The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 137
SECT. CXXXVII.
AFter this Victory Deborah being a Propheteſs, compoſed (as 'tis thought) a Triumphant Song, and She and Barak, and the Commanders of the Army, and the Elders of the people, Sang it together, to the Glory of God, who ſubdued their Foes before them. They begin thus, Praiſe ye the Lord for avenging of Iſrael, when the people offered themſelves willingly; principally hereby intending Zebulun and Naphtali, who firſt appeared, and came in as Voluntiers, at the ſound of the Trumpet, Barak having no Authority to preſs them to this Service. But with them alſo ſome others joyn'd in the day of Battel, viz. Ephraim, Manaſſeh, Iſſachar, verſ. 14, 15. Then in a Poetical ſtrain ſhe calls upon Kings and Princes to hear what ſhe had to ſay concerning this great Work which God had done for Iſrael, and ſhe addreſſeth her Speech the rather to them, becauſe they are wont oftentimes in their Pride to Oppreſs others, and therefore ſhe deſires they might underſtand what God had done to Jabin and Siſera, and ſo might take heed of provoking God, by Oppreſſing his people, as theſe had done. And the better to expreſs how terrible God had now been to their Adverſaries, ſhe compares the Terrors of this day with thoſe when the Law was given on Mount Sinai. Lord when thou cameſt out of Seir, when thou marchedſt out of the Field of Edom, the Earth trembled; that is, when the Children of Iſrael ſtood at Mount Sinai, from the Eaſt (where was Edom and Mount Seir) a divine Splendor from the fiery Cloud began firſt to appear to them, and ſeeming to come from that Region, drew nigher and nigher to them, till it reſted on the Mountain [ſee Deut. 33.2. Pſal. 86.7, 8.] Then the Earth trembled, and the Heavens dropped; that is, the Clouds ſeem'd to be diſſolved into extraordinary Showers and Storms. The Mountains melted, and trembled, and ſhook, even Sinai it ſelf, (s)Elegans poëtica Hyperbole. Etiam Reges ferocientes comparantur montibus, Pſal. 68.17.and ſeem'd to flow away at thy preſence. And as thou didſt at that time wonderfully appear at Sinai, cauſing thoſe prodigious Effects of thy Preſence to be felt, ſo did thy Majeſty and Power now at this battel no leſs appear for us againſt our Enemies. She goes on, The Caſe was very ſad with us before; For from the days of Shamger (who was indeed a Deliverer of us from our Enemies) unto this preſent time wherein Jael appeared, and ſhewed her ſelf a worthy Inſtrument of our good; we lay under great Oppreſſions, inſomuch that the High-ways being kept by Souldiers, all Trading was cut off, people not daring to travel but in by-ways; nor to live in Villages, but only in walled-Cities, whither they fled to ſecure themſelves, till God was pleaſed by me (a poor woman) to ſet on foot this glorious Work of our Deliverance, who as a Propheteſs teaching them God's Will, and what He would have them to do, (and with no leſs care ſeeking their good, than a loving Mother doth her dear Childrens,) I encouraged them to this War, which hath ſucceeded ſo well. If any ask a reaſon of the Calamities we were under? Alas! we muſt needs acknowledge the Iſraelites, by ſhameful Apoſtacy, fell away from God, and his true Worſhip, and worſhipped Heathen Idols; hereupon the Lord raiſed againſt them cruel Enemies on every ſide, who made Inroads into their Land, and many times came up to the very Gates of their Cities; And they were ſo diſpirited with fear, and faintneſs of heart, that not a man among the many thouſands of Iſrael durſt take up a Shield or Spear againſt their Enemies, ſee Levit. 26.36. She goes on, I cannot but highly honour the Heads and Rulers of the people, who (though having great Eſtates) were as willing to hazard themſelves in this War, as the meaner ſort, who have ſcarce any thing to loſe; and ſuch grave and ancient Perſons are not uſually ſo fit for War as younger men; and therefore it argued an Heroick Spirit in them to put to their helping hand among the meaneſt in this Cauſe of God, and their Examples no doubt had a great influence to draw on many of the meaner ſort. And (ſays ſhe) let all thoſe men of honour and eminency, viz. Magiſtrates and Judges, (that ſit in the Seat of Judgment, and uſe to ride up and down on white Aſſes, *Riding on Aſſes was it ſeems a Note of great and honourable Perſons in that time, ſee Judg. 12.14. and it ſeems white Aſſes were in principal eſteem.) and ſo likewiſe let all the common ſort of people, that travel on foot from one place to another, let them all in their ſeveral places ſpeak of this great Deliverance which God hath wrought for his people. For whereas before all the High-ways of the Land were peſtered with Souldiers, ſo that there was no ſtirring with any ſafety from one place to another, and ſo all the whole courſe of Juſtice was in a manner ſtopped; now the Judges might ſit in Judgment as formerly, and might ride up and down upon their white Aſſes, according to their wonted manner, which before they could not do, and the common people of all ſorts might now paſs to and fro, and travel ſafely about their occaſions. Now the Country-people that us'd to be aſſaulted and ſurprized by their Enemies, when they went to the Wells and Fountains to fetch water, are delivered from this danger, and may freely go thither, and there declare the righteous Acts of God in deſtroying their Enemies: and may alſo now freely frequent the Cities on Court or Marketdays. Upon conſideration of all theſe Mercies, Deborah rouſes up her ſelf to praiſe the Lord with all her Soul and Strength. Awake Deborah, awake, utter thy Song; Ariſe Barak, and lead thy Captivity Captive; that is, now after thy Victory lead thoſe Captive that kept us formerly in Captivity, Pſal. 68.18. And after thou haſt led them in Triumph, let thoſe of the Canaanites (whom thou haſt taken) be ſlain, as God hath commanded; and let thoſe of other Nations that are taken with them be reſerved for Slaves. Thus God made the poor deſpiſed remainders of his people, reſcued by this Victory out of the Tyranny of the Canaanites, to have Dominion over their Nobles, even their great and mighty men. Yea the Lord hath made me (ſays Deborah) though a weak woman, to have Dominion over the Mighty, and by my Counſel and Encouragement to ſubdue great Princes and Commanders. Then Deborah relates how the ſeveral Tribes acquitted themſelves in this Expedition, praiſing or blaming them according to their Deſerts. Firſt, She begins with Ephraim; out of Ephraim was there a root of them againſt Amalek; that is, one riſing of the Iſraelites againſt our Enemies did ſpring up from Ephraim, and thoſe of this Tribe (that armed themſelves for the War) were aſſign'd by Barak to go againſt the Amalekites to Encounter them, and keep them from coming and joyning their Forces with thoſe of Jabin's, whilſt Barak with his Army went againſt Siſera. Machir was the only Son of Manaſſeh, and ſo by the Children of Machir are meant the Tribe of Manaſſeh.And after thee, that is, after you of Ephraim were in Arms, ſome of Benjamin came and mixt themſelves among you to go againſt Amalek; And out of Machir, that is, out of the half-Tribe of Manaſſeh, ſeated within Jordan, ſome of them, yea even of their Governors came down to aſſiſt Barak; and out of Zebulun, even ſome of their Doctors, Scribes and Lawyers, and others that were better at their Pen than Sword, yet came among them to aſſiſt in this Cauſe. And both the Princes and common people alſo of the Tribe of Iſſachar, did readily come in to Deborah and Barak, with whom he marched on foot from Mount Tabor into the Valley, (being ſo commanded by an Inſtinct from God) and willingly expoſed himſelf to great danger in that place, where Siſera had great advantage of Him, coming againſt him with Iron-Chariots and Horſe-men. She then declares how, For the diviſions of Reuben (whereby they were kept from ſending any Aid to their Brethren in this juſt War) there were great heart-burnings and diſcontents. O Reuben (ſays ſhe) why didſt thou deſert thy Brethren, and ſtay at home upon ſo poor a Pretence, as to look after thy Cattel? The Cries and Groans of God's oppreſſed People had been more worthy thy regarding than the bleatings of thy Flocks. For the diviſions of Reuben great Exceptions were taken, and great wondrings and muſings, and ſtrange Conjectures made, that they ſhould deſert their Brethren in ſo juſt a Cauſe. As for the Gileadites, that is, the Tribe of Gad, and the other half-Tribe of Manaſſeh (who had the Country of Gilead for their lot, Joſh. 13.14, &c.) ſhe ſays, They abode beyond Jordan; that is, they pretended they dwelt ſo far off, that they could not come in time enough to the help of Barak. As for Dan, ſhe ſays, He remained in his Ships; that is, the Danites living by the Sea-Coaſt, pretended they were Sea-men and Merchants, and ſo could not, without neglecting their Traffick, engage in this War; and poſſibly they thought that if the War did not ſucceed, they could moſt of them get away in their Ships, and carry their Eſtates with them; and ſo they minded their own private ſafety and profit before the Publick Good. Aſher alſo (that dwelt nigh unto the Sea) pretended that the Breaches and Ruines in the walls of their Cities were ſuch, that they durſt not leave them in ſuch a weak condition, leſt in their abſence the Neighbouring Canaanites ſhould ſeize upon. Theſe were weak Excuſes to keep them from ſo neceſſary a Service which God now called them to. But as for the Children of Zebulun and Naphtali, they ſhewed themſelves brave men indeed; For they fought couragiouſly againſt Siſera, and jeoparded their lives in the high places of the Field, and beat the Enemy from the Hills, and ſought them alſo in the moſt open Vallies. But though ſeveral of the Tribes of Iſrael were backward to help their Brethren, yet Jabin had many Confederate Canaanitiſh Kings that joyned with him, (either in their own Perſons, or by their Forces,) to help him againſt the Iſraelites. And Siſera and his Forces being worſted at Tabor, and flying (as it ſeems) to Taanach, (t)Megiddo an eminent City, which Manaſſeh had in Iſſachar. Joſh. 17.11. not far from Jezreel, and the River Kiſhon. Taanach a Royal City near Megiddo, Joſh. 12.21.and there being re-inforc'd with the Souldiers of theſe Confederate Kings, renewed the battel, but were there totally diſcomfited. And 'tis obſervable, that theſe Confederate Canaanites came not to fight for gain or pay, but out of love to the Cauſe, and out of enmity and hatred to the Iſraelites, from whoſe overthrow they expected much ſpoil. But they got nothing by the bargain, but loſt all they had, and themſelves too: Nay further (ſays ſhe) we may truly ſay that God himſelf fought for us from Heaven. For the Stars in their ſtations, by extraordinary influences at God's appointment, raiſed ſtormy Meteors, and prodigious Thunder and Hail, all which did help to ruine Siſera's Army. The River Kiſhon alſo ſwept them away. For many of them in their flight attempted to get over the River, and were drowned, and their dead bodies were carried down by the ſtream. Then in a Triumphant Gratulation, ſhe cries out, O my Soul, thou haſt trodden down ſtrength; as if ſhe ſhould have ſaid, Oh my Soul, God hath heard thy prayers, and given the Army rais'd at thy Inſtigation Victory over their proud Enemies, who gloried in their ſtrength. Yea though they had many Horſes, high-fed and pampered, yet they prov'd unſerviceable, and did not hurt the Iſraelites, by reaſon that through their overmuch mettal and ſpirit, and their pawings and pranſings, they brake their hoofs, and foundred their feet in that hot, hard, and ſtony-ground. All theſe things (ſays ſhe) declare the wonderful goodneſs of God towards us, and call for high Praiſes and Thanſgivings from us. But the Angel of the Covenant (the Son of God) whoſe Propheteſs I am, hath bid me to call for your Curſes againſt Meroz, and the Inhabitants thereof, who dwelling near to the place where this battel was fought, and as it were within the noiſe of our Trumpets, yet came not forth to the help of the Lords people againſt their mighty Enemies. What the effect of this Curſe was we do not find, but there is no more mention made of this City any where in the Scriptures, which gives occaſion to ſome to ſuſpect that ſome diſmal Fate befel it. But though Meroz was curſed, yet Jael was bleſſed; Bleſſed above women ſhall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, that is, ſhe ſhall be highly extolled and applauded, and many bleſſings ſhall be wiſhed unto her, for her heroick Act in killing Siſera, and people ſhall pray that ſhe may be bleſſed above all women who live in Tents, as ſhe and the Kenites do. Siſera fled to her Tent to hide himſelf, and being very thirſty, asked a little water of her. And ſhe gave him not only water, but Milk and Cream (or poſſibly Buttermilk) and that in a large great Bowl, ſuitable to his Greatneſs and Dignity. He falling aſleep, ſhe gave him a deadly blow on the head with an Hammer. He ſtrove to riſe,(u)V. 27. Eſt haec pulcherrima foreign quares geſta oculis perſpicue quaſi ſubjicitur, & deſcribuntur motus qui proprij ſunc repente & violenta morte pereuntibus. Accepto quippe graviſſimo vulnere conabatur ſurgere, ſed viribus diſtitutus rurſum cadebat, ac inter pedes Jahelis miſere jacebat. but could not, for having received his deaths wound, he fell down again, yea he fell down dead at her feet; ſo ſhe nailed his head to the ground with an iron Pin or Nail, and then cut it off. This was a wonderful diſappointment to Siſera's Mother, who with impatience exſpected his Return with Victory. She looked out at the window, (x)V. 28. Here we have another figurative amplification befitting a Poetical Hymn, whereby is ſuppoſed how it was likely Siſera's Mother, and her Maidens would behave themſelves upon occaſion of his not coming when they expected him. We have here alſo a lively and ironical repreſentation of Pride and carnal Confidence, preſuming of Succeſs in Enterprizes upon carnal grounds, without regard to God's Power and Providence.and asked why is his Chariot ſo long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his Chariot? Her Women about her anſwered her, yea ſhe was ready to give this Anſwer to her ſelf; They have undoubtedly ſped, and now ſtay to divide the Spoil, to every Man a Damſel or two, but to Siſera a prey of divers Colours, of divers Colours of Needle-work, ſo wrought that both ſides are alike, and of equal beauty, and fit to be worn about the Necks of thoſe to whom the beſt Prey belongeth, as great Officers and Commanders, and ſuch as have done beſt Service in the Fight. But alas, ſhe will find her ſelf miſerably deceived, and her Son to be in another condition. So let all thine Enemies periſh, O Lord, but let them that love thee become Proſperous, Glorious and Renowned, and let their Proſperity grow and increaſe daily, as the Sun when it riſeth in a clear Morning doth ſhine brightly and gloriouſly, and that more and more, until it ſhew it ſelf in its greateſt ſtrength and brightneſs at Noon-day, Prov. 4.18. And upon this Victory the Land had Reſt until forty years were up ſince the former Reſt or Peace reſtored by Ehud.
Ch. 5. whole Chapter.