Judges 5:1
_Debbora probably composed this most flowery and animated canticle, ver. 3, 7. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Debbora probably composed this most flowery and animated canticle, ver. 3, 7. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Lord. Hebrew may have different senses: "bless the Lord for having avenged Israel, the people willingly exposing themselves, or shewing their concurrence." Roman Septuagint, "What was hidden has been disclosed in Israel, when the people shewed their good will, bless the Lord." Pora, which the Vulgat... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kings. She invites all who have authority, whether in or out of Israel, to attend unto the dispensations of Providence. God alternatively cherishes and corrects his people. David makes a similar appeal to all kings and judges, Psalm ii. 10. --- It is I. She dwells with a degree of rapture on the th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Edom. Sinai, where God gave his law amid thunder and lightning, was situated in Idumea. (Calmet) --- God displayed his glory on this mountain, and also on Mount Seir, Deuteronomy xxxiii. 2. Some believe that Debbora compares the wonders which attended the late victory, with those which God wrought... [ Continue Reading ]
_The paths rested. The ways to the sanctuary of God were unfrequented; and men walked in the bye-ways of error and sin. (Challoner) --- Though Samgar and Jehel were so remarkable for their valour, as they had manifested on a late occasion, yet they did not prevent the incursions of the enemy both on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Valiant. Hebrew is also translated, "the villages ceased," as no one thought himself in safety out of the strong cities. --- Until. Hebrew, "until I, Debbora, arose, that I arose, a mother," &c. The Holy Ghost obliges her to declare her own praises. She deserved the glorious title of "mother of her... [ Continue Reading ]
_Israel. What could be more astonishing and new, than this method of warfare, in which a few unarmed Israelites gain the victory over an immense army, and oblige the general, to leap from his chariot, that he may escape observation? A woman calls to battle. Hebrew is rather different, "They chose ne... [ Continue Reading ]
_Princes. Hebrew, "legislators," governors, judges. I cannot refuse them due praise, and I invite them earnestly to bless the Lord, ver. 2._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fair asses. Hebrew, "shining, white, or of divers colours, particularly red and white, with which the people were accustomed to paint their asses. (Bochart) --- The rich Arabians paint the back part red. (Tavernier iii. 5.) --- The Persians also give a yellowish hue to their horses as well as to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Choaked in the waters of the Cison, and of Mageddo, ver. 19, 21. Hebrew is very obscure: "from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there shall they relate the justices of the Lord, the righteous acts of his villages, ( or brave men) then shall the people of the Lord go down to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Captives. Hebrew, "Take thy captivity prisoner." Hold those in subjection who so lately domineered over you. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Remnants. Many of the Israelites had been slain by Jabin, but the Lord enabled the valiant Barac to requite him. Hebrew, "Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people. The Lord made me rule over the mighty." Barac and Debbora were raised from an humble state to gov... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of Ephraim, &c. The enemies struggling in their flight, were destroyed, as they were running through the land of Ephraim, and of Benjamin, which lies after, that is, beyond Ephraim; and so on the very confines of Amalec. Or, it alludes to former victories of the people of God, particularly that... [ Continue Reading ]
Exposed. Hebrew, "he was sent on foot into the vale," to contend with the 900 chariots of Sisara. Issachar boldly followed him in battle. They came down with such fury and speed, as if they were falling headlong down a precipice. (Haydock) --- Sisara presently turned his back, being affrighted with... [ Continue Reading ]
_Borders, trusting in the strength of thy situation. Ruben was protected on all sides by the rivers Jordan, Arnon, and Jaboc._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Galaad was inhabited by the tribes of Gad and Manasses; and took no part in this war. (Calmet) --- Dan. Hebrew, "Why did not Dan remain in ships?" Debbora now rebukes those who lived on the west side of the Jordan, as well as those on the east. Dan might think himself remote enough from the kingdom... [ Continue Reading ]
_Merone. Hebrew, "In the heights of the field, or of Merome." Some take this place to be the lake Semechon, but we have endeavoured to shew that it was in the vicinity of Thanac, Josue xi. 5. (Calmet) --- Thabor was in the midst of a great field or plain. (Du Hamel) --- Barac seems to have been at t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spoils. So far from it, they even lost their lives. (Menochius) --- Hebrew, "they took no piece ( or gain) of money." If we understand this of the Israelites, we nay say that they stopped not to plunder the slain, nor would they suffer any to redeem their life by the promise of a great ransom. What... [ Continue Reading ]
Stars, or angels, who are compared to the stars, and often fought for Israel, 2 Machabees x. 29. (Vales, Philos. chap. xxxi.) (Calmet) --- The favourable and malignant influences of the stars, which the Rabbins talk of, would here be nugatory, (Haydock) unless they might contribute to bring on rain.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dragged. Protestants, "swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon." --- Cadumim, which the Protestants translate ancient, (Haydock) means also eastern. The former epithet seems very insignificant. Some assert, that the Cison divided its streams about Mount Thabor, and one part ran toward... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER V. Meroz. Where this land of Meroz was, which is here laid under a curse, we cannot find: nor is there mention of it any where else in holy writ. In the spiritual sense, they are cursed who refuse to assist the people of God in their warfare against their spiritual enemies. (Challoner) ---... [ Continue Reading ]
_Among. Hebrew, "above." After cursing those who befriended the enemy, Debbora pronounces a blessing upon Jahel. (Haydock) --- The blessed Virgin is surely still more entitled to praise. (Worthington) --- Tent. It was esteemed a mark of virtue for a woman to keep at home. (Drusius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dish. Hebrew sephel; whence the symplue of the Lydians, Tuscans, and Romans, was probably derived, denoting a bowl or jug with a handle, designed for libations. They were formerly made of potter's ware, fictilibus prolibatur sympuciis, or sympulis. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xxxv. 13.) "Aut quis---... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sisara. Hebrew says with the hammer; (Protestants,) "she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken ( the nail) through his temples." But we may rather translate, (Haydock) "she pierced his head, she struck it, and pierced through this temples." (Calmet) --- For we cannot suppose that sh... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wretched. Hebrew, "he expired where he fell down." (Haydock) --- Debbora represents Jahel as ready to tread the unhappy Sisara under her feet, if he should offer to stir. She thrice repeats his death._... [ Continue Reading ]
_His mother, &c. This poetical imagination is very natural. --- Room. Hebrew, "through the lattices," eshnab, of which the windows then consisted, Proverbs vii. 6. (Calmet) --- Horses. Protestants, "why tarry the wheels of his chariots?" (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wives. This is not expressed in Hebrew, "his wise ladies answered her," or joined in her lamentations. Then the mother comforted herself with the hope that they might possibly be employed in dividing the spoils. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "yea she answered herself, Have they not gained the victory? have... [ Continue Reading ]
_Necks. Hebrew, "the spoils of various colours, the embroidery of divers colours, on both sides, for the necks (of the captors) of the spoil." (Haydock) --- Or more simply, "for the neck (general) of the army;" (Vatable) or "the necks of the soldiers," who will be laden with the abundance of spoils.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rising. Hebrew, when he goeth forth in his might." Let the just advance in virtue, and glory, as the sun becomes more beautiful and hot as he leaves the horizon, on a clear summer day. This comparison is often applied to the servants of God, Ecclesiasticus xvi. 16., 2 Kings xxiii. 5., and Matthew x... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forty. Usher says only 20 from the victory of Barac. Potau and other able chronologers allow the full term of 40 years, after that event. See chap. iii. 11. (Haydock) --- Barac was buried at Cedes, where Benjamin (Itin.) saw his tomb. (Calmet) --- Ozi, the high priest for the last 40 years, was suc... [ Continue Reading ]