Bible Commentaries

children = sons.

evil = the evil: i.e. idolatry. See App-44.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Jabin. Another king. Compare Joshua 11:1-10.

which = and he.

twenty years. A long time to wait for deliverance.

a prophetess. Not therefore a "judge "in the strict sense of the title. Like Miriam, Exodus 15:20; Huldah, 2 Kings 22:14. Compare her prophecy in verses: Judges 4:7, Judges 4:9.

she. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "and she". Note the two women connected with Barak, Deborah and Jael, verses: Judges 4:17-21. See note on Judges 4:17, and Compare Judges 5:7, Judges 5:11, Judges 5:24, Judges 5:30.

at that time. Yet Israel was "mightily oppressed", contrary to Judges 2:18. The words "she judged" state a fact: but do they imply a Divine appointment to the office? She was "a prophetess", but was she "a judge" in the proper sense of the word?

dwelt = sat [as judge]: near where her namesake, Rebekah's nurse, died. Genesis 35:8.

Hath not. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

river Kishon. Compare Psalms 83:9, Psalms 83:10.

hand. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "hands".

called: i.e. by proclamation.

Hobab. Compare Numbers 10:29.

unto the plain. Or, at the oak. Joshua 19:33.

gathered: i.e. by proclamation. Compare Judges 4:10.

is not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

the LORD discomfited = Jehovah discomfited. Compare Psalms 83:9. The word implies supernatural phenomena. Compare Judges 5:20-22. Exodus 14:24. Joshua 10:10. 2 Samuel 22:15. Psalms 18:15.

upon = by.

not a man. Hebrew not so much as one.

the tent of Jael. Note, not of Heber: the woman's tent, which itself brought Sisera under the death penalty. But there is nothing to apologize for here. The Author and Giver of life came on Jael as on Ehud, and enabled her to save the daughters of Israel from a fate worse than death. Compare Judges 5:7, Judges 5:11, Judges 5:24, Judges 5:30.

Kenite. Compare Judges 4:11.

mantle = rug. Hebrew. semikah. occurs only here.

bottle = skin.

milk. Rendered "butter" in Judges 5:25; probably = buttermilk, much used in the East.

door = entrance.

No = there is not.

nail of the tent = a tent peg. Constantly tents are taken down and put up by the women to the present day.

So he died. The first often recorded deaths at the hands of women: Sisera (Judges 4:21); Abimelech (Judges 9:53. 2 Samuel 11:21); Sheba (2 Samuel 20:22); the harlot's child (1 Kings 3:19); prophets (1 Kings 18:4); Naboth (1 Kings 21:9, 1 Kings 21:10); a son by his mother (2 Kings 6:29); seed royal (2 Kings 11:1. 2 Chronicles 22:10); Haman's sons (Esther 9:13-14); John Baptist (Matthew 14:8).

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

prospered. Figure of speech Polyptoton Hebrew going on went on. Revised Version = prevailed more and more.