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fought against it. 37. And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the (x) king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein he left none remaining, (according to all that he had done to Eglon) but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein. 38. And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him to Debir, and fought against it. 39. And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein, he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof, as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king. 40. So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. 41. And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea, even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. 42. And all these kings, and their land did Joshua take at one time: because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43. And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

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stricken in age. 2. And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, "I am old, and stricken in age. "3. And ye have seen all that the "LORD your God hath done unto all "these (2) nations because of you; for "the LORD your God is he that hath "fought for you. 4. Behold, I have "divided unto you by (a) lot these na"tions that (b) remain, to be an inhe"ritance for your tribes, from Jordan, "with all the nations that I have cut off, ❝even unto the (c) great sea westward. "5. And the LORD your God, he shall "expel them from before you, and "drive them from out of your sight, "and ye shall possess their land, as "the LORD your God had promised ❝ unto you. 6. Be ye therefore very "courageous (d) to keep and to do "all that is written in the book of "the law of Moses, that ye turn not "aside therefrom, to the right hand or "to the left. 7. That ye come not "among these nations, these that re"main amongst you, neither make "mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto "them: 8. But cleave unto the LORD

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your God, as ye have done unto this "day. 9. For the LORD hath driven "out from before you, great nations "and strong: but (e) as for you, no 66 man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. 10. One (g) man "of you shall chase a thousand: for

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even these that remain among you, "and shall make marriages with them, "and go in unto them, and they to 66 you: 13. Know for a certainty, that "the LORD your God will no more "drive out any of these nations from "before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, "until ye perish from off this good "land which the LORD your God hath "given you. 14. And behold, this day am going the way of all the earth, "and ye know in all your hearts, and "in all your souls, that not one thing

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CHAP. IV.

JUDGES.

AND the children of Israel again did. evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud (1) was dead. 2. And the LORD (m) sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 4. And Deborah a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she

xxxii. 30. "How should one chase a "thousand, or two put ten thousand to "flight, except their rock had sold them, " and the Lord had shut them up."

(h) v. 15. "So, &c." as God had promised them success, (which had hitherto been eminently fulfilled,) upon obedience, so had he denounced against them destruction if they disobeyed. See Deuter. xxx. (i) v. 16. "When ye have transgressed,

judged Israel at that time. 5. And she dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Beth-el, in mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6. And she sent (n) and called Barak the son of Abinoam, out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, "Hath not the "LORD God of Israel commanded, "saying, "Go and draw toward mount "Tabor, and take with thee ten thou"sand men of the children of Naphtali "and of the children of Zebulun? "7. And I will draw unto thee to the "river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of

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"Jabin's army, with his chariots and "his multitude; and I will deliver him "into thine hand." 8. And Barak said unto her, "If thou wilt go with me, then I will go but if thou wilt "not go with me, then I will not go." 9. And she said, "I will surely go with "thee: notwithstanding the journey "that thou takest, shall not be for "thine honour; for the LORD shall sell "Sisera into the hand of a woman." And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10. And Barak called Zebulun (o) and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 11. Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of (p) Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 12. And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13. And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14. And Deborah said unto Barak, "Up; for this is the day in which the "LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine "hand is not the LORD gone out "before thee?" So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15. And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16. But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not

(o) v. 10. “Zebulun and Naphtali,"

i. e. "the men of those tribes."

(p) v. 11. "Of Hobab the father in law "of Moses," so that he was nearly connected by blood with many of the Israelites, and might on that account feel a common interest with them.

(q) v. 21. "Took a nail, &c." This breach of hospitality cannot be justified,

a man left. 17. Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18. And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, "Turn in, my lord, "turn in to me; fear not:" And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 19. And he said unto her, "Give me, "I pray thee, a little water to drink; "for I am thirsty:" And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 20. Again he said unto her, "Stand in the door of the "tent, and it shall be when any man "doth come and enquire of thee, and "say, Is there any man here?" that thou "shalt say, "No." 21. Then Jael Heber's wife took a (q) nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: (for he was fast asleep and weary): So he died. 22. And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him," Come, and I will shew thee the "man whom thou seekest." And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 23. So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan, before the children of Israel. 24. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

CHAP. V.

THEN (7) sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam, on that day, say ing, 2. "Praise ye the LORD for the "avenging of Israel, when the people unless upon a supposition that Jael acted under the influence of a divine impulse: Deborah had foretold in verse 9. that the Lord should sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. 2. Hales, 302.

(r) A thanksgiving, in 8 Parts, abounding in the richest ornaments of sacred oriental poetry. 2. Hales, 304. B. C.

1296.

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"willingly offered (s) themselves. "3. Hear, O ye kings, give ear, O ye princes, I, even I will sing unto the "LORD, I will sing praise to the LORD "God of Israel. 4. LORD, (t) when "thou wentest out of Seir, when thou "marchedst out of the field of Edom, "the earth trembled, and the heavens 66 dropped, the clouds also dropped 66 water. 5. The mountains melted "from before the LORD, even that Sinai "from before the LORD God of Israel. ❝6. In (u) the days of (x) Shamgar the "son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the "high-ways were (y) unoccupied, and "the travellers walked through byeways. 7. The (z) inhabitants of the "villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, "until that I Deborah arose, that I arose "a mother in Israel. 8. They (a) chose new gods; then (b) was war in the

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(s) v. 2. "Offered themselves," i. e. " to go up with Barak."

(t) v. 4. Part 2. calling to mind the scenes when God was with them. The same expression as in Psalm lxviii. 7, 8. (u) v. 6. Part 3. describing the condition to which they had been reduced, "in, &c." or "from the days of Shamgar, &c. to the days of Jael, &c."

(x)"Shamgar," who about forty years before slew of the Philistines 600 men with an ox goad, and delivered Israel. Judges iii. 31.

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(y) "Unoccupied," i. e. " unfrequented," through fear.

(z) v. 7. Read the villages were deserted, they were deserted in Israel." 2 Hales, 305.

(a) v. 8. "They," i. e. "the Israelites." (b) Then," or "therefore."

(c) "Seen," or "to be seen," (2 Hales, 305.) 66 so much were they reduced." It was the policy of their enemies when they had the ascendancy, to deprive them of all their arms. See post, 571.1 Sam. xiii. 19. "There was no smith found throughout "all the land of Israel: for the Philistines "said, "Lest the Hebrews make them "swords or spears."

(d) v. 9. Part 4. an invocation to praise God for their deliverance.

(e) "My heart is towards the governors, &c." i. e. (probably) "them I first "invoke," or "address" and " applaud."

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gates was there a shield or spear seen (e) among forty thousand in "Israel? 9. My (d) heart is toward "the (e) governors of Israel, that offered "themselves willingly among the people: "Bless ye the LORD. 10. (g) Speak 66 ye that (h) ride on white asses, ye that "sit in judgment, and (h) walk by the "way. 11. (i) They that are delivered "from the noise of archers in the places "of drawing water; there shall they "rehearse the righteous acts of the "LORD, even the righteous acts towards "the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: "then shall the people of the LORD go "down to (k) the gates. 12. Awake, "awake, Deborah: awake, awake, ut"ter a song: arise Barak, and lead "thy (7) captivity captive, thou son of "Abinoam. 13. Then (m) he made "him that remaineth have dominion

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(i) v. 11. " They, &c." or "they shall

"be free from the noise of archers in the "places of drawing water, there shall they "rehearse the righteousness of Jehovah, "his righteousness towards his villages in "Israel; then shall the people of Jehovah

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go down to the gates." They were frequently molested and attacked at their wells, and fetching water was a service of danger, especially near their villages, where they were weak. This verse intimates that these dangers were removed, and that they might go to their watering places and to their gates in safety.

(k)" To the gates" where their courts of justice sat, and the markets were held, and which were places of resort therefore for all people, for those who lived in the town, and those who lived in the villages or country round it.

(2) v. 12. "Lead, &c." i. e. (perhaps) overpower those, who before overpowered you.

(m) v. 13. "Then, &c." or "for God "made a remnant of the people triumph "over the nobles, (i. e. the weak over the "strong,) the Lord made me triumph over "the mighty. 2 Hales, 306."

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"over the nobles among the people: "the LORD made me have dominion "over the mighty. 14. (n) Out of Ephraim was there a (o) root of them "against Amalek, after thee Benjamin, among thy people out of "Machir (p) came down governors, "and out of Zebulun they that handle "the pen of the writer. 15. And the "princes of Issachar were with Debo"rah: even Issachar, and also Barak, "he was sent on foot into the valley : "for the (q) divisions of Reuben there "were great thoughts (r) of heart. "16. Why abodest thou among the "sheep-folds, to hear the bleatings of "the flocks? For the divisions of Reu"ben, there were great searchings of "heart. 17. Gilead abode beyond "Jordan: and why did Dan remain in "ships? Asher continued on the sea"shore, and abode in his (s) breaches. "18. Zebulun and Naphtali were a "people that (1) jeoparded their lives "unto the death, in the high places of "the field. 19. (u) The kings came "and fought, then fought the kings of "Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no (x) gain of money. 20. They (y) fought from "heaven, the stars (z) in their courses "fought against Sisera. 21. The river "of Kishon swept them away, that "ancient river, the river Kishon: O my "soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

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(q) v. 15. "The divisions," i. e. "their "backwardness, their separation, their "neglecting to come up."

(r) v. 15, 16. "Thoughts, searchings," i. e. " Uneasiness," (6 inquiries," because they did not join.

(s) v. 17. " Breaches," i. e. "strong "holds."

(t) v. 18. "Jeoparded their lives unto the "death," i. e. "disregarded all danger." (u) v. 19. Part 6. the battle and victory.

"22. Then were the horse hoofs broken "by the means of the pransings, the

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pransings of their mighty ones. "23. Curse ye (a) Meroz (said the "angel of the LORD,) curse ye bitterly "the inhabitants thereof: because they 66 came not to the help of the LORD, "to the help of the LORD against the "mighty. 24. (b) Blessed above wo"men shall Jael the wife of Heber the "Kenite be, blessed shall she be above 66 women in the tent. 25. He asked "water, and she gave him milk, she "brought forth butter in a lordly dish. "26. She put her hand to the nail, and "her right hand to the workmen's "hammer: and with the hammer she "smote Sisera, she smote (c) off his "head, when she had pierced and "stricken through his temples. 27. 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. "28. (d) The mother of Sisera looked "out at a window, and cried through "the lattice, "Why is his chariot so "long in coming? why tarry the wheels "of his chariots?" 29. Her wise ladies "answered her, yea, she returned an

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swer to herself. 30. "Have they "not sped? have they not divided the prey? to every man a damsel or two? "to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a 66 prey of divers colours of needle-work, "of divers colours of needle-work on

(x)"No gain of money," i. e. "they "obtained no spoil. 2 Hales, 306.”

(y) v. 20. "They fought from heaven," i. e. "heaven joined in the fight: it gave "its assistance to Barak."

(z) "The stars, &c." It is hardly to be supposed that Deborah, even in the freedom of poetry, would attribute any real effect to the stars: she might mean to ridicule the Canaanites, who probably believed they had.

(a) v. 23. "Meroz," perhaps a place in Canaan, 2 Hales 309; or (rather) a people that should have joined Barak.

(b) v. 24. Part 7. a panegyric upon Jael. (c) v. 26. " Off," or rather "through" and read, "she pierced and struck through "his temple." See 2 Hales, 307.

(d) v. 28. Part 8. a taunt upon the ex

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