Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Judges · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
HEre is shewed, how the Israelites sinning againe they were brought under V. 1, 2, 3.by Iabin King of Canaan 20. yeares, hee raigned in Hazor, and the Captaine of his Hoast was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles, and had 900 Charriots of Iron. All their former oppressions by the Mesopotamians, and Moabites did them no good any longer then Ehud lived, and seeing the Philistims also subduedby Shamgar, they thought themselves safe from all Enemies, and now having enjoyed 80. yeares of peace, they abuse this great mercy, turning it into an occasion of renewing their idolatry. But another Jabin, King of Hazor, of the race happily of that Jabin, Josh. 11. 1. whom Joshua slew and burnt his City, v. 10. who therefore might not seeme formidable to them, now subdueth them, and that longer then any enemy before, even 20 yeares; and God is said to have sold them into his hand: whereby Ferus noteth, that their miserable case is intimated, that Ferus.they were used like beasts, which are bought and sold, to carry burthens, and are pressed intolerably. And it is not likely, that it could be otherwise considering his great power, and inveterate malice, that must needs bee in him and his people, remembring how cruelly in times past the Israelites had destroyed their King, city and people; wherefore to expresse this it is added, hee mightily oppressed them. Thus far some enemies before subdued Note. and made contemptible, are made strong against their conquerers, and subdue them, and make them slaves, then which nothing can be more grievous. Some referre this, He dwelt in Harosheth, to Jabin and not to Sisera, Theodoret.because Hazor was burnt downe to the ground; but who knoweth not, Josh. 11. 10.that it might long before this be built againe, it being since that time above 120 yeares? And in that he is said to have reigned in Hazor, it is plainly intimated that he dwelt there, but his Captaine for the defence of his Kingdome, in Harosheth, a place happily more convenient to issue from against the enemy. Harosheth of the Gentiles was so called, because people Lyra.of divers nations dwelt there, so Lyra, see the like, Josh. 12. 23.
Now Deborah a Prophetesse, the wife of Lapidoth, judged Israel at that time, V. 4. R. Solomon.&c. For these words, the wife of Lapidoth, Rab. Solomon, hath it, a woman of lights, because shee either made lights for the Temple, or was full of heavenly light by the Spirit, taking the word Lapidoth appellatively, and not properly, and the word foreign here used for a woman, and not for a wife, and thus many other Rabbins after him of latter times. But both the Sept. and Jerom render it, the wife of Lapidoth, and R. David, and other Rabbins of old, and the Fathers generally. But it is questioned, who this Lapidoth R. David. Hugo de sancto Victore.was, and whether shee were his wife at this time? Some hold that Lapidoth was Barak, of whom it is spoken immediately after. But their divers dwelling sheweth the contrary, hers in Mount Ephraim, and his in Nephtali, and if Barak had beene hee, the name Lapidoth would sometime have beene used againe after this, and not Barak onelyonly. To the next some say that her husband Ambrosi de viduis. Hieronym. ad Fu…am de viduitate. Ferus.was dead, and shee was now a widow: But Jerom saith that they teach unskilfully, that say shee was a widow, because shee is called the wife of Lapidoth, intimating that shee was then a wife, which is most probable, and Ferus hereupon noteth not onelyonly that the sex of the woman is in Gods favour as well as the mans, but the marryed, as well as the single, seeing the spirit of prophesie was given to a marryed woman. But how is shee said to have judged Israel? Answ. Not as other Iudges, giving sentence in publike places, and providing for the execution thereof, for so shee could not, whilst they were under Jabin, seeing hee being so bitter an enemy would never have permitted that, for feare of rebellion, when they should have assembled together to her judgement seat, but shee judged Israel, that is, delivered Israel at that time, the manner whereof here followeth, shee by the spirit of prophesie stirred up Barak to gather an army, and went with him, and so the Canaanites were destroyed, and Israel delivered.
And shee dwelt under the Palme tree of Deborah, betweene Ramah and Bethel, in Mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgement. The V. 5.word rendred dwelt, signifieth either dwelt, or sat, the latter of which is followed by the Sept. and Jerom, and it seemeth best, because Judges used to sit to heare and judge of causes; and a setled dwelling could not so well be under a tree, but there shee might fit in the fields and bee resorted to for judgement more secretly, which could not bee without danger in a City in those dayes, when they were servants to a stranger, that tyrannised over them, or being indued with the spirit of prophesie, the same whereof was soone spread amongst the children of Israel, they hoping now to have reliefe by her in this their misery came to her by stealth, as they might, to the tree, where shee for a time had taken up her abode to be directed what to doe, that Gods favour might bee restored unto them, and they delivered from this grievous oppression. And this was done in Mount Ephraim, that is, some one mountaine in that tribe, the lot whereof was all mountainous. Of the Mountaine Ephraim, and Ehuds blowing the trumpet there, see also before, Judg. 3. 7. The palme-tree was called the palme-tree of Deborah, because shee so famous a woman aboad there to judge the people. From hence shee sent for Barak, the sonne of Abinoam, out of Kedesh Naphtali, and stirred him up to take 10000 V. 6.men out of Naphtali and Zebulun, and to goe to Mount Tabor, &c. Kedesh Naphtali was 84. miles from this palme tree, and in the tribe of Naphtali H. B Patriarks travailes.stood Hazor, the chiefe City of Jabin, wherefore a Naphtalite is stirred up against him, where hee most oppressed. Zebulun is joyned with Naphtali, because that tribe lay next to him. From Kedesh Naphtali to Tabor, to which place hee must goe with his men, was 36. miles; this was a fruitfull hill in the north upon the borders of Issacbar and Zebulun, extending it selfe to the river Kishon on the south: here Christ was transfigured, Math. 17. As there was a Kedesh in Naphtali, so there was a City of the same name in Issachar, 1 Chro. 6. and another in Judah, Josh. 13. 15. and therefore to distinguish this from them it is called Kedesh Naphtali; Jerom saith it was in the upper Galilee, being in his time called Cidissum. Touching Barak wee finde no more, but that he was of this tribe, and the Sonne of Abinoam, although Hieren. in Lo-Hebr.Ambrose thinketh him to have beene the sonne of Deborah, but without all ground or probability, and therefore Jerom saith, that sic inscite opinatur.
Barak saith to Deborah, if thou wilt goe up with me, I will goe up, but if thou V. 8.wilt not, I will not goe up. It may bee doubted here, whether Barak sinned not by timerousnesse and unbeleife, seeing Deborah spake not to him in her owne name, but in the name of the Lord God of Israel, v. 6. Ferus bringeth divers things to excuse him at the first, then taketh away these excuses, and lastly commendeth his faith. For first it was a woman, that spake Ferus.unto him, which sex is variable and inconstant. 2. Shee confirmed him not by shewing any miracle. 3. The thing commanded him seemed to be impossible. To all which hee answereth, that shee was known to be a prophetesse, which was not at the first without some miracles, whereby shee was inaugurated to that office, and therefore hee should presently have obeyed, shee speaking to him from the Lord: and as for the impossibility pretended, hee could not bee ignorant, that God had given as great overthrowes, to as mighty enemies before, when his people cryed unto him. Therefore, saith hee, it was not out of diffidence or timerousnesse, that hee answered her thus, but because shee had the spirit of prophesie, and it seemed necessary to him, that she should goe along with him, still more to confirme his faith by her presence in so dangerous an expedition. 2. That she might in all things direct him, that he might not erre, but goe according to the word of God by which hee onelyonly is desired to bee guided, for this time and manner of the fight. 3. That by her presence the more authority might be purchased unto him, that no man might thinke that hee attempted the great worke of his owne head, but by direction from the Lord. And therefore he is commended, Heb. 11. 32. for his faith. Thus he. But Barak cannot bee excused from all fault, seeing hee was for this threatned by Deborah, that this expedition should not bee for his honour, yet his fault was not great, and his faith was so great, that it was not imputed unto him. Hee denyed not to goe, as hee was commanded, but hee desired to have Deborah along with him for his further direction, and to move her to this onelyonly, hee said, I will not goe, unlesse thou goest with mee. To expresse this the Sept. have this clause, which the Hebr. text hath not, foreign, because I knew not the day, that the Lord will send his Angell with mee. And answerable to this, it is said v. 14. This is the day, &c.
God shall sell Sisera into the hands of a woman: how this is meant see v. 12. V. 9.this woman was Jael, who killed him, although some thinke it was Deborah, under whom the victory was obtained.
Barak having Deborah with him, cometh to Kedesh, and calleth together V. 10.10000. men, as hee was directed, and marcheth on with them: a poore company, as Ferus noteth, and that out of two of the meanest tribes, in comparison of the army with Sisera, which consisted, as Josephus hath it, of 100000 foot, and 10000. horse, besides 900 Chariots of iron. What could others thinke of this, but as of a rash attempt, rather to provoke the enemy to tyrannize more, then to subdue him? but Barak trusted in the word of God and prevailed.
Before any thing more set downe touchig Barak, to prepare to the History V. 11.of Jaels exploit, the wife of Heber, which followeth v. 18. something is here interposed touching him; hee had severed himselfe from the Kenites, of whom hee was one, and pitched his tent in the plaine of Zanaim, neare Kedesh. This is set downe because Ch. 16. the Kenites, that came of Hobab Moses his Father in Law, are said to have gone and dwelt in the wildernesse of Judah, that it might not seeme strange, that one of them dwelt here in Naphtali, at this time For after their remove from Jericho to Judah, it seemeth, that Heber, by a singular providence was separated from the rest, that his wife might doe such a noble act, as this, the killing of Sisera. But still he followed their orders, hee dwelt not in a towne, but abroad in a tent; see my notes upon Ch. 1. 16. For a plain, where he is said to have pitched his tent, Hebr. is, foreign an oake, or grove, as the Sept. render it, and Pagninus, Cajetan, and others; and it is most likely, that it was a solitary place, and so fit for contemplation, amongst the trees, in which kinde of places the Kenites chose to dwell; and here Sisera might well thinke to lye hid, when being overcome afterwards he fled away to save his life. Junius also rendereth Iunius.it, quercetum. Sanaim, is also called Saananim, Josh. 19 33. being placed in the tribe of Naphtali, and so it is in the margin. Barak being come V. 12, 13.to Tabor, Sisera cometh out against him with a mighty army, and his 900 chariots of iron. Tabor was an high hill, and round, situated upon the borders of Issachar and Zabulon, from whence they might see afarre off. It Adrichomius.was 30. furlongs high, saith Adrichomius, and had upon the top of it a plaine, 26 furlongs over, being unaccessible on the north, and it was a most fit place for Barak to gather his men unto, as being neare the tribes, out of which, and not far from Harasheth, so that Sisera could not but soone heare of them. It hath the name from Bor, signifying purity and serenity, and Adrichomius accordingly describeth it to bee most delightfull for the sweet aire, trees, fruits, flowers and all varieties of delights. When Sisera was come, Deborah V. 14, 15, 16incourageth Barak, telling him, that was the day, and that the Lord was gone out before him; whereupon hee descendeth with his men from the mount, and discomfiteth all Sisera his army: &c. For this word, discomfited them, the Vulgar Latin hath, terrified them, and this saith Lyra after Josephus, was done as Josh. Lyra.10. 10. by thunder and hailestones cast downe from heaven, which destroyed them, and 1 Sam. 7. 10. for in both these places the same word foreign is used, that in this place in our translation is rendred alwayes, discomfited, in the Vulgar Latin terrified. How God discomfited Sisera, is not here expressed, and therefore is uncertaine, whether by thunder and haile, or by causing a noise to be heard, as afterward by the Aramites. But something was certainly done from heaven, as appeareth, Ch. 5. 20. whereby the enemies were put to flight, and many of them for feare run into the river Kishon, and were drowned, as v. 21. And the slaughter was so generall, that not one of them escaped, saving Sisera, who fled on foot to the tent of Heber, whose wife Iael kindely invited him to come in; for there was peace betwixt Iabin and Heber, &c. Here V. 17, 18.a question may bee moved, whether Jaels fact in killing Sisera, may bee justified, or not; both because there was a league betwixt her husband and Iabin, and their houses, and shee promised him a secure being there, so that her dealing seemeth to bee most perfidious and worthy to bee condemned, as being against the law of nature, and of all nations. To this Lyra answereth, that yet it is certaine, that Jael herein did well, because shee is commended Lyra.by Deborah a prophetesse, Ch. 5. 24. Jabin was a tyrant, and Sisera under him oppressed the people of God, of whom Jael was one by religion, and God did now miraculously shew, that it was his will, that hee and his Army should perish by fighting against him from heaven, therefore shee seeing this, did but apply her selfe to the will of God in doing execution upon the wicked, for which she is rather to be praised, as doing a worke meritorious, then condemned, as sinning herein. For the covenant objected, haply it was but peace granted to Heber her husband for tribute, and if otherwise, and hee had bound himselfe by Covenant, yet the woman was not bound. Lastly it may be thought, that as Deborah spake by the Spirit of Sisera falling by the hands of a woman, so Jael did this act against him by the instinct of the same Spirit. Thus he, who yet acknowledgeth, that there was fault in Iael, in that shee lyed and dissembled with Sisera, as the midwifes of Egypt had done before, and Judith after; wherfore this was not commended in her, but her love to the people of God, and desire of their deliverance. And Ferus.Ferus speaketh to the same effect, saying, that God had before authorized Jael to kill Sisera, when hee said, I will sell him into the hand of a woman; so that it was her duty thus to doe, as having one in her power now, that God had proscribed, and out-lawed as it were. Even as when the Emperour hath proscribed and condemned any man to death, it is the duty of every Subject to kill him, if he can, notwithstanding any former league. Yet hee taxeth her dissembling also, but praiseth her great faith and wonderfull love, in that against the timerous nature of her sex shee durst attempt such a mighty man as Sisera. I hold with these and all other expositors, that Jaels fact was warrantable and laudable: but whereas lying is imputed to her, I can see no ground for that, seeing she spake nothing falsly, but onelyonly made a shew of friendship, and did the contrary, as one enemy in the time of warre may deale with another in policy to circuvment him. As for any former league, Ferus saith well, the Emperour of the whole world had disannulled now that, and therefore shee was not bound hereby; The Lord having now made it known, that hee should be destroyed, and that by a woman.
Sisera having enred the tent, lay downe and shee covered him, and hee asking V. 20. 21.water of her to drinke, she gave him milke, as which was more apt to bring him to a sleep, then he being fast asleep, she tooke a naile of the tent, & an hammer and smote it into his temple, and so through to the ground. The Sept. for naile have a wooden pin, which served to fasten the tent to the ground, foreign, but Josephus calleth it foreign, and such rather it must needs be to pierce his skul, that it might be sharpe enough, and it must be of a good length to pierce through to the ground.V. 22, 23, 24.
Sisera being thus slaine by Jael, Barak cometh to seeke him, and Jael bringeth him in, and sheweth him his dead body: and touching Iabin the king, it is said that the Israelites prevailed against him, till they had destroyed him. Mystically, saith Ferus, hee that will overcome the Devill, set forth by Sisera, must doe it by nailes and hammer, that is, by Christ pierced with nailes driven with hammer, when hee was fastened to the crosse, and by faith in him.