12 Awake, awake, Deborali; awake, awake; utter a song: arise, Barak, and m lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

13 Then he made him that remaineth "have

a Isai. 49. 23-b Deut. 32. 16. Ch. 2. 12, 17.-c So 1 Sam. 13. 19, 22, Ch. 4. 3. d Ver, 2- Or, Melitate. (Psa 105. 2 & 145. 5. Ch. 10. 4. & 12 14.-h Psn. 107. 32- Heb. righteousness of the LORD.-k 1 Sam. 12. 7. Ps. 145. 7. 1 Psa. 57. 8.

most signal display of his majesty and mercy, in behalf of their forefathers, Deborah very properly begins her song with a commemoration of this transaction.

Verse 6. The highways were unoccupied] The land was full of anarchy and confusion, being every where infested with banditti. No public road was safe and in going from place to place, the people were obliged to use unfrequented paths.

Verse 7. The villages ceased] The people were obliged to live together in fortified places; or, in great numbers, to protect each other against the incursions of bands of spoilers.

Verse 8. They chose new gods] This was the cause of all their calamities: they forsook Jehovah, and served other gods; and then was war in their gates; they were hemmed up in every place, and besieged in all their fortified cities; and they were defenceless: they had no means of resisting their adversaries; for, even among forty thousand men, there was neither spear nor shield to be seen. The Vulgate gives a strange and curious turn to this verse: Nova bella elegit Dominus, et portas hostium ipse subvertit; "The Lord chose a new species of war, and himself subverted the gates of the enemy." Now, what was this new species of war? A woman signifies her orders to Barak; he takes 10,000 men, wholly unarmed, and retires to mount Tabor, where they are immediately besieged by a powerful and well-appointed army. On a sudden, Barak and his men rush upon them, terror and dismay are spread through the whole Canaanitish army, and the rout is instantaneous and complete. The Israelites immediately arm themselves with the arms of their enemies, and slay all before them: they run, and are pursued in all directions. Sisera, their general, is no longer safe in his chariot; either his horses fail, or the unevenness of the roads oblige him to desert it, and fly away on foot: in the end, the whole army is destroyed, and the leader ingloriously slain. This was a new species of war, and was most evidently the Lord's doings. Whatever may be said of the version of the Vulgate, (and the Syriac and Arabic are something like it,) the above are all facts, and show the wondrous working of the Lord. Verse 10. Ye that ride on white asses] Perhaps mon mns atonoth tsecharoth, should be rendered sleek, or wellfed asses; rendered asinos nitentes, shining asses, by the Vulgate.

Ye that sit in judgment] by a yoshebey al Middin: some have rendered this, ye who dwell in Middin. This was a place in the tribe of Judah, and is mentioned Josh. xv. 61.

And walk by the way.] Persons who go from place to place for the purposes of traffic.

Verse 11. In the places of drawing water] As wells were very scarce in every part of the East, and travellers in such hot countries must have water, robbers and banditti generally took their stations near tanks, pools, and springs, in order that they might suddenly fall upon those who came to drink: and, when the country was badly governed, annoyances of this kind were very frequent. The victory gained now by the Israelites put the whole country under their own government, and the land was eleansed from such marauders. Dr. Shaw, in his account of the seacoast of the Mauritania Cæsariensis, p. 20. mentions a beautiful rill of water that runs into a basin of Roman workmanship, called shrub we krub, "drink and

14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them Pagainst Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also · Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

16 Why abodest thou wamong the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? 2 Asher continued on the seashore, and abode in his breaches.

m Psa. 68. 18-n Psa 49. 14-0 Ch. 3. 27-p Ch. 3. 13.-q Numb. 32 39, 40. r Heb. draw with the pen, &c.- Ch. 4. 14.-t Heb. his feet.-u Or, in the divisions, &c.-v Heb. impressions.-w Numb. 32. 1.-x Or, in-y See Josh. 13. 25, 31. z Josh. 19. 29, 31-a Or, port-b Or, creeks.

be off," because of the danger of meeting with assassins in the place: instead of such danger and insecurity, Deborah intimates that they may sit down at the places of drawing water, and there rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord; the land being now every where in peace, order and good government being restored.

Go down to the gates.] They may go down to the gates to receive judgment and justice as usual. It is well known that the gate was the place of judgment in the East. Verse 12. Lead thy captivity captive] Make those captives who have formerly captivated us.

Verse 13. Made him that remaineth] This appears to be spoken of Barak, who is represented as being only a remnant of the people.

Verse 14. Out of Ephraim-a root of them] Deborah probably means, that out of Ephraim and Benjamin came eminent warriors. Joshua, who was of the tribe of Ephraim, routed the Amalekites a short time after the Israelites came out of Egypt, Exod. xvii. 10. Ehud, who was of the tribe of Benjamin, slew Eglon, and defeated the Moabites, the friends and allies of the Ammonites and Amalekites. Machir, in the land of Gilead, produced eminent warriors; and Zebulun produced eminent statesmen, and men of literature. Probably Deborah speaks here of the past wars, and not of any thing that was done on this occasion; for we know that no persons from Gilead were present in the war between Jabin and Israel. See ver. 17. Gilead abode beyond Jordan.

Verse 15. The princes of Issachar] They were at hand; and came willingly forth, at the call of Deborah, to this important war.

Barak was sent on foot] I have no doubt that ana, without regarding the points, should be translated with his footmen, or infantry. Thus the Alexandrian Septuagint understood it, rendering the clause thus: ovro Bapak eğαreste rečous aurav els Tηy Koilada, "Barak also sent forth his footmen into the valley." Luther has perfectly hit the meaning, Barak mit seinen fuss volcke, Barak with his footmen.

For the divisions of Reuben] Either the Reubenites were divided among themselves into factions, which prevented their co-operation with their brethren; or they were divided in their judgment concerning the measures now to be pursued; which prevented them from joining with the other tribes, till the business was entirely settled.

The thoughts of heart, and searchings of heart, might refer to the doubts and uneasinesses felt by the other tribes, when they found the Reubenites did not join them; for they might have conjectured that they were either unconcerned about their liberty, or were meditating a coalition with the Canaanites.

Verse 17. Gilead abode beyond Jordan] That is, the Gadites, who had their lot in those parts, and could not well come to the aid of their brethren at a short summons. But the words of Deborah imply a criminal neglect on the part of the Danites: they were intent upon their traffic, and trusted in their ships. Joppa was one of their seaports.

Asher continued on the seashore] The lot of Asher extended along the Mediterranean sea; and, being contiguous to Zebulun and Naphtali, they might have easily succoured their brethren; but they had the pretence that their posts were unguarded, and they abode in their breaches, in order to defend them.

"Immediately, impatient of delay, she prevents the comforts of her companions; elate in mind, and bursting forth into female levity and jactation, impotent to hope for any thing, and drunk with her good fortune,

'Her wise ladies earnestly answered her.

Yea, she immediately returned answer to herself;
Have they not sped 7 have they not divided the spoil?

"We see how consonant to the person speaking is every idea, every word. She dwells not upon the slaughter of the enemies, the number of the captives, the valour and great exploits of the victor: but, (burning with the female love of spoils,) on those things rather which captivate the light mind of the vainest woman; damsels, gold, garments. Nor does she dwell upon them only; but she repeats, she accumulates, she augments, every thing. She seems, as it were, to handle the spoils, dwelling as she

does on every particular.

Have they no: sped 7 have they not divided the prey 7
A damsel, yea, two damsels to every man;

To Sisera, a prey of divers colours;

A prey of divers colours of needlework,
Finely colour'd of needlework on both sides,
A spoil for adorning the neck.'

"To enhance the beauty of this passage, there is, in the poetic conformation of the sentences, an admirable neatness in the diction, great force, splendour, accuracy; in the very redundance of the repetitions the utmost brevity; and lastly, the most striking disappointment of the woman's hope, tacitly insinuated by that sudden and unexpected apostrophe,

'So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah!'

is expressed more fully and strongly by this silence than could have been painted by any colouring of words." See Dr. Lowth's 13th Prelection, Prov. iv. 18, 19.

"We cannot do better," says Dr. Dodd, "than to conclude this chapter with the words of Pelicanus: 'Let a Homer, or a Virgil, go and compare his poetry, if he be able, with the song of this woman; and, if there be any one who excels in eloquence and learning, let him celebrate the praises and learning of this panegyric, more copiously than I am able.''

For other matters relative to this song I must refer to the two translations which immediately follow; and their authors' notes on them.

Dr. Kennicott says, "This celebrated song of triumph is most deservedly admired; though some parts of it are at present very obscure, and others unintelligible in our English version. Besides particular difficulties, there is a general one that pervades the whole; arising, as I humbly apprehend, from its being considered as entirely the song of Deborah. It is certain, though very little attended to, that it is said to have been sung by Deborah and BY BABAK. It is also certain, there are in it parts which Deborah could not sing, as well as parts which Barak could not sing; and therefore it seems necessary, in order to form a better judgment of this song, that some probable distribution should be made of it; while those words which seem most likely to have been sung by either party, should be assigned to their proper name; either to that of Deborah the prophetess, or to that of Barak the captain.

"For example: Deborah could not call upon Deborah, exhorting herself to awake, &c. as in ver. 12. neither could Barak exhort himself to arise, &c. in the same verse. Again, Barak could not sing Till I, Deborah, arose a mother in Israel, ver. 7. nor could Deborah sing about a damsel or two for every soldier, ver. 30. though indeed as to this last article the words are probably misunderstood. There are other parts also which seem to require a different rendering: ver. 2. for the avenging of Israel, where the address is probably to those who took the lead in Israel on this great occasion; for the address in the next words is to those among the people who were volunteers; as, again, ver. 9. Verses 11, 13, 14, and 15. have many great difficulties. It seems impossible that (ver. 23.) any person should be cursed for not coming to the help of JEHOVAH; to the help of JEHOVAH against the mighty. Nor does it seem more probable that Jael should (in a sacred song) be styled blessed above women, for the death of Sisera. Ver. 25. mentions butter; of which nothing is said in the history, in chap. iv. 19. nor does the history say that Jael smote off Sisera's head with a hammer; or indeed, that she smote it off at all; as here, ver. 26. Lastly, as to ver. 30. there being no authority for rendering the words a damsel, or two damsels, and the words in Hebrew being very much like two other words in this same verse, which make excellent sense here, it seems highly probable that they were Dr. Kennicott's Version of the Song:

1. Then sang Deborah, and Barak the son of Abinoam, saying:

2. Deb. For the leaders who took the lead in Israel. Bur. For the people who offered themselves willingly. Both. Bless ye Jehovah!

originally the same. And at the end of this verse, which contains an excellent compliment paid to the needlework of the daughters of Israel, and which is here put with great art in the mouth of Sisera's MOTHER; the true sense seems to be, the hopes SHE had of some very rich prize to adorn HER OWN NECK.' Kennicott's Remarks, page 94.

Dr. Hales observes, "That the design of this beautiful

ode, which breathes the characteristic softness and luxuriance of female composition, seems to be twofold, religious and political: first, to thank God for the recent victory oppression; and next to celebrate the zeal and alacrity and deliverance of Israel from Canaanitish bondage and with which some of the rulers volunteered their services

against the common enemy; and to censure the lukewarmtrayed the public cause: and, by this contrast and exponess and apathy of others who staid at home, and thus be

sure, to heal those fatal divisions among the tribes, so injurious to the commonwealth. The first verse, as a title, briefly recites the design or subject of the poem, which consists of eight stanzas.

"The first opens with a devout thanksgiving, to which she calls the attention of all, friends and foes.

"The second describes, in the sublime imagery of Moses, the magnificent scenes at mount Sinai, Seir, &c. in the deserts of Arabia; while they were led by the divine power and presence from Egypt to Canaan.

"The third, states their offending afterward, by their apostacies in serving new gods, as foretold by Moses, Deut. xxxii. 16, 17. and their consequent oppression by their enemies; the insecurity of travelling, and desertion of the villages, during the twenty years that intervened from the death of Shamgar till Jael's exploit, and till Deborah became judge. By this time they were disarmed by the Philistines and Canaanites, and scarcely a sword or a spear to be seen in Israel. This policy was adopted by the Philistines in Saul's time, 1 Sam. xiii. 19. and was probably introduced before, when Shamgar, for want of other weapons, had recourse to an ox-goad, which was only left with them for the purpose of agriculture, 1 Sam. xiii. 21.

"The fourth, contrasts their present happy state of security from the incursions and depredations of their foes, especially at the watering-places, which were most exposed to attacks; owing to the divine protection which crowned the victory, the zeal, and exertions, of a remnant of the people, or a part of the tribes, against the enemy, under her conduct; these were the midland tribes of Ephraim, Manassch, and Benjamin; including, perhaps, Judah and Simeon, which bordered on Amalek southward, and Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, northward.

"The fifth, censures the recreant tribes Reuben and Gad, beyond Jordan eastward; and Dan and Asher, on the Mediterranean sea westward; who deserted the common cause in consequence of their divisions, and their paltry attachment to their own concerns.

"The sixth, records the miraculous defeat of the confederate kings of Canaan, who were swept away by the torrents issuing from the different springs of the river Kishon, swollen by uncommon rains. Meroz was probably a place in the neighbourhood.

"The seventh, contains a panegyric on Jael, who is here 'blessed above women,' for attempting an exploit above her sex to perform; and a picturesque description of her giving Sisera buttermilk to drink, which is considered as a great treat at present among the Arabs. Then follows a minute and circumstantial description of her mode of slaying him.

The eighth, affords an admirable representation of the impatience of the mother of Sisera, at his delay in returning; her sanguine anticipation of his success; in which she dwells, not upon the greatness of his exploits, or the slaughter of his enemies, but upon the circumstances most likely to engage a light female mind, such as captive damsels and embroidered garments, or the spoils of victory, which she repeats and exemplifies with much grace and elegance.

"The unexpected and abrupt apostrophe which concludes the poem, So perish all thine enemies, O LORD! tacitly insinuates the utter disappointment of their vain hopes of conquest and spoil more fully and forcibly than any express declaration in words; while it marks the author's piety, and sole reliance upon the divine protection of his people, and the glorious prospect of a future and greater deliverance perhaps by the Sun of RighteousNew Analysis of Chronology, page 304.

ness.

Dr. Kennicott.

4. Deb. O Jehovah, at thy going forth from Seir,

At thy marching from the field of Edom,

Bar. The earth trembled, even the heavens poured down; The thick clouds poured down the waters.

5. Deb. The mountains melted at Jehovah's presence. Bar, Sinai itself, at the presence of Jehovah,

Both. The God of Israel.

6. Deb. In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted.

Bar. For they who had gone by strait paths,
Passed by ways that were very crooked.

7. Deserted were the villages in Israel.

Deb. They were deserted ull 1, Deborah, arose;
Till I arose a mother in larael.

8. They chose new gods!

Bar. Then when war was at the gates

Was there a shield seen, or a spear,

Among forty thousand in Israel?

9. Deb. My heart is toward the rulers of Israel;

Bar. Ye who offered yourselves willingly among the people.

Both. Bless ye Jehovah!

10. Deb. Ye who ride upon white asses;

Ye who sit upon the seat of judgment.

11. Bar. And ye who travel upon the roads,

Talk of him with the voice of praise.

Deb. Let them who meet armed at the watering-places There show the righteous acts of Jehovah,

Bar. And the righteousness of the villages of Israel;

Then shall they go down to the gates;

Both. The people of Jehovah!

12. Bar. Awake, awake, Deborah!

Awake, awake, lead on the song.

Deb. Arise, Barak; and lead thy captivity captive,

Barak, thou son of Abinoam.

13. Bar. Then, when the remainder descended after their chiefs, Jehovah's people descended after me,

Against the mighty.

14. Deb. Out of Ephraim was their beginning at Mount Amalek; And after thee was Benjamin, against the nationa

Bar. From Machir came masters in the art of war;

And from Zebulun, those who threw the dart.

15. Deb. The princes in Issachar were numbered

Together with Deborah and Barak.

Bar, And Issachar was the guard of Barak,
Into the valley sent close at his feet.

Deb. At the divisions of Reuben,

Great were the impressions of heart.

16. Bar. Why sattest thou among the rivulets 7

What, to hear the bleatings of the flocks?

Deb. For the divisions of Reuben,

Great were the searchings of heart.

17. Bar. Gad dwelt quietly beyond Jordan;

And Dan, why abode he in ships?

Deb. Asher continued in the harbour of the seas,

And remained among his craggy places.

18. Bar. Zebulun were the people, and Naphtah;

Deb. Who exposed their lives unto the death.
Both. On the heights of the field.

19. Deb. The kings came, they fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan;

Bar. At Taanac, above the waters of Megiddo

The plunder of riches they did not receive.

20. Deb. From heaven did they fight;

The stars, from their lofty stations,

Fought against Sisera.

21. Bar. The river Kishon swept them away,

The river intercepting them; the river Kishon:

It was there my soul trod down strength.

22. Deb. It was then the hoofs of the cavalry were battered,

By the scamperings, the scamperings of its strong steals.

2. Bar. Curse ye the land of Meroz,

Said the messenger of Jehovah:

Deb. Curse ye heavily its inhabitants,
Because they came not for help.

Both Jehovah was for help!
Jehovah against the Mighty!

24. Deb. Praised among women will be Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite

Among women in the tent will she be praised. 25. Bar. He asked water, she gave him milk; In a princely bow! she brought it.

26. Deb. Her left hand she put forth to the nail, And her right hand to the workman's hammer. Bar. She struck Sisera, she smote his head; Then she struck through, and pierced his temples.

27. Deb. At her feet he bowed, he fell!

Bar. At her feet he bowed, he fell!

Both. Where he bowed,

There he fell dead.

28. Deb. Through the window she looked out and called

Even the mother of Sisera, through the lattice;

Bar. Why is his chariot ashamel to return 7

Why so slow are the steeds of his chariot P

29. Deb. Her wise ladies answered her;

Nay, she returned answer to herself

30. Bar. Have they not found, divided the spoil;

Embroidery, double embroidery for the captains' heads

A prize of divers colours for Sisera !

Deb. A prize of divers colours of embroidery;

A colour'd piece of double embroidery for

My neck, a prize!'

Chorus by Deborah and Barak.

31. So perish all thine enemies, O Jehovah! Grand Chorus by the whole procession. And let those who love him

Be as the eun going forth in his might.

Other attempts have been made to do justice to this very sublime song; and much yet remains to be done. The best means of ascertaining the sense and import of the various images and allusions contained in it, is, in my opinion, the following:-1. Take the Hebrew text, as it stands printed in the hemistich form, in Kennicott's Hebrew Bible. 2. Collate this text with the Septuagint, Chaldee, Syriac, Vulgate, and Arabic versions, and the various readings in Kennicott and De Rossi. 3. Consult the writers in the Critici Sacri. And, 4. Carefully attend to the allusions made to Asiatic customs. I would gladly save my readers all this trouble, but it would extend the commentary beyond the size of the whole book, which would not comport with the brevity which I study.

From this song, as well as from that of Moses, Deut. xxxii. we see that the first, as also the best poels, of anti

Dr. Hales.

4. O Lord, on thy going forth from Seir,
On thy marching from the land of Edom,
The earth quak'd, the heavens dropt,
The clouds, I say, dropt water.

5. The mountains melted away
From the presence of the Lord;
Even Sinai himself, from the presence

Of the Lord, the God of Israel.

6. From the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, To the days of Jael, (through fear of the enemy) The highways were unfrequented,

And travellers walked through by-paths.

7. The villages were deserted;

They were deserted till 1, Deborah, arose;
Till I arose (to be) a mother in Israel.

8. (The Israelites) had chosen new gods, Therefore was war in their gates;

Was there a shield or a spear to be seen

Among forty thousand in Israel?

9. My heart is attached to the senators of Israel, Who volunteered among the people.

10. Bless ye the Lord!

Ye that ride upon white asses,

Ye that sit in (the gates of) judgment

Extol (him,) ye travellers.

11. (Now freed) from the noise of archers

At the watering-places,

Here shall they rehearse the righteousness
Of the Lord; his righteousness
Toward the villages of Israel:

Now shall the people of the Lord

Go down to the gates of judgment in safety.

12 Awake, awake, Deborah;

Awake, awake, utter a song (of praise.)
Arise now, Barak; lead thy captivity captive,
Thou son of Abinoam.

13. For (God) made a remnant of the people Triumph over the nobles of the enemy;

The Lord made me triumph over the mighty.

14. From Ephraim unto Amalek was their root: Next to thee (Ephraim) was Benjamin, among thy people; From Machir, (Manasseh) came down the senators;"

And from Zebulan, they that write with the pen of the scribe.

15. The princes in Issachar (were) with Deborah; Even Issachar, as well as Barak (Naphtali)

He was set on foot into the valley;

For the divisions of Reuben

(I feel) great griefs of heart.

16. Why abidest thou among the sheepfolds 7

To hear the bleatings of the flocks?

For the divisions of Reuben

(I feel) great griefs of heart.

17. (Why) abode Gilead (Gad) beyond Jordan;

And Dan remain in his ships?

(Why did) Asher sit in his seaports,

And continue in his creeks?

18. (While) the people of Zebulun hazarded their lives unto death,

And of Naphtali, in the heights of the field.

19. The kings came, they fought;

The kings of Canaan fought in Taanah,

Near the waters of Megiddo;

But they gained no lacre (thereby.)

20. The stars of heaven fought in their courses;

They fought against Sisera.

21. The torrents of Kison swept them away;

The torrent of Kedummim,

The torrent of Kison. O my soul,

Thou hast trodden down strength!

22. Then were the horsehoofs broken by the galloppings;

The galloppings of their great men.

23. Curse ye Meroz, saith the angel of the Lord;

Bitterly curse her inhabitants,

Because they came not to the aid of the Lord;

To the aid of the Lord among the mighty.

24. Blessed above women be Jael,

The wife of Heber the Kenite;

Blessed be she above women in the tent.

25. He asked water and she gave him milk; She brought forth butter in a lordly bowl.

26. She put her hand to the nail,

And her right hand to the workman's hammer; And she smote Sisera;

She pierced his head, she penetrated,

And she perforated his temples.

27. Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay Between her feet, he bowed, he fell;

Where he bowed, there he fell down slain.

28. The mother of Sisera looked through the window,

And exclaimed through the lattice,

Why is his chariot so long in coming?

Why linger the steps of his steeds 7

29. Her wise ladies answered their mistress, Yea, she returned answer to herself,

30. Have they not found?

Have they not divided the spoil?
To each a damed or two apiece;

To Siacra himself a spoil of divers colours,

A spoil of divers colours embroidered;

Of divers colours embroidered on both sides.

A spoil for (adorning) his neck.

31. S perish all thine enemies, O Lord! But let thy friends (rejoice,)

As the sun going forth in his strength.

quity, were found among the Hebrews; and that the art of poetry was highly cultivated among them many hundreds of years before Greece, or any other country of the world, could boast of ode, or epic, or any kind of poetic composition. The idolizers of Greece and Italy should not forget this; to Hebrew models both Greeks and Romans owe much of their perfection. Why are not these more studied? Why do we not go to the "fountain head?" To all the searchers after the venerable remains of antiquity, especially to poets, I would address the words of the old prophet:

Dardanida duri, quæ vos a stirpe parentum
Prima tulit tellus, eadem vos ubere lato
Accipiet reduces: antiquam exquirite matrem.
Virg. En. fil. ver. 94.
Ye valiant sons of Troy, the land that bore
Your mighty ancestors to light before,
Once more their great descendants shall embrace.
Go; seek the ancient mother of your race.

Pitt

t CHAPTER VI.

of the fleece of wool, 36-40. A. M. 2752 B. C. 1232 An. Exod. Ir. 233.

a

b

2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the East, even they came up against them;

f

4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

h

5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

A. M. 2759. B. C. 1245.

7 And it came to pass, when the An. Exod. far. 246. children of Israel cried unto the LORD

Anno ante

1. Olymp. 169. because of the Midianites,

a Ch. 2 19-b Hab. 3. 7.-c Heb. was strong.-d 1 Sam. 13. 6. Heb. 11. 38. e Ch. 3. 13-f Gen. 29. 1. Ch. 7. 12. & 8. 10. 1 Kings 4. 30. Job 1. 3-g Lev. 26. 16. Deut. 29. 30, 33, 51. Mic. 6. 15-h Or, goat-i Ch. 7. 12-k Ch. 3. 15. Hos. 5. 15. 1 Heh. a man, a prophet-m Psalms 44. 2, 3.-n 2 Kings 17. 35, 37, 38. Jer. 10. 2. o Josh 17. 2

NOTES ON CHAPTER VI.

Verse 1. Delivered them into the hand of Midian] The Midianites were among the most ancient and inveterate of the enemies of Israel. They joined with the Moabites to seduce them to idolatry, and were nearly extirpated by them. Num. xxxi. The Midianites dwelt on the eastern borders of the Dead sea: and their capital was Arnon. Verse 2. Made them the dens which are in the mountains] Nothing can give a more distressing description of the state of the Israelites than what is here related. They durst not reside in the plain country, but were obliged to betake themselves to dens and caves of the mountains, and live like wild beasts; and were hunted like them by their adversaries,

Verse 3. Children of the East] Probably those who inhabited Arabia Deserta: Ishmaelites.

Verse 4. Encamped against them] Wandering hordes of Midianites, Amalekites, and Ishmaelites, came, in the times of harvest and autumn, and carried away their crops, their fruit, and their cattle. And they appear to have come early, encamped in the plain, and watched the crops till they were ready to be carried off.

Till thou come unto Gaza] That is, the whole breadth of the land, from Jordan to the coast of the Mediterranean sea. Thus the whole land was ravaged, and the inhabitants deprived of the necessaries of life.

Verse 5. They came up with their cattle and their tents] All this proves that they were different tribes of wanderers, who had no fixed residence; but, like their descendants, the Bedouins, or wandering Arabs, removed from place to place to get prey for themselves, and forage for their cattle. Verse 8. The LORD sent a prophet] The Jews say that this was Phinehas; but it is more likely that it was some prophet or teacher raised up by the Lord, to warn and instruct them. Such were his witnesses; and they were raised up from time to time, to declare the counsel of God to his rebellious people.

Verse 11. There came an angel of the LORD] The prophet came to teach and exhort: the angel comes to confirm the words of the prophet; to call and commission him who was intended to be their deliverer; and to work miracles, in order to inspire him with supernatural courage, and a confidence of success.

His son Gideon threshed wheat] This is not the only instance in which a man, taken from agricultural employments, was made general of an army, and the deliverer of his country. Shamgar was evidently a ploughman; and

8

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and u where be all his miracles

which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, * Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

p Heb. 11. 32. called Gedeon.-r Heb. to cause it to flees Chap. 13. 3. Luke 1. 11, 28-t Josh. 1. 5-u So Psa. 89. 49. Isaiah 59. 1. & 63. 15-v Psa. 44. 1. w 2 Chron. 15. 2-x 1 Sam. 12. 11. Heb. 11. 32, 34.-y Josh. 1. 2 Ch. 4. 6.-z See Sam. 9. 21-a Heb. my thousand is the meanest. Exod 18. 21, 25. Mic. 5. 2.-b Exod. 3. 12 Josh. 1. 5.

with his ox-goad he slew many Philistines, and became one of the deliverers of Israel. Cincinnatus was taken from the plough, and was made dictator and commanderin-chief of the Roman armies. There is a great similarity between his case and that of Gideon.

Threshed wheat by the wine-press] This was a place of privacy; he could not make a threshing-floor in open day, as the custom was, and bring either the wheel over the grain, or tread it out with the feet of the oxen, for fear of the Midianites, who were accustomed to come and take it away as soon as threshed. He got a few sheaves from the field, and brought them home to have them privately threshed for the support of the family. As there could be no vintage among the Israelites, in their present distressed circumstances, the wine-press would never be suspected by the Midianites to be the place of threshing corn.

Ophrah, or Ephra, was a city, or village rather, in the half-tribe of Manasseh, beyond Jordan.

Verse 12. The LORD is with thee] "The WORD of the Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour." Targum. It appears that Gideon had proved himself, on former occasions, to be a man of courage and personal prowess; and this would naturally excite the confidence of his countrymen. God chooses for his work those instruments which, in the course of his operations in nature and providence, he has qualified for his purpose. The instruments thus chosen are generally unlikely; but they will be ever found the best qualified for the divine employment.

Verse 13. And Gideon said unto him] This speech is remarkable for its energy and simplicity; it shows, indeed, a measure of despondency; but not more than the circumstances of the case justified.

Verse 14. Go in this thy might] What does the angel mean? He had just stated that Jehovah was with him; and he now says, Go in THIS thy might; i. e. in the might of Jehovah, who is with thee.

Verse 15. Wherewith shall I save Israel?] I have neither men nor money.

Behold, my family is poor in Manasseh] DSN In behold, my thousand is impoverished. Tribes were anciently divided into tens, and fifties, and hundreds, and thousands: the thousands, therefore, marked grand divisions; and, consequently, numerous families: Gideon here intimates, that the families of which he made a part were very much diminished. But if we take p alapey, for the contracted form of the plural, which is frequently, in Hebrew nouns, joined with a verb in the singular; then