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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 5:24-31

Deborah here concludes this triumphant song, I. With the praises of Jael, her sister-heroine, whose valiant act had completed and crowned the victory. She had mentioned her before (Jdg. 5:6) as one that would have served her country if it had been in her power; now she applauds her as one that did serve it admirably well when it was in her power. Her poetry is finest and most florid here in the latter end of the song. How honourably does she speak of Jael (Jdg. 5:24), who preferred her peace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:26

She put her hand to the nail ,.... Her left hand, as the Septuagint, Arabic, and Vulgate Latin versions express it, and as appears by what follows; she having taken up a pin from her tent, with which it was fastened to the ground, she clapped it to the temples of Sisera: and her right hand to the workman's hammer ; in her right hand she took a hammer, such as carpenters, and such like workmen, make use of, and workman like went about her business she had devised, and was determined upon,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:27

Perhaps at her first approach to him, and attempt to drive the nail, or at the blow she gave, he rose up, but she had done the business so effectually at the first stroke, that he dropped at once, and laid down his head again: at her feet he bowed, he fell ; when she redoubled her blow: where he bowed, there he fell down dead; and struggled and stirred no more ; thus ingloriously did this general of a vast army die. This action is not otherwise to be justified, but by its being done... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:28

The mother of Sisera looked out at a window ,.... Which perhaps looked towards the high road, in which she expected Sisera to return in his chariot with his victorious army; and she was looking out for him, not through fear of any ill that had befallen him, or suspicion of misfortunte, but through impatience to see him in triumph return, wreathed with laurels: and cried through the lattice ; which is but another word for a window, which was not of glass, that being of a later invention,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:29

Her wise ladies answered her ,.... Every one in their turn endeavouring to comfort her and make her easy. The Vulgate Latin version is,"one that was wiser than the rest of his wives;'but they seem rather to be her maids of honour, or ladies of her acquaintance, who were come to pay her a visit, and share in the pleasing sight they expected to have of Sisera: yea, she returned answer to herself ; before they could well give theirs, she soon recollected herself what might be, and must be,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:30

Have they not sped ?.... Or "found" F21 הלא ימצאו "nonne invenient", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Vatablus the enemy, Barak and his army, or the spoil of them? no doubt they have: have they not divided the prey ? doubtless they have, which being large, and the captives many, has taken up much of their time to look over, and make an equal and proper division of, and that most certainly is the cause of the delay: to every man a damsel or two ? or "a womb or two F23... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 5:26

She smote off his head - The original does not warrant this translation; nor is it supported by fact. She smote his head, and transfixed him through the temples. It was his head that received the death wound, and the place where this wound was inflicted was the temples. The manner in which Jael despatched Sisera seems to have been this: Observing him to be in a profound sleep she took a workman's hammer, probably a joiner's mallet, and with one blow on the head deprived him of all... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 5:27

At her feet he bowed - רגליה בין bein ragleyha , "between her feet." After having stunned him she probably sat down, for the greater convenience of driving the nail through his temples. He bowed - he fell - He probably made some struggles after he received the blow on the head, but could not recover his feet. Aeschylus represents Agamemnon rising, staggering, and finally falling, under the blows of Clytemnestra. - Agam. v. 1384. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 5:28

Cried through the lattice - This is very natural: in the women's apartments in the East the windows are latticed, to prevent them from sending or receiving letters, etc. The latticing is the effect of the jealousy which universally prevails in those countries. Why is his chariot so long in coming ? - Literally, Why is his chariot ashamed to come? Dr. Lowth has very justly observed, that this is a striking image of maternal solicitude, and of a mind divided between... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 5:26

Rather “she smote his head, and she struck and pierced through his temple.” read more

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