20 creased his confidence in her. Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. She did not promise this; and seeing him fast asleep, a sudden thought darted into her mind, that she had a fair opportunity of avenging Israel, of rewarding their kindness to her and her ancestors, and destroying a tyrannical 21 oppressor; and she did so. Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, a stake or spike, by which the tent was fastened to the ground, perhaps pointed with iron, 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. This was an evident breach of the laws of hospitality, and an action not to be imitated by us; how far she was to be excused in the sight of God by some secret impulse on her mind, he is the only judge. 22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her [tent,] behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail [was] in his temples. Thus he saw Deborah's prophecy, v. 9. fulfilled, and that Sisera 23 fell by the hand of a woman. So God subdued on that day Ja bin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel, who pur24 sued their victory. 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 and his forces, his people and city, which was the utter ruin of his kingdom: so that we no more hear of any king of Canaan, nor were they able to oppress Israel any more, 1. TH HE corruption of Israel during the long peace they enjoyed, should be a caution to us. They had rest sixty years; but abused their peace, forgot God, and grew proud and wanton. Let us fear, lest this should be our case; and be careful; lest our peace and plenty make us thoughtless and giddy, and lead us to neglect God and our duty if it does so, we must ex-pect that he will raise us up troubles and enemies; we shall forfeit his protection and care, and expose ourselves to every evil and danger. Let us pray that when the church has rest it may be edified. • 2. How easily can God disappoint men in those very things in which they place their confidence! What a figure does Sisera make with nine hundred chariots, and as JOSEPHUS says, three hundred thousand horsemen ! Undoubtedly he looked with contempt on the poor Israelites, because they were on foot: but he was glad to fly on foot himself, after he had seen the destruction of his forces. Thus can God, with infinite ease, disappoint those hopes which are formed without him, and contrary to his will; nay, Who ever trusted in any earthly thing without disappointment? What a figure on the other hand, does this mighty general make in Jael's tent, when nailed to the ground! the stout hearted fall into a deep everlasting sleep; he dies, in this con→ temptible manner, by the hand of a woman. What an affecting lesson of the vanity of human greatness, and the uncertainty of human life! Danger is often near, when least expected, and where we imagine the greatest security to be; let not the strong man glory in his strength. 3. When we are engaged in work which is pleasing to God, we should be courageous and cheerful. Up, says Deborah, is not the Lord gone out before thee? If we have a divine warrant for what we do, we need not be afraid of any enemy nor any danger. Greater is he that is with us, than all those who are against us. Let us adhere to God and our duty, and pursue it with the greatest zeal; and may his promise animate us to resolution and dispatch in all the work we have to do, especially in the work of religion; then may we boldly say, The Lord is our helper, there fore will we not fear. CHAP. V. 1-18. This chapter contains the song of Deborah, one of the finest pieces. of poetry any where to be found. It was then usual to celebrate victories by triumphant songs, to engage attention, to help the memory, and to convey instruction. This opens with beautiful grandeur. 2. THE HEN sang Deborah and Barak* the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, for punishing their enemies for all the wrong they have done to them, when the people willingly offered themselves, cheerfully came together to some grand festival to cele3 brate this victory, and give God the glory of it. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes, and know that the God of Israel is superior to your idols, and able to deliver and defend his people; 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, then thou didst great wonders, destroyedst Sihon and Og; then the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water; a poetical phrase to express the great con Deborah the prophetess composed the song, and Barak, as chief commander, ordered it to be sung in the assembly of the elders, and afterward to be dispersed among the people. sternation they were in. She then mentions a more ancient ap5 pearance of God, at Sinai ; when The mountains melted from before the LORD, [even] that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel. The following verses describe the melan6 choly condition they were in before this time; In the days of Shamgar the son of Arnath, in the days of Jael, the highways, were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways; there was no trading or travelling by reason of Jabin's forces, 7 who robbed and plundered all they met. [The inhabitants of] the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, were obliged to fly to fortified towns, and leave the ground uncultivated, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel, a prophetess, 8 to instruct and take care of them with tender affection. They chose new gods; then [was] war in the gates; the enemy pursued them to the very gates, and put a stop to the courts of justice, which were held there was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? They were either disarmed, as 1 Sam. xiii. 19, 22, or they were so dispirited as not 9 to use them. My heart [is] toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people; I feel great esteem for the chief leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali, who by there example animated others. Bless ye the LORD, who 10 excited them to do so. Speak, ye that ride on white asses, governors and persons of rank, who rode on beautiful asses, which were large, handsome, and valuable creatures: and ye that sit in judgment; judges who sit in the gate, and merchants and travellers who walk by the way; let the highest and the lowest of the people, who all dwell now in safety, speak to the Lord, and 11 speak to one another of his wondrous works. [They that are delivered] from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, shepherds, who could not water their flocks without showers of arrows from enemies hid in the rocks or thickets; there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, [even] the righteous acts [toward the inhabitants] of his villages in Israel; not the acts of Deborah or Barak, but of Jehovah, the author of all: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates, where justice, equity, and regularity are maintained; 12 they shall go out and come in without danger. Awake, awake, Deborah awake, awake, utter a song; she stirs up herself to celebrate this great deliverance with all her powers; and calls upon Barak, saying, Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam, thou who hast led those captive to the house of God, (where this victory was celebrated) who had 13 led Israel captive. Then he made him that remaineth, the small remains of oppressed Israel, to have dominion over the nobles among the people, the heathen their adversaries: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty; she assisted by her counsel and encouragement, and therefore shared in the honours and triumphs of the day. She then proceeds to 14 mention the parties concerned. Out of Ephraim [was there] a root of them against Amalek; a small party of Ephraimites cut off a large party of Amalekites, who were going to assist Sisera; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people, shall be celebrated for their numbers, zeal, and readiness in this business; out of Machir came down governors; that is, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Machir being one of his sons, there came such as were magistrates in their country, and commanders in the army and out of Zebulun they that handled the pen of the writer, studious persons, who, though never bred up to military 15 employment, yet now betook themselves to their arms. And the princes of Issachar [were] with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak he was sent on foot into the valley; their princes and people went with Barak on foot into the valley, to attack the horses and chariots, and exposed themselves to great hazards. For the divisions of Reuben, their differences among themselves, so that they could not agree to join together and assist their brethren against the common enemy, [there were] great thoughts of heart, sad trouble of mind among the Israelites, to see themselves deserted by so great and potent a tribe 16 as Reuben was. Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? They were more affected by the bleatings of the flocks than the groanings and complaints of their brethren ; pretending to take care of their cattle lest they should be plundered: a poor excuse in such a case: for the divisions of Reuben [there were] great searchings of heart, many inquiries what could be the reason; great concern to see their brethren so divided, and such a number more anxious about 17 their beasts than their religion and liberty. Gilead abode beyond Jordan, that is, the other half tribe of Manasseh, and thought they had no concern in the matter; and why did Dan remain in ships, minding their merchandise, and not helping their brethren? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches, or creeks, more concerned about their private af18 fairs than the public good. Zebulun and Naphtali [were] a people [that] jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field, that is, in mount Tabor: these tribes were most oppressed, and most active and unanimous; they feared neither danger nor reproach; and though but a few, ventured their lives and their fortunes against this great army. Nothing is said of Judah and Simeon, as they lay too far south to come. 1. W REFLECTIONS. E may learn hence, how reasonable and proper it is to celebrate God's praises, when he has wrought out defiverance for us. The design of the whole of this composition is to magnify the God of Israel, and to keep up the remembrance of his wonderful works. Our hearts should always be in tune for this, as he is every day doing us good; and particularly when he hath appeared for us in an extraordinary manner; we should then praise him with our whole heart. Awake up, my glory, says David. We should call upon our souls, and all that is within us, to join in this important, necessary, and delightful work. Especially should we praise God for our national peace. The description of Israel's calamity when under oppression, should make us thankful that it is not our's, that we have peace in all our borders, that we enjoy our civil and religious liberties, and that our enemies have been again and again vanquished by us. On these accounts we should call on our souls to bless the Lord, and not forget any of his benefits. We should frequently rehearse these mighty acts of the Lord, and give praise to the God of Israel. Former and latter deliverances claim our regard. To these we owe it that our merchants and tradesmen pursue their occupations in safety, that the high road is occupied, that our villages flourish, and enjoy the fruit of honest labour without fear; especially that we can go up to the house of the Lord, to see his beauty, and to inquire in his temple. Let us take care to keep up the memory of God's great goodness; think of former appearances, and favours of later date; and tell the generation to come, that they also may know the righteousness of the Lord. 2. Divisions, and indifference to good and public services, are very unbecoming true Israelites, and grievous to every pious and generous mind. This was the case with the Reubenites and the other tribes; their affections were alienated from their brethren ; they had lost their zeal for God, and concern for the public interest a case that too commonly occurs. Iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxes cold. The love of ease, the fear of trouble, too great a regard to the interests of this world, the care of their estates, or of their flocks, engage men's attention, and indispose them for active services in God's cause and honour. Many do not care what becomes of the church of God, if they can but get money and live at ease. It is melancholy to see men, who are bound by the same ties, and ought to pursue the same common interest, so divided among themselves, as rather to suffer the common enemy of religion to triumph, than unite together in a noble defence. This is often the case in public affairs; and also in christian societies; yea, in concerns of such importance, as ought to banish entirely every distinguishing name, and animate all to zeal |