Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition) (continued)
Death of Sinera JUDGES V. Song of Deborah and Bai'ak.
feed their flocks on the extensive commons that lie in the neart of inliabited countries in the East (see on ch. 1. 16). plain of ZnanaJm—This is a mistranslation for "theoalis of the wanderers." The site of the encampment was under a grove of oaks, or terebintlis, in tlie upland valley of Kedesh. 13. tine river of Kislion The plain on its tiank was chosen as ttie battle-field by Sisera himself, who was nnconsclously drawn thitlier for the ruin of his army. 14. Barak went <Io%viifroin Mount Tabor—It is a striking proof of the full confidence Barak and his troops reposed in Deborah's assurance of victory, that they re Unquislied their advantageous position on tlie hill, and rushed into the plain in face of the iron chariots they so much dreaded. 15. tlie Lord discomfited Sisera—iJo-ft., threw his army into confusion ; men, horses, and chariots being intermingled in wild confusion. The disorder was produced by a supernatural panic (see on ch. 5. 20). so
In this song of praise, xvhite asses—Those which are purely white are higlily prized, and being costly, are possessed only by the wealthy and great. "Ye tliat sit iu judgment," has been rendered, "ye tliat repose on tapes tries." 11. The wells which are at a little distance from towns in the East, are, in unsettled times, places of danger. But in peace they are scenes of pleasant and joyous resort. The poetess anticipates that tliis song may be sung, and "the rigliteous acts of tlie Lord rehearsid," at these now tranquil "places of drawing water." Deborali now rouses herself to describe. In terms suitable to the occasion, the preparation and the contest, and calls in a flight of poetic enthusiasm on Barak to parade his prisonei's in triumphal procession. Then follows a eulogistic enumeration of the tribes which raised the commanded levy, or volunteered tlieir services — the soldiers of Ephraim who dwelt near tlie mount of the Amalekites, the small quota of Benjamin; "tlie governors," valiant leaders "out of Macliir," the western Maiiasseh ; and out of Zebulun. the rod of the numberers—those who mail* up and kept the muster-rolls; and the princes who, with impetuous alacrity, ruslied on with Baralc to tlie cliarge in the plain. Then comes a reproachful notice of the tribes which did not obey the summons to take tlie field against the common enemy of Israel. By the "divisions," i, €., the water-courses which descend from the eastern hills unto the Jordan and Dead Sea. by the streams of Kenbcn great were the resolves—They felt the patriotic impulse, and determined, <at first, to join the ranks of their western brethren, but resiled from the purpose; preferring their peaceful sliepherd songs to the trumpet sound of war. 17. Gilead abode beyond Jordan— i. e., both Gad and the eastern half of Slaiiauseli chose to dwell at ease in their Ilavoth-jair, or villages of tents, while Dan and Aslier, both maritime tribes, continued with tlieir ships and in their "breaches" (liavcns). The mention of these craven tribes is concluded {v. 18) with a fresh burst of commendaticm on Zei)u!un and Naphtali. 19-3:3. describes the scene of battle, and the issue. It would seem (v. 19), that Jabin was rcint'orct d liy the troops of otlier Canaanite princes. Tlie batllc-field was near Taanach (now Ta'annuk), on a tell or mound in the level plain of Megiddo (now Leijun), on its soutliwestern extremity, by the left bank of the Kishon. they took no gain of money—they obtained no plunder, tlie st Ars In their courses fought—A fearful tempest burst upon them, and thi'ew tliem into disorder, the riv er of Kishon swept them away —The enemy was defeated' near "the waters of Megiddo"—the sources and side streams of the Kishon: they that fled had to ci'oss tiie deep and marshy bed of the torrent, but the Lord had sent f that Sisera llglited down off Ills cliariot, and fled away on Ills feet—His chariot being probably distinguished by
Its superior size and elegance, would betray the rank of
Its rider, and he saw therefore that his only chance of escape was on foot. 16. but Barak pursued uuto Harogheth— broken an«i routed, the main body of Sisera'a army fled northward, others were forced into the Kishon and drowned (see on ch. 5. 21).' 17, IS. Slsei-n fle<l to the tent of Jael—According to the usages of nomadic people, the duty of receiving the stranger In tlie slieick's absence devolves on his wife, aud the moment the stranger Is admitted into Ills tent, his claim to be defended or concealed from his pursuers is established. 19. she gave htm drink, and covered him—Sisera reckoned on this asa pledge of his safety, especially in the teutof a friendly sheick ; this pledge was the strongest that could be sought or obtained, after he had partaken of refreshments, and been introduced in the inner or women's apartment. 20. He said unto lier. When any man doth ti Kjulre of thee. Is there any man here ? thou slmlt say, ISo—The privacy of the harem, even in a tent, cannot lie intruded on without express permission. 31. then J«el took a nail of the tent—Most probably one of th" pins with which the tent ropes are fastened to the ground. Kscape was almost impossible for Sisera. But the taking of his life by the hand of Jael was murder. It was a direct violation of all the notions of honour aud friendship that are usually held sacred among pastoral people, and for which it is impossible to conceive a woman in Jael's circumstances to have had any motive, except that of gaining favour with the victors. Though predicted by Deijorah,
It was the result of Divine foreknowledge only—not the Divine appointment or sanction ; and tliougli it is praised In the song, the eulogy must be oonsiilered us pronounced not on the moral character of the woman and her deed, but on the public benefits which, in the overruling providence of God, would flow from it.
a heavy rain—the waters suddenly rose—the warriors foil, into the quicksands, and sinliing deep into them, were drowned or washed into tlie sea. [Van he Vemk.I 2'3. Then were the horse lioofs liroken by the means of t3»e pranclngs—anciently, as in many parts of the East still, horses were not shod. The breaking of the hoofs denotes the hot haste and heavy irregular tramp of the routed loc. 33. curse ye Meroz—A vill.age on the confines of Issacliar and Naphtali, which lay in the course of the fugitives, but the inliabitants declined to aid in their destruction. 34-37. Is a most graphic picture of the treatment of Sisera in the tent of Jael. butter—curdled milk; a favourite beverage in tlio East. 38-30. In these verses a sudden transition is made to the mother of the Canaanite general, and a striking picture is drawn of a mind agitated between hope and fear—impatient of delay, yet anticipating the news of victory, and the rewards of rich booty, the lattice—A lattice window—common to the houses in warm countries for tlie circulation of air. her wise ladies—maids of lionour, to every man a daiiiscl or twf)—Young maidens formed always a valued pariof Oriental conquerors' war-spoils. But Sisera's niotiu r wished other booty for him; namolj', the gold-thrca<led, richly embroidered, and scarlet-coloured cloaks wliich were held in such higli esteem. The ode concludes witij a wish In unison with tlie piousajid, patriotic character of tlie prophetess.
CHAPTER V.
Ver. 1-31. Debokah and Bakak's Sono op ThanksQIVINO. 1. then sang Deborah and Barak on that day —This noble triumphal ode was evidently tlie composition of Deborah herself. 3-3. The meaning is obscurely seen In our version; It has been better rendered thus, " liaise ye Jehovah ; for the free are freed in Israel—the people have willingly offered themselves." [Robinson.] 4, 5. Allusion is here made, In general terms, to God's Interposition on behalf of his people. Seir and the fleld of Edom—Represent the mountain range; and plain extending along the south from the Dead Sea to the Elanltlc Gulf, thon went out—Indicates the storm to have proceeded from the south or south-east. 6-8. The song proceeds In these verses to describe the sad condition of the countrj, the oppression of the people, and the origin of all the national distress In the people's apostasy from God. Idolatry was the cause of foreign invasion, and Internal inability to resist It. 9. Expresses gratitude to the respective leaders of the tribes wlilch participated In tne contest; but, above all, to God, who inspired both the patriotic disposition and the strength, speak—i. e.. Join 11
Gideon Sent tn Deliver Israel. JUDGES VI, VII. Jffe Dentroys BaaTg Altai
CHAPTER VI.
Genesis IS.) Tlie flesh seems to have been roasted, which is done by cutting it into kobab, i.e., into small pieces, fixed on a skewer, and put l)efore the fire. The broth w;j)l for immeiiiate use; the other, brought in a hainl-basket was intended to be a future supply to the traveller. Tl'O miraculous fire that consumed it, and the vanishing of the stranger, not by walking, but as a spirit in the tire,
Ver. 1-6. The Israelites, for their Sins, Oppressed BY MiDlAN. 1. tlie Lord delivered tUein into tfie Uaiid of Midian—Untauglit by their former experiences, the Israelites again apostatized, ami new sins were followed by fresh judgments. Jlidian had Sustained a severe blow iu the time of Moses (Numbers 31. 1-lS), and the inemoi-y of that disaster, no doubt, inflamed their resentment against the Israelites. They were wandering herdsmen, called "children of the East," from their oeoupying the territory east of the Red Sea, contiguous to Moab ; and the destructive ravages they are describeil as at this time committing iu the land of Israel are similar to those of the Bedouin Arabs, who harass the peaceful cultivators of the soil, and unless composition is made with them, return annually at a certain season, when they carry off tlie grain, seize the cattle and other propfilled Gideon with awe. A consciousness of demerit fills the heart of every fallen man at the thought of God, with fear of his wrath; and this feeling was increased, by a belief prevalent in ancient times, that whoever saw an angel ivonld forthwith die. The acceptance of Gidwn's sacrifice betokened the acceptance of his pei-son; but H required an express assurance of the Divine blessing, given in some uultnown manner, to restore I'ls comfort and peace of mind. 24-3:4. it came to pa the same night, the Lord said unto l>im— The transaction in which Gideon is here described as engaged was not entered on till the night after the vision. Take tliy father's second bullock—The Midianifes had probably reduced the family herd; or, as Gideon's father was a<ldicted to idolatry, tlie best may have been fattened for the service of Baal; so that the second was the only remaining one erty, and even life Itself is in jeopardy from the attacks of those prowling marauders. The vast horde of Midian-
Ites that overran Canaan made them the greatest scouriie which had ever afflicted the Israelites, made dens in the mountains and caves—Not, of course, excavating them, fit for sacrifice to Goil. tlirow down the altar of Raal that thy father hath—Standing upon his ground, though kept lor the common use of tlie townsmen, cut down the grove that is by it—Dedicated to Ashtaroth. 'With the aid of ten confidential servants he demolished the one altar, and raised on the appointed spot the altar of the Lord; but, for fear of opposition, the work had to be done under cover of night. A violent commotion was excited next day, and vengeance vowed against Gideon as the perpetrator. " Jo.ash, his father, quieted the mol) In a manner similar to that of the town-clerk of Ephesns. It was not for them to take the matter Into thoir own hands. The one, however, made an appeal to the magistrate; the other to the idolatrous god himself." [Chalmers.]
for they were there already, but making them fit for habitation.
7-10. A Prophet Rebfkes them, then the Lord sent a prophet iinto the children of Israel—The curse of the national calamity is authoritatively traced to their infidelity as the cause.
ll-l(i. An Angel sends Gideon to Deliver them. there came an angel of the Lord—He appeared in the character and equipments of a traveller (ii. 21), who sat down in the shade to enjoy a little refreshment and repose, and entering into conversation on the engrossing topic of the times, the grievous oppression of the Midianites, began urging Gideon to exert his well-known prowess on behalf of his country. Gideon, in replying, addresses him at first in a style equivalent (in Jlrhrrw) to "sir," but afterwards gives to him the name usually applied to God. an onii—IIelyrew, the oak—as famous in after-times. Ophrah—A city in the tril)e of Manasseh, about sixteen miles north of Jericho, in the district belonging to the family of Abiezer (Joshua 17.2). his son Gideon threshed wheat by the wine-press—This incident tells emphatically the tale of public, distress. The small quantity of grain he was threshing, indicated by his using a flail Instead of the customary treading of cattle—the unusual place—near a wine-press, under a tree, and on the bare ground, not a wooden floor, for t he prevention of noise—all these circumstances reveal the extreme dread in which the people were living. 13. if the Lord be with ns, why then is all this befallen us? —Gideon's language betrays want of reflection, for the very chasti.sements God had brought on his people showed his presence with, and his interest In, them. 14. The Lord looked upon him, and said, Go In this tliy gtren Rtli: have not I sent thee T—The command and the promise made Gideon aware of the real character of his visitor, and yet like Moses, from a sense 'of humility, or a shrinking at the magnitude of the undertaking, he excused himself from entering on the enterprise. And even though assured that, with the Divine aid, he would overcome the Mldlanltes as eiusily as If they were but one man, he still hesitates and wishes to be better assured that the mission was really from God. He reseml)le8 Moses also In the desire for a sign ; and In both mises it was the rarity of revelations in such periods of general corruption that made them so desirous of having the fullest conviction of being addressed by a heavenly mrsnengiT. The request was reasonable, and It wasgra(dously granted.
The Signs. 33. all the Midianites pitched in Jezreel—The confederated troops of Midian, Amalek, and their neighbours, crossing tlie Jordan to make a fresh inroad on Canaan, and encamped in the plains of Esdraelon (anciently Jezreelt. The southern part of the Ghor lies In a very low level, so that there Is a steep and difficult descent into Canaan by the southern wadys. Keeping this in view, wo .see the reason wliy the Blidlanite army, from the cast of Jordan, entered Canaan by the northern wadys of the Ghor, opposite .Tezreel. 34. the Spirit of tlie Lord came upon Gideon—Called in this sudden emergency Into the public service of his country, he was supernaturally endowed with wisdom and energy commensurate with the magnitude of the danger nm) the dItTiculfies of his position. His war-summons wa.< enthnsiastieally obeyed by all the nelglitiouring tribes. On the eve of a perilous enterprise, he sought to fortify his mind with a fresh assurance of a Divine call to the responsible ofilce. The miracle of the fleece was a very remarkable one—especially, considering the copious dews that fall in his eountiy. The Divine patience and condescension were wonderfully manifested In reversing the form of the minicle. Gideon himself seems to have been conscious ot Incurring the displeasure of God by his hesitancy and doubts; but He bears with the Infirmities of His people.
CHATTER VII.
Ver. 1-,S. GinEON'8 Army. 1. .TembbaJtl—Tills had now become Gideon's honounible snnuime, "the enemy of Bnal." well—rather " spring of Ha rod," i. e.," fear, trembling"— probably the same as the fountain In Jezrool l7-r!2. Gideon's PRB3KNT Consumed BY Fire. is. tiepart not hence, I pray thee, until 1 bring my prewent —Jlrhrcii), my minchn, or meat offering; and his iilea jirol)-
(1 Samuel 2!>. 1 ). It was situated not far fi'om Gllbr.-i, oa the contlnes of Manasseh, and the name "Hnrod" was bestowed <m It with evident reference to the panic which seized the majority of Gideon's troops. The host of ttie Mldlanltes were on the northern side of the valley, seemingly deeper down In the descent towards the Jordan, near a little eminence, 'i. the Lord said unto Gideon, ab'iy was to prove, by his visitor's partaking of the entertainment, whether or not he was more than num. 10. Gideon went in, and made ready a kid ; the flesh lie put In a baitkct, and he put the I>i'oth in a pot—(Kee on
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