt; and by their Examples and Countenance engaged others in it.

Who inclined their hearts to this undertaking, and gave them Success in it. As she gives Instruments their due, so she is careful the Soveraign Cause, and Lord of all, lose not his Glory.

10 Speak ye that ride on white asses , ye that sit in judgment, and ye that walk by the way .

Celebrate the Praises of our Mighty God, whose hard hath done this.

i. e. Magistrates and Nobles, who used to do so, Iudg. 10. 4. and 12. 14. Hories being in a manner forbidden the[illegible: 1+ letters]e, Deut. 17. 16.

i. e. You that now can safely Travel about your business in those High-ways, which before you durst neither ride [illegible: 1+ letters]or wal[illegible: 1+ letters] in: So [illegible: 1 word] and mean persons are jointly excited to Praise God.

Marginal references: Or meditate.

11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places o[illegible: 1+ letters] drawing water , there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD , even the righteous acts towards the inhabi[illegible: 1+ letters]ants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates .

Either 1. From the noise or sound, and consequently, the force of those Arrows which are shot at them; but he names the noise, because this Epithete is frequently given to Bows and Arrows in Poetical Writings: Or, 2. From the Triumphant noise and shout of Archers, rejoycing when they meet with their Prey.

At those Pits or Springs of Water, which were scarce and precious in those hot Countreys, to which the peoples Necessities forced them oft to resort, and nigh unto which the Archers did usually lurk in Woods, or Thickets, or Hedges, that from thence they might shoot at them, and kill and spoil them.

When they come to those places with freedom and safety, which before they could not, they shall with thankfulness rehearse this Righteous, and Faithful, and Gracious work of God, in rescuing his People, and Punishing his Enemies.

Whom he mentions, because as their danger was greater, v. 7. so was their Deliverance and their Obligation to Praise God.

To wit, of their Cities, which were the chief places to which both City and Countrey resorted for publick business and matters of Justice, from which they had been debarred by their Oppressors; but now they had free access and passage, either in or out of the Gates, as their occasions required; and they who had been driven from their Cities, now returned to them in Peace and Triumph; so the Citizens Deliverance is Celebrated here, as the Countrey-mens is in the foregoing words.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] of the LORD.

12 Awake, awake Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise Barak, and lead thy captivity captive , thou son of Abinoam.

Stir up thy self and all that is within thee, to Admire and Praise the Lord.

How could this be done, when there was none of them left, Iudg. 4. 16? Ans. 1. None were left to make head against them. 2. None is oft put for few, and those few might be taken after the Battel, and carried Captive, and led in Triumph, and afterward Slain.

13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people : the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.

Thus God did not onely preserve the poor and despised remnant of his people, from the fury of the Oppressor before this War, and from the Destruction which Sisera designed and promised himself to bring upon them by this War; but also gave them the Victory, and thereby the Dominion over the Princes and Nobles of Canaan, who were combined against them.

Though but a weak Woman.

14 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 Writers .

Now she relates the carriage and miscarriage of the several tribes in this expedition, and she begins with Ephraim.

Either First, of the Ephraimites: or Secondly, of them that came forth to this Expedition. By root she seems to mean a branch, as that word is sometimes used, as Isa. 11. 10. and 53. 2. By which also she may note the fewness of those that came out of Ephraim, that fruitful bough consisting of many branches, Gen. 49. 22. yielding but one branch, or an handful of Men to this service.

The constant and sworn enemy of the Israelites, who were confederate with their last oppressors the Moabites, Judg. 3. 13. And in all probability took their advantage now against the Israelites in the southern or middle parts of Canaan, whilest their main Force was drawn Northward against Iabin and Sisera. Against these therefore Ephram sent forth a Party, and so did Benjamin, as it here follows; and these hindred their conjunction with Iabin's Forces, and gave their brethren the advantage of sighting with Sisera alone.

Benjamin followed Ephraim's Example. Or, After thee, O Benjamin: and thus the preeminence is here given to Benjamin in two respects; First, That he was first in this Expedition, as indeed he lay nearer the Amalekites, and by his example incouraged the Ephraimites. Secondly, That the whole Tribe of Benjamin, though now but small, came forth to this War, when the numerous Tribe of Ephraim sent only an handful to it▪

Either First, among the people of Benjamin, with whom those few Ephraimites united themselves in this Expedition. Or, Secondly, among the People or Tribes of Israel; to wit, those who ingaged themselves in this War.

i. e. Out of the Tribe of Manasseh, which are elsewhere called by the name of Machir, as Ios. 13. 31. to wit, out of the half Tribe which was within Iordan; for of the other she speaks, v. 17.

Either civil Governours, the Princes and great Persons, who were as ready to hazard themselves, and their ample Estates, as the meanest: or Military Officers, valiant and expert Commanders, such as some of Machir's Posterity are noted to have been.

i. e. Even the Scribes, who gave themselves to Study and Writing, whereby they were exempted from Military Service, did voluntarily enter into this Service. Or, they that drew, to wit, The People after them, as that Verb is used, Iudg. 4. 6. With the pen of the scribe or writer, i. e. Who did not only go themselves, but by their Letters invited and engaged others to go with them to the Battel.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] with the [illegible: 1 word]

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah : even Issachar ▪ and also Barak z, he was sent on foot into the valley: for the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

i. e. Ready to assist her.

Heb. And Issachar, i. e. The Tribe, or People of Issachar, following the counsel and example of their Princes, and being now at their Commandments, as they were afterward upon another occasion, 1 Chron. 12. 32. Secondly, Or, even as Barak, i. e. They were as hearty and valiant as Barak their General, and as he Marched on foot here and Iudg. 4. 10. against their Enemies Horses and Chariots, and that into the valley where the main use of Horses and Chariots lies; so did they with no less courage and resolution.

Or, Separations, whereby they were divided or separated, not so much one from another in their thoughts, counsels, and carriage in this War, (for they seem to be all too well agreed in abiding at home with their Sheep, as it follows) as all from their Brethren, from whom they were divided no less in their Designs and Affections, than in their Situation by the River Iordan: and they would not joyn their Interests and Forces with them in this common Cause.

Or, great searchings, as it is v. 16. Great and sad thoughts, and debates, and perplexities of Mind among the Israelites to see themselves deserted by so great and potent a Tribe as Reuben was.

Marginal references: Chap. 4. 14.; Heb. his feet.; Or, in the divisions, &c.; Heb. impressions

16 Why abodest thou among the sheep folds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks ? for the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

Why wast thou so unworthy and cowardly, so void of all Zeal for God, and compassion towards thy Brethren, and care for the recovery of thy own Liberties and Priviledges, that thou wouldst not ingage thy self in so just, so necessary, and so noble a cause, but didst prefer the care of thy Sheep, and thy own present ease and safety, before this generous undertaking? Reuben thought Neutrality their wisest course; being very rich in Cattel, Numb. 32. 1. They were loath to run the hazard of so great a loss, by taking up Arms against so Potent an Enemy as Iabin was: and the bleatings of their Sheep were so loud in their ears, that they could not hear the call of Deborah and Barak to this Expedition.

Marginal references: Or, in.

17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan : and why did▪ Dan remain in ships ? Asher continued on the sea▪ shore , and abode in his breaches .

Gilead is sometimes taken more largely, for all the Land of the Israelites beyond Iordan, as Numb. 32. 1, 26, 29. So it is not here taken, because Gilead is here distinguished from Reuben and his Land: sometimes it is taken more strictly for that part of the Land beyond Iordan which fell to the halftribe of Manasseh, as Numb. 32. 39, 40. Deut. 3. 15. Ios. 17. 1. And sometimes both for that part of Manasseh's, and for Gad's Portion, as Ios. 13. 24, 25, 29, 30, 31. And so it seems to be understood here; and the Land Gilead, is here put for the People, or Inhabitants of it, Gad and Manasseh.

In their own Portions, and did not come over Iordan to the help of the Lord, and of his People, as they ought to have done.

Dan, whose Coast was near the Sea, was wholly intent upon his Merchandise, and Shipping, as the great instrument both of his riches and safety; and therefore would not joyn in this Land-Expedition.

Where their Lot lay.

Either, First, in the creeks of the Sea, whether in design to save themselves by Ships in case of danger, as Dan also intended: or upon pretence of repairing the breaches made by the Sea into their Country. Or, Secondly, In their broken and craggy Rocks and Caves therein, in which they thought to secure themselves.

Marginal references: Or, part,; Or, creeks.

18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, in the high places of the field .

Heb. despised, or reproached, or contemned, comparatively; they chose rather to venture upon a generous and honourable Death, than to enjoy a shameful and servile Life.

i. e. Upon that large and eminent Plain in the top of Mount Tabor, where they put themselves in Battel Array, and expected the Enemy; though when they saw he did not come up to them, they marched down to meet, and Fight him.

Marginal references: Chap. 4. 10.; Heb. exposed to reproach.

19 The kings came and fought: then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo , they took no gain of mony .

Either confederate with him, or subject to him: for it is known, that there were divers petty Kings in those parts; which also oft-times were subject to one greater and more potent king; and particularly, this Hazor, where this Iabin now Reigned, Iudg. 4. 2. was beforetime the head of divers petty Kingdoms, Ios. 11. 10.

Taanach and Megiddo were two eminent Cities belonging indeed to Manasseh, Iudg. 1. 27. but seated in the Tribe of Issachar, Ios. 17. 11. not far from Mount Tabor, Ios. 17. 10. Iudg. 1. 27. nor from the River Kishon.

Either, First, from Sisera, they fought without Pay, whether from meer hatred of the Israelites, and a desire to be revenged upon them: or from a full hope and confidence of Paying themselves abundantly out of Israels spoils. Or, Secondly, From the Israelites; so the sence is, They fell, lost all their hopes of Money, and rich Spoils and Booty, which they assured themselves of; instead of gaining a Prey, they lost Themselves.

20 They fought from heaven , the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.

Or, they from heaven, or the heavenly Host fought, by Thunder, and Lightning, and Hail-stones, possibly mingled with Fire. Compare Ios. 10, 11. and 1 Sam. 7. 10.

Which raised these Storms by their Influences, which they do naturally and ordinarily, but now far more, when God sharpned their Influences, and disposed the Air to receive and improve their Impressions.

Or, from their paths, or stations, or highplaces. As Souldiers fight in their ranks and places assigned them, so did these, and that with advantage, as those Enemies do which fight from the higher ground.

Marginal references: Heb. paths.

21 The River of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river ▪ the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast troden down strength .

Which, though not great in it self, and therefore fordable, was now much swelled and increased by the foregoing Storm and Rain, as Iosephus affirms; and therefore drowned those who being pursued by the hand of God, and by the Israelites, were forced into it, and thought to pass over it, as they did before.

So called, either, First, in opposition to those Rivers which are of a later date, being made by the hand and art of Man. Or, Secondly, Because it was a River anciently famous for some remarkable Exploits, for which it was Celebrated by the ancient Poets or Writers, though not here mentioned.

i. e. Thou, O Deborah, though but a weak Woman, hast by Gods Assistance and Blessing upon thy Councels and Prayers subdued a potent Enemy. Such Apostrophes and abrupt Speeches are frequent in Poetical Scriptures.

22 Then were the horse hoofs broken by the means of the pransings , the pransings of their mighty ones .

Their Horses, in which they put most confidence, had their Hoofs, which are their support and strength, broken, either by dreadful Hail-stones, or rather, by their swift and violent running over the stony grounds, when they fled away with all possible speed from God and from Israel.

Or, because of their fierce or swift courses.

Either, First, of their strong and valiant Riders, who forced their Horses to run away as fast as they could. Or, Secondly, Of their Horses, as this word signifies, Ier. 8. 16. and 47. 3. and 50. 42. i. e. Of themselves: the Antecedent for the Relative.

Marginal references: Or, tramplings, or, pluagings.

23 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.

A place then, no doubt, eminent and considerable, though now there be no remembrance of it left, which possibly might be the effect of this bitter Curse; as God Curseth Amalek in this manner, that he would utterly blot out their remembrance, &c. Exod. 17. 14. Deut. 25. 19. And this place above all others may be thus severely Cursed; either because it was near the place of the Fight, and therefore had the greatest opportunity and obligation to engage with, and to assist their Brethren; and their denying their help, was a great discouragement to all their Brethren, whose hearts, no doubt, were greatly Afflicted, and might have utterly fainted, at this great miscarriage, and scandalous Example; or for some other great aggravation of their Cowardise and Treachery, which may easily be imagined, though it be not here expressed.

She signifies, that this Curse proceeded not from her spleen or ill-will towards that place, nor from her own private opinion or affection, but from Divine Inspiration; and that if all the rest of the Song should be taken but for the breathings and expressions of a pious and devout Soul, but liable to mistake, yet this Branch of it was immediately dictated to her by the Lord, by the Ministry of an Angel: otherwise, [illegible: 1+ letters]he neither would, nor durst, have uttered so bitter a Curse against them.

Either, First, of the Lords People: for God takes what is done for, or against his People, as if it was done to himself, See Isa. 63. 9. Zech. 2. 8. Matt. 25. 45. Or, Secondly, Of the Lord himself, who though he did not need, yet did require and expect their help and concurrence: and he expresseth it thus, to shew the sinfulness and unreasonableness of their cowardly desertion of this Cause, because it was the Cause of God, and they had the Call of God to it, whom they knew to be able easily to cru[illegible: 1+ letters]h that Enemy whom they dreaded, and who had promised to do it.

24 Blessed above women , shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent .

Celebrated, and praised, and endowed with all sorts of Blessings more than they. But of this fact of Iaels, See the notes on Iudg. 4. 21.

In her Tent or Habitation, in her House and Family, and all her Affairs: for she and hers dwelt in Tents. The Tent is here mentioned in Allusion to the place where this Fact was done.

Marginal references: Chap. 4 17.

25 He asked water, and she gave him milk, she brought forth ‖ butter in a lordly dish .

Or, cream, i. e. The choisest of her milk: so the same thing is repeated in differing words.

Which you are not to understand of such a stately and costly dish as the Luxury of after ages brought in, which is not agreeable to the simplicity either of this Family, or of those antient times; but of a comely and convenient dish, the best which she had, and such as the better sort of persons then used.

Marginal references: Or, cre[illegible: 1+ letters]m.

26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmans hammer: and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.

i. e. Her left hand, as appears from the nature of the thing; and from the right hand, which is opposed to it.

Or, struck through, as the LXX. and Syriack render it: or brake, as the Chaldee hath it.

Heb. and she pierced: or, and the Nail pierced.

Marginal references: Heb. hammered.

27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, and lay down : at her feet he bowed, he fell, where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

Here is a lively representation of the thing done. At the first blow or Wound▪ he was awakened, and made some attempt to rise; but being astonished and very weak, she also following her first blow with others, he found himself impotent, and fell down dead; and then she struck the Nail quite through his head into the ground, as is said, Iudg. 4. 21.

Marginal references: Heb. between; Heb. destroyed.

28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window , and cried through the lattess, Why is his charet so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his charets?

Expecting to see him returning: for she concluded, that he went forth not so much to Fight, as to take the Spoil.

30 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 needle-work, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil .

i. e. It is certain they have got the prey, only they tarry to view it and distribute it, according to every mans quality and merit.

Heb. of the prey, the prey put for the men of prey, those, or who take the Prey, as kindred is put for a man of kindred, or a kinsman, Ruth 3. 2. and Belial, for a man of Belial, 2 Sam. 16. 7. And days, for a man of days, or an old man, Iob 32. 7.

Marginal references: Exod. 15. 9.; Heb. to the head of a man.; Heb. for the necks of th[illegible: 1+ letters] spoil.

31 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 .

i. e. So suddenly, so surely, so effectually and irrecoverably.

When he first riseth, and so goeth on in his course, which he doth with great might, even as a strong man that runneth a race, Psal. 19. 5. and so as no creature can stop, or hinder him; even so irresistible let the people be.

How to be computed, see before on Iudg. 3. 11.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 23▪