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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; fretending 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.

REFLECTIONS.

WE may learn hence, how reasonable and proper it is to

celebrate God's praises, when he has wrought out deliverance 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

and activity. When these cases happen, they make a generous impression on the minds of godly men. Every sincere heart is grieved at the lukewarmness and indifference of his fellow christians. Let us guard against these things, cultivate a generous, public spirit, be willing to give up our own trifling concerns for the interest of God's church and people, and join hearts and hands to promote it.

CHAP. V. 19, to the end.

In which Deborah celebrates the victory itself, and ascribes all the praise to God; she then describes the destruction of Sisera, and the disappointment of his friends, in a very poetical and beautiful manner; and concludes the chapter as much like a prophetess as a poet, with a devout wish and prayer addressed to Jehovah.

19

THE

HE kings came [and] fought, they were more ready to assist one another than the tribes of Israel were; then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money, they came not out of a mercenary disposition, but out of friendship to one another and enmity to God's people; a vast army, that filled the country and 20 reached to the waters of Megiddo. They fought from heaven ; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera; Jehovah was on Israel's side; dreadful meteors, fierce flashes of lightning, impetuous storms of hail and rain, affrighted the enemy's horses, 21 overthrew their chariots, and turned them against Sisera. The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon, swelled by the rains, prevented their flight, or swept. many away who were wounded in battle: O my soul, thou hasť trodden down strength; probably alluding to the prayer she had offered in the time of action, which had the same effect as the 22 lifting up of Moses' hands in the war with Amalck. Then were the horse hoofs broken by the means of the prancings, tramplings, or plungings among the stones, the prancings of their mighty ones, their best horses, who threw their riders and left them a prey to Israel's sword. In the midst of this description 23 of the victory she introduces a solemn execration. Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the 34 LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty. Blessed

Meroz was probably a large city near the field of battle; the inhabitants of which would not assist Israel in the action or pursuit, though it was a common cause, and undertaken by divine commission; therefore the angel who commanded Deborah to commission Barak, ordered her to curse Meroz; which place dwindled and perished under the curse of God; for we do not read of it any more.

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above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent; she shall be highly extolled and applauded, and many blessings wished to her by all 25 Israel for what she did to Sisera in the tent. He asked water, [and] she gave [him] milk; that he might not suspect her design, she brought forth butter in a lordly dish, or bowl, suitable 26 to his dignity. She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workman's hammer: and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head with his own sword, when 27 she had pierced and stricken through his temples. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down at her feet he bowed, he fell where he bowed, there he fell down dead. An elegant description of a man who has received a mortal wound; at the first stroke he attempted to rise; but, being stunned, he bowed, 28 he fell, he lay down: he struggled, he fell, he died. The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, sure of his success and impatient at his delay, Why [is] his chariot [so] long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots? She thought it would be an easy conquest, and won29 dered what could detain him so long. Her wise ladies answered her, and endeavoured to cheer her spirits; yea, she returned answer to herself, her hopes got the better of her fears, and 30 she said, Have they not sped? have they [not] divided the prey ? they have surely obtained the victory, and so cannot come so soon, but must have some time allowed to divide the spoil; to every man a damsel [or] two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needle work, of divers colours of needle work on both sides, [meet] for the necks of [them that take] the spoil? Only fit for great persons, and by the ancient laws restrained to them; spoils and presents fit for 31 her and her wise ladies. So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD; so suddenly, effectually, shamefully, and irrecoverably; but [let] them that love him [be] as the sun when he goeth forth in his might; let them increase in lustre, power, and force, like the sun going forth to its meridian strength and brightness. And the land had rest forty years, that is, from the conquest of Jabin.*

Thus concludes this charming composition; and, we may add, in the words of an an. cient commentator, let Homer and Virgil go now and compare their poetry with this song ef a woman."

d.

W

REFLECTIONS.

E observed in the last chapter the vanity of selfconfidence, in the case of Sisera. It may be useful here, to reflect on the vanity of trusting to others, or expecting too much from them, as illustrated in the circumstances of his mother. She was confident he would be successful, return home with wealth and honour, and enrich his friends and relations; but her hope was turned into shame, and her confidence into disappointment. And so it may be with us, if we expect too much from man. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. It is good to guard against confidence, even in the wisest and most potent of the children of men. But God is a Being in whom we may confide, every way equal to our wishes and expectations; and he will never disappoint us. Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Let us also rejoice and trust in Christ Jesus; he is the captain of our salvation. He will come again victorious, to be admired in his saints, to enrich and reward all his faithful servants. Toward his second appearance may we direct our believing thoughts, and say, Why are his chariots so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots ?

2. The enemies of God have reason to tremble, and all his friends to rejoice: this was Deborah's conclusion, let it be so, that is, it shall be so. The prayer of a prophet is the prediction of heaven. All the enemies of God's church, however powerful and terrible, shall be destroyed; and we may without a revengeful disposition pray that their schemes may be disappointed, and their counsels baffled. It is peculiarly proper to do this when celebrating former deliverances; let all the enemies of God's church be like those, from whose power and hand God hath often delivered the British church and nation. But let all his friends rejoice; for they shall be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. All that love God, that seek him, and serve his interest, shall appear great and illustrious in the sight of the world; they shall be growing in lustre; their path shall be like the shining light. And after they have served God and their generation in this world, they shall for ever shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

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