him. "Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 18 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. 17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in to her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. V. 20. A very criminal deviation from 'simplicity and godly sincerity,' is becoming customary among professed Christians; I mean, the instructing and requiring servants to prevaricate, -to word it no more harshly-in order that their masters may be preserved from the inconvenience of unwelcome visitants. Surely some more manly, candid, and Christian method, might be substituted, of giving an impertinent intruder to understand that he was not welcome, and to intimate to friends, that their company would be more seasonable at another time! It is said that on such occasions, the French send word that they are not visible; which is certainly nearer the truth, than to order a servant to say that they are not at home. And it should be considered whether they who require their servants to disregard the truth for their pleasure, will not teach them an evil lesson, and habituate them to use falsehood for their own pleasure also.-Scott. 21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 28 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. THE 2 CHAP. V. 6 4 THEN sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. Hear, Ŏ 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. 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.. The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from. before the LORD God of Israel. In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD. Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 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. 10 9 8 off,' because of the danger of meetingwith robbers and assassins in this place, who fall upon those who come to drink.-Comp. Bible. 12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise,. Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. 'Awake, awake, Deborah.'-In a rhetorical elegance of speech, Deborah stirs up others to praise and thanksgiving, and begins with herself, rousing up her own spirit, that she might be a precedent and example for their imitation, like a cock who awaketh. himself by clapping his wings, beforeby his crowing he awaketh others.-Assembly's Annot. 18 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty. Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machircame down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the 16 pen of the writer. 15 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. Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. 18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. 10 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money. 20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. V. 20. It seems as if it were in the night when the battle of Barak was fought with Sisera, captain of Jabin, king of Canaan; at least, it is probable that the pursuit lasted till night, when the stars by their brightness and clear shining, favoured the Israelites, and were greatly to the disadvantage of the Canaanites.-Dr. Gill. Those whom God is an enemy to, the whole creation is at war with.M. Henry. 21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength. 22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones. 28 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. V. 23. When any important project is set on foot, which has a tendency to promote the prosperity of the Church and to benefit the world, it is the duty of all the friends of religion to enlist their hearty sympathies and co-operation in the work, and to the utmost to encourage those who are the leaders in it. In too many cases, however, it is customary for persons to wait, till success has crowned the undertaking, and then to bestow their patronage when aid is no longer required, and the work is done. Such persons might advantageously peruse Johnson's letter to Chesterfield and would do well to ponder the following question of the great lexicographer: Is not a patron, my Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind, but it has been delayed till I am indifferent and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary and cannot impart it; till I am known and do not want it.'-L. The conduct of the enemies of true religion is indeed both hateful and infatuated; yet their unanimity might often suggest a profitable hint to Christians; to shame them out of their intestine contentions and instruct them to unite in opposing the incursions of the common enemy.-Scott. He that will never put his hand to any great movement until no objection can be raised to the plan adopted, or to the men working the plan, is more fit to come upon the field as a camp-follower, to take his share of the spoil, than as a comrade in arms, to win the battle.-Anon. When an individual enlists himself into the army of an earthly king, he engages that his best services shall be performed whenever they may be required; hence, however much he might wish for exemption from duty, he has it not; and were he to refuse to take the field, and charge the enemy, when the word of command is given, he would be regarded as a traitor to his king and country. So it is, considered in a spiritual sense, in reference to the Christian. When he enlists under the banner of Jesu's cross, he swears allegiance to the King of Glory,' and solemnly engages to fight the battle of the Lord.' If therefore, when summoned to action, he refuse to take the field, he ought to be regarded and reproached as a deserter to his Saviour's cause, even a traitor to his God! This criminal indifference, however, does not pass unnoticed. The lamentable case of the unfaithful, disobedient inhabitants of Meroz ought to serve as a beacon to warn such persons of their imminent danger, and assure them that their dishonourable conduct, if not repented of, will be followed, sooner or later, by merited punishment.-Rev. T. Swallow. If there be any who still resolutely go on to speak contemptuously of these things (religious revivals), I would beg of them to take heed that they be not guilty of the unpardonable sin. When the Holy Spirit is much poured out, and men's lusts, lukewarmness, and hypocrisy, are reproached by its powerful operations, then is the most likely time of any for this sin to be committed. If the work goes on it is well if among the many that show an enmity against it, some be not guilty of this sin, if none have been already. Those who maliciously oppose and reproach this work, and call it the work of the devil, want but one thing of the unpardonable sin, and that is, doing it against inward conviction. And though some are so prudent, as not openly to oppose and reproach the work, yet it is to be feared-at this day when the Lord is going forth so gloriously against His enemies-that many who are silent and inactive, especially ministers, will bring this curse of the angel of the Lord upon themselves.Jon. Edwards. 24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent. 25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. V. 25. The approaches of sin are like the conduct of Jael, 'It brings butter in a lordly dish.' It bids high for the soul. But when it has fascinated and lulled the victim, the nail and hammer are behind!-Cecil. 26 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. 27 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. 28 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 ? : V. 28. Time travels at diverse paces with diverse persons; it trots with some, with some it gallops, and with others it stands still.-Shakspeare. 29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, 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? 81 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. AN CHAP. VI. ND the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds. 8 And so it was, 6 5 when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. • And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. 'And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, * That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; 10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice. 11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 18 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. |