Judges 4:5 Where ambition hath possessed itself thoroughly of the soul, it turns the heart into steel, and makes it uncapable of a conscience. All sins will easily down with the man that is resolved to rise. Bishop Hall. Reference. IX. 8-15. A. Raleigh, From Dawn to the Perfect Day, p. 132. read more
THE SIBYL OF MOUNT EPHRAIMJudges 4:1-24THERE arises now in Israel a prophetess, one of those rare women whose souls burn with enthusiasm and holy purpose when the hearts of men are abject and despondent; and to Deborah it is given to make a nation hear her call. Of prophetesses the world has seen but few; generally the woman has her work of teaching and administering justice in the name of God within a domestic circle and finds all her energy needed there. But queens have reigned with firm... read more
3. Third Declension: Under Jabin, Deborah, and Barak CHAPTER 4 1. Sold into the hand of Jabin (Judges 4:1-2 ) 2. The cry of the children of Israel (Judges 4:3 ) 3. Deborah and Barak (Judges 4:4-11 ) 4. The conflict and Jael’s deed (Judges 4:12-24 ) Ehud the mighty instrument of Jehovah had died, and again the children of Israel lapsed into evil. Then the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin, King of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor. His captain was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of... read more
DEBORAH AND BARAK (vv.1-24) Ehud evidently judged Israel during 80 years of peace, but after his death Israel again turned from the Lord's ways, doing evil in His sight. It is not said what evil, but their lapses apparently always involved worshiping the idols of the nations. On this occasion the Lord delivered Israel into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan (v. 2). Jabin's name means "he will understand," for Canaanites ("traffickers") are keen to discern where they may make material gain,... read more
THE ERA OF DEBORAH THE SE RV ITUDE TO CANAAN (Judges 4:0 ) We met before with “Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor” (see Joshua 11:0 ), but this seems to have been a second of the name who built a new capitol on the ruins of the former one. The Israelites failed to exterminate these enemies on the north, who had now become strong enough to visit them with the severest oppression they had yet experienced, and which lasted twenty years (Judges 4:3 ). Deborah’s appearance on the... read more
Deborah and Her Song Judges 4:0 , Judges 5:0 THE fourth and fifth chapters bring into view quite a host of secondary characters, such as Jabin and his chief captain, Sisera; Deborah and Barak; Heber, and Jael his wife; and in the great song of triumph and judgment names come and go with flashes of colour full of history and criticism. Sometimes we are told of a song that the words are nothing the tune is everything. That may be a happy circumstance as regards some songs, but that criticism... read more
Such, Reader, will be, and such even now is, the sure event of the wars of God's people, who fight under the banner of Jesus. There shall not a man be able to stand before thee all thy days. So run the words of the royal charter to our Joshua Jesus, and his people in him. Joshua 1:5 . read more
Multitude. Josephus allots Sisara the same number of horse and foot as he did to Jabin, whom Josue defeated and slew, chap. xi. 4. But instead of 20,000 chariots, he only gives Sisara 3000, which number appears to be far too great, and unauthorized by the Scripture. (Haydock) read more
10-16. Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots would have advantage against him: he quitted the mountain in dependence on the Divine power; for in the Lord alone... read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 4:16
(16) There was not a man left.—The massacre in all battles in which the fugitives have to escape over a river and contend with a storm is always specially fatal. The memory of this terrible carnage was preserved for years, together with the circumstance that the soil was enriched by the dead bodies (Psalms 83:10). Similarly at Waterloo, the year after the battle a blaze of crimson poppies burst out over the plain, and the harvests of the subsequent years were specially rich.“The earth is... read more