Commentary on the Holy Bible

Sir J<^ MdrAam, aware of this difficult, has struck out a new hvpothesis: he suMioses that there were jwdgm on each side Jordan; and that there ware particular ware in which tttose beyond Jordan had no yart. He observe^ that from the Exodus to the buiMtng of Solomon's temple was four hundred and eighty yean^ which is precisely the time mentioned in the Sacred Writings, 1 Kings vi. 1. and diat from the time in which the Israelites occupied the laad be]rond Jordan, to the days of Jephtha/i, was three hundred years. But in reckoning up the years of the Judges, from the death of Hoses to the time of Jbxan, who succeeded JephAah, there appears to be more than three hundred year* r and from Jephthah to the fourth year of Solomon, in which the foundation of the temple was laid, there are again more than one hundred and fifty years; we must, therefbre, either find out some method of reconciling these differeuoea, or else abandon lbe«e epochs; bu^ as the latter cannot be done, we must have recourse to some fhaotmodUieatim. Sir John Mtrwham'a plan is of this kind: the common planis lhatof Aiehbiahop Uutlur. I shall produce them both, aad let the reader choose far hiroselt

Who the author of the Book o/* •Aid^g'eawas, is not known: some suppose Oiat each judge wrote his own histoiv;.and that the book has been compiled from those separate accounts; which u very unlikely. Others ascribe it to PhutehoMt to Samuei, to Bezekiah, and some to Ezra. But it is evident, that it was the work of an individual, and of a poMMi who lived posterira* to the time of the Judges, see ch. ii. 10, icc- and most probably of Samuel.

T\m duration of the government of the Israelites 1^ judges, from the death of Joshua to the commencement of the leign of Saul, was about three hundred and tbirty-nine yean. But as this book does not ineltide the government of nor SamiuL but ends with tbe death of Sasisoit, wfaidt oecomd in A. H. 2887) ooosaqiuBtly, it weludea only dm* hundred and seventeen yean: but the manner in which these are reckoned ie verr diffisren^ as we have seen abeva^ Mul as will be more partieiilarly evident in dtafidlowing vHAkb, by Arehbidiop lAsher and Sir John MarAam,

Death of Josiiaa, Sfed one tavndred and ten years.

After bis daatb, sad the elders wbo succeeded bioi, tbs laraetltes did evU in the sifht of the Lord; the idolatry of BDcah, the cosquest of I^b, and the Idolstry of a part of tbe tribe of Dan. are to be referred, - which are meotioned. cb. ivii. and xviU. StSBS

TTie sloiy of tbe Levf te and hit concultiae, and ttte war wUeb succeeded it, eh. zix. xz. zzl.

TMs includes a period of about twenty-two years, vb. flAaen for the time of tiM elders who survived Jo^s, aadssven rears of ananiby aad rest, after which tlie Israslilas Ml UDder thedomfaatlon of Ctawl«a-rii>s(*si«, klM of MesepotaMla.

TheJnt asrvjhwl*, under Ctaaksa. wUdi lasted el(ht year*, hs|*B la sm. and ended In 8909. octaMdali- IMl vared Ivael, tbe fbrtleth year after tbe rest precared ty

Jocbua. 8090 Thu land eaJoys rest about sixty-two years. IM Sacond eenUwU. under Eglam, Ung of Moab, wMeh

Ekmi delivers IsraeL WW After him apiieara Skmrngmr, and tbe land eojen T*st to tbe eightieth year, ftom lbs lermination or iba flist of tbs fovanmsnt of Deborah and Barak, was forty

About tUaUMtUM^iwvrtaiMVtMWUfbmMbr JHwiti wa of Mu. The AMyiiiu kul, prarVxul/ w UUt. nlgned Iwadnd «mI twenir mn am a

Brtof Aaiai batNldoa IbmiwKlaagiM with jMm, S737 nf of ilM «iiM)iiend tie wbota df Awim, and fSTsmed it fbr nnatan 3rein. HaiaiinadinaUOfty two yean.

Tbe JbertA j«r«UaA, ante tba Jfftfaaftw. wUch laMed Mven yean.— Jad|ea jL 275S 'OMm dellven Iirul. 77a From the real procnred by Deborah and Barak, to tbe deliverance by dideon, ere forty year*, eh- vi. tII. vlii. After ibe death of Gideon tbe people ftH Into idolatry. Abioieleclt, nelurat •on of GidMa, kUle eeventy of bii bfcibreo, cb. Ix. fine MmeUtA ji proclaimed kiOK I'm Sbecbennltee. STW He relaae Ibree yean, and waa killed al tbe aien of

TWa foremi after AUnelecb Iwenly-lbree year*. S77S

Tha 'conmencemeni of Ibe kinadom of tbe lA/Hant, wdor.fryem who relfned in Sartfia. Thii empire eontiaaed l*e baedred and Uto yean.— Herodot> L i. c 7. S781 dkwwaif taarrie* NiniM, and ratgaa Ibrty-twa jrean over ainoet tbe wboleofAala. AtraaoMeoi TWa, and

Deatb of lair, cb. a. 5. ABU JtpMuA ia dnaen Jodfe, aad deAata tba AmnoBitea. KIT Portv.two thottMiM Ephiaimitca ilaiB at tbe paaaiga of Jordan. Jephtbab aoverna rit yeara, dk iL aii. 7V«r!■ taken by tbe Greaka, aftar a alqfa of mb yeara: ibe la nicceeded by jnaflaa. S830.4MaN]udfeilwraelei|lK9aaTa,biginBiii(fifonfi840. x» Eti Judfaa I«al aftar toe daatii of Abdon, forty forty yean, eh. xiiL 1. It began aeren yeara after tba, coDimeneeoMnt of ibe government of £li> Tbe birib of Sawutm, cb. ill. M. 980 Marriage of Samaon; he begiaa to deliver bnd, aad contlnuea twenty yeara. S8S7 aameon bums tbe corn of the Pblliatines, and killa a

Ibouaand of iliein with ajaw-bane of an aee, Judgei iv. 8868 Samaon ia betrayed by bia wife, delivered into tbe haada oflba FUlietinea, and bae lila eyea put oat. Tba

•aioe year bepnilidowB a tenpia.in tbe rulna of which

Unwelf and mallttadea of tbe nUiaUnea are baried, cb. xvl. 888T Tbe death of EU, and tbe baginlBf of tbe goram.

Boni of Awael. who delivera larael flvn tbe oppreMtoa

Thia ia in aidMluioe the cbraiolcigy af Anhbirikop Unber on tbii period: the comctneaa of vhitA ia joatlr fMationed.

Jmhrn* aovema larael Iwenty-Bva yeara ftom the KtodoB, to Ibe aixty-flnb year after that deliverance. Deatb of Joebua, aged 110 yeara. SoTaramenl of lite eldera.

dbceadMraflade oader X^Im. who oppreaMd the Jewa beyond Jordan, and a part of the Betgaadtea, algbtean yeara.

Ekad alaya Egla», and dellven bie country.

Peace of fiwraeore yean beyond Jordan; which con* tiaoeo till tbe Invaaion of the Midianitea.

Third tmrvitndt under Jabin; wbo cMedy oppretaed the tribea wbidi dwelt it> tbe nortben parte of Canaan. Thia aerrllode laated twenty yeara.

Skmmfmr killa 600 Pbtliatinea and dellven lerael.

DeWra* end Barak defeat Siaera; aided by tba titbea Of ZcMaa and Jf^hUU.

Keet of forty yean 1 wbicb contlnaei to ibe two bnndred and forty-third year of the Exodna.

Mm$Uck relgna three yeara at Btcbem,

TWaJndgea larael twenty-three yean.

Jair Judgea Iirael twenty-two yeara.

Fifth ttnitndt under tbe.dMMmirw, beyond Jordan, Ibreefanndredyeanaftertbelaraeiitea bad taken poaaeaaion of tbe land. Tlila lervltude laated eighteen yeara.

Wbite tbe AmMonilea oppreaeed larael on tbe other ■ide of Jordan, tbe PbiUaitaea aOUelad tboae on ifaii aide of that river. TUa aerviiude laated Ibny yeara 1 during which dbwaea and EH were Jndgeei bnttbertM not wltolly deliver larael. They were net delivaraa till tbe time of Swaatf, three luutdred apd eigh^-tbree yean after tbe Exodaa.

Daring tbie tnterval Ool ralaed up Jfaea, wbo Jodfed larael aeven yean: and

£ten, who Judged ten yeara: and

JIbdan. who Judged etgnt yean; but aeitber tbe year of Ibe eommencement of tbeir olBeei aor of Uieir dMlb, can be exactly aeceriained.

David reigna (brty yea re.

SaliHmt buina to reign, foar bandred and aevaaty^iz yean after the Ezodoa:

And laya the foundation of tbe temple la tbe foartb year of Ilia tetga.

Veen after the Exodaa. W3

Tlieae are the achamea of thoee two great ohroootogiata, aa eihibited by Calmet

Dr. Bait*, diiiariafied with Iheae achemea, and with all otbera hitherto published, etrikea out a new path; aad, foUoaring the chronology of Jm^Aim, with aome eorrectums, makea the whole period, from the time of JoAua ana the eldera, wlio aurvired him, to Ibe electioa of Saul, four hundred and nineqr-eiptt nar^ whidt bo 'fftWiiWi tu thua:

In tbe oeneral introduciion of hia AnatysU <if Ser^ttun Chronology, be endewmira 10 Aow that the interral from the Ezodua to the fixindation of Solomon ■ lemple, waa aix hundred wid twenty-one yaan: from which, aubtraoting one hundred and twenty-three reara, (namely forty yeara from tbe Exodua to thia return, eighty yeara irom the two nAgoM of Saul and David, and the three fint yeara of Solomon,) the remainder ia four hundrea and ninety-eight yeara.

"But," aayo 1^ learned and indehligBble Doctor, " although we are indebted to Jo»epKu» for thia, and for lupplying aome malmal chasmi in the lacred anoala; auch ai — 1. Iiie administiatioQ of Joahua and the eldera, twenty-fira jreara. % "Pie eoauing anardiy. eighteen yeara. 3. Tt\t adniniMntiOD of ^amgar, one year: and, 4. Of Saimut, twelve years. Still hfi detail of the outline there given requirea oorreetiin.

"For, i. The ^Mraaeribed to Shamgar'aBdminiatraiionia too ahor^aa is evident fhtm/MoraVtaeeotm Jvidg. v.6t I have iherelbre included it, with David Oanx, in EkutPt enorrooua adminiatration of eighty yeara, and triuufeired the one year to JodauCt, making that twenty^aix yeara> 2. 1 have reetoied Ahdon't adtninletration of eight years, omitted fay Joutphu, and deducted it from the eighteen yeara he aaaigns to the anarchv, ther^^ reducing the latter to ita correct lengdi of ten yeara. 3. I have dated the firat division of the eonouered ULnda in the aixth year, which Jbat^tat recioned in the fifth year; because Caltb waa forty yean old when motu sent him aa one of me spiea from Kaatahi- Bttrnea, in tbe eecona year after the arada; conaequently be was thirty-nine yeara old at the eiode: and therefore aeventy-nioe yeara oM, fortr yean after at the anival in Cafuwttf bat be waa ei^nr-Ave yean irid whea ha etannid and got the hill of ffeoroR ror an inheritance) and therefore 86 — 79 a8yearo aftw the arrival in Canaan. Compare NuinD. X. 11. xiii. 6. with Joah. xiv. 6—16. 4. Josephua haa omitted die date of SamueFt call to be a prophet, 1 Sam. iii. 1—19. which St. Paul reckons four hundred and fiftv years aftar the firat diviaion of landa. Acta xiii. 19; 20. and which, therefore, commenced with the ten laat yeara of EU!» adminiatration of for^ yeara; This last moot important chronological character from the New Teetameni, vwiflea Ibe whole of this leetifliwiim 1 while UdemonatralM the spuriouaneaa of the period of four hundred and oitfity yean in the preaent HmrtU text of I Engi vi. L from tbe •coda to the foundation of SUmoft'* UmvU."

Fint diTiakm of land^ - ■ Second diviiion of luidi^ - - JnarcAy, or inlerregTOimf - • Servitwu to the MaapelamUau, pre&Knw io dw Hdinw nz^ bif nUe of the JiM^ ii M

SerHhidc to tba PUttXintt, 40 20 iSaiMUd;MlMw«|iKmliMi - 10

SenitutU to the.Pfcwirfiiu^ - SO

'"Rm only altention ben made, in the present tsA of Jotephm; n, the inaenion of TWo and hia adminirtnOiaD of twengr-ihree yean, (Judg;. x. 1, 2.) which are inadvertendy omitted between AbimeUA and Jair, AnL 6. 7. 16. nge S6. but evidently were included in the odginal Kheme of Jo»a>hua. as being requinte to comptete die period of nz hundred and twen^-one yean. To Aiidon- no yean are Haigneaby JotejAut, Aot d. 7. 16. we 216. partwpe deaignedly, for Clemen* AUxandrimu relates that some chroiKdogcia eolleoted iMietber iheyMnof ^Mtfbm andforon, and BUm^ or oaade thera oontanporary. But yn mty eamly neoiume JbMphu* with Scuptvbb, by only t*piii»^tit|g ei^t yean from the eighteen year*" interregnuia after JbifttM, vdudi will give AUcn toM quota « years, and taavt that interregnum its juster length of ten years.

"It is truly remarkable, antfa proof of the great skill and accuracy of JoaepAtw in forming the outline of this perioi^ Ant be aaaigns, wkh St. Piad, a reign of forty yean to SauL, Acta ziii. 31. which ia omittea in the Ou> Twr^Mnrr. Hia outline also oorrenwnds with St. PatiCt period of four hundred and fifty yean from the division oS the conquered lands of Canaan, until Samutl the project." See Dr. Hale's Chronolon, vol. i. page 16, 17. vol. ii. page 6— &

Anoflter method of removing these difficuldes baa been lately attempted ut a new edition of the Vnxvertal Satory; tan of eai0a!birtt tben. is no end: if die truth be not found m some of the pncediRg sysmn^ the diffioollies, I fear, must remain. I have my doubta whether the author of thia book ever designed to produce the subject io a strict duonological series. Hie book, in several places, appean to ha:ve been oompoaed of nUtorieal tnmonuuia, baving very little relation to each other, or amtmg inemaelvea; and particularly what is recorded in the beginning and ll»^£ is, however, one li^t in which, the whole book may be viewed, which renden it invaluable: it is a most remarkable biitory of Ae long-suffering of God toward the biBelitea, in wrwdi we find Ate moat aignal insauMes ot hia jtutiee and his mere]/ alternately duplayed: the people tinned, and were jwnithedi they rqpmledt and found mtrcy. Something of thia kind wa meet in every pan And ihew diingi an wiitlea for our wamiDg: hoob dioald •mawMiar OodwJVBt't asm nttA dmptUr, fcr Qod w

'OW after Bhs aeath of Joshua, it HfUiat the children of shall go upfortia against the Canaanitee first, to fi? ht a^inst them t

2 And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I hare delivered the land into his hand.

3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanitefl; ".and I likewise willgo with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

Verse 1. Noio after the daye of Jfukwil How long after the death of Joaliua this happened, we cannot tell: it ia probable that it vaa not long. 1m enemies of the bntelitei, finding their champion dead, vould natunlly avail themielveB of rheir uiisrtttod state, and Hiake ineurjHoafl on the coimtry.

Who Aail go upT} Joihua had left oo auecenor; and, every thing relative to the movementi of this people muat ' be determined either by caprice, or an especial direction of

Verse 2. TV Lord*taidy^Judah ahaU f(o up] Utey had inquired of the Lord, by PhineluiB, the high priest; and he had communicated to them the divine counsel.

Verse 3. Come ttp with me into mv M] It appears that du portioas of Judut and Simeon had not been deared of tfie Canaanitesi or, that these were the parts which were now particularly invaded.

Vene 6. And Chev /ound Adoni-bexek] Tnio word taomaiM, "befbumV' is used toexpren a AoatUe ertcounl4r between two parties; to aUaek, surpriatj '&c. This ii profaablr its meaning here. Adoni-btzek is literally die lord ^ BexA. It Is very probable that the diSerent OaiwMHiitish tribes were governed by a sort of ohieftaini, Rntilar to those among lha clan* <a the ancient Scottish Highlanders. Bexek » said by some to have been in the tribe of Judah. Eusebius and St. Jerome mention two vOlages of this name, not in the tribe of Judah, but ^>out seventeen miles from Sichem.

Verse Cutt^hio thumba\ That he mi^t never be ■Ufl to draw hU oois. or haadUM* sword j and great iota, that be might never be aUe to purnu, or eocapt from, an ■dvenwT.

Verse 7, T^rseseorc a/ad ten hinge] Chieftains, beads of trOies, or military oflicers. For the word king cannot be taken here in iu proper and usual sense.

Bcmimg their Aumbt and their great loee cut q^] TbaX lUa was an ancient mode of treating eaemiee, we learn from JRHan, who tells as, For. fllsi. 1. ii c. 9. that " the AdHoiuM at the insliguion of Cleon, son of Clemetu%

Sda a decree that dl the inhabitants of the island of gimt should have the thumb cut ofF IVon the right hsM^ eo that they mi^t ever after be disabled from hoidi^aspaariyetmigfathaadlaanaar." lUa is eonsidered or JBlMD •& Mt of great eniBlQr I aad he wishes to Miner-

4 AndJodahwentnp) and the Lobs delivered the Oanaaniten and the Perizzitea into their hand: and they slew of them in ^Bezek ten tbouaand mi'n,

5 And they found Adoni-^bezek in Bezek: aad they fought afainat him, and they slew the Canaanitfifl and the FerizEites.

6 But Aduni-hezeU fledj and thev pursued aAer hini, rtihl t-aii^hthixOf ftadcnt off niB thumb* aud tiia gccal t.uL.t>.

7 And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having * their thumbs and their great toes cut ofi^ ' gathered their meat tmder my table: r as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

8 If Now ^ the children of Judah had fought against Jemsalem, andhad taken it, and smitten it with the ed^e of the sword, and set the city on fire.

va, the guardian of the city, to Jupiter Eleuthertus, and all the ^s of Greece, that the Athenians had never done such things. It was a cufltoni among those Romans, who did not like a military life, to cut off their own thumbs, that they might not be capable of serving in the army. Sometimes the parents cut oS the thumbs of their chJdren, that they might not be called into the army. According to Buelonvue, in FU. Aaigtut. e. 24. a Roman knight who had cut off the ifaumhs uhis two sons, to prevent them from being called to a military life, was, by ine order of Augustus, EM^licly sold, both he and his property. These are the woros of Suetonius: — Eqvilem Romanum, quod duobue JUiia adoUtcentibiu,eaueadetrecttmdi aacrameiUi; poilicet amputaaaet, ipamn bonaque euhjecil haette. Calmet remarks, that the Italian language has preserved a term, poUnme, whieh sigBifiea ors vnoae thumb it aU f^lw designate a eoldier destitute of oourage and valour. W« use poUron to signifr a dastardly fellow. wiOiout considering the import ofTne original. There nave been faund &«4{uent instances of persona maiming themselves, diat they might be incapacitated Ibr military duty. I have beard an instance in whidi a knavirfi soldier discharged his gun through his hand, (hat he mi^t be discharged from his regimenc lite cutting off 4H the thumbs was probably designed for a double purpose; 1. To incapadtate tliem for war; and, 2. To brand them as cowards.

Gathered their meat under my table] I think this was a proverbial mode of expression, to signify reduction to the meanest servitude: for it is not at aU likely that ttrenty kinga, many of whom must have been contemporaries were placed under the table of die king of Bezek, and there fed; as in llie houses of poor persons, the dogs are fed with crumbs and o^l, under the table of their owners.

iSb God hath requited msl The king of Bezek seems to have had the knowledge of the true Qod, and a proper notion of a divine providence. He now feels himself reduced to that state to which be bad cruelly reduced others. liiose acts in him, were acu of tyrannous cruelty i ihaact tovBOird him was an act of retributtve justice.

JmI Oure he died\ He continued at Jerualem in a serrile and degraded condition till the day of his death. How long he lived after his disgrace we know not.

Verse 8. Had fought againat Jeruealem] We read this verse in « parenthesis, because we suppose that it refers to Om taking of this can fay Joihui^ for, as oe had 61 r

9 1 And aflerward the children of Judah went down to %ht against th^Canaanites, that dwelt in tho mountain, and in the south, and in the * vaUey.

10 if And Judah went out against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebnon: (now the name of Hebron before was > Kirjath-arba:} and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Taimai.

11 ]r And from (hence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before vxis Kirjath-sepher:

12 " And Caleb said, He that smileth Eirjathsephcr, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

13 Aitd Othniel, the son of Kenaz, " Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

14 >■ And It came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to aek of her fether a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

15 And she said unto him, ' Qive me a blessing: for thou hast given me a eoath land; give me also aprin^a of water. And Caleb gave ner the upper springs and the nether springs.

conquered iu armies and slew ita kinp> Joah. z. 25> it is pnwable that he cook the city: yei ve find that the Jelni' tiles itill dw«U in it, Joah. xv. 63. and that the men of Judah could not drive them out, which probably refers to the Btronff hold or fortress on mount Zion, which the Jebuaitei neld till the days of David, who took it, and totally destroyed the JebusilCB. Se« 2 Sam. v. 6 — $. and 1 Chron. xi. 4—8. It is poBaible that the Jebusites, who bad been discomfited by Joshua, had af^tn become sufficiently strong to possess themselves of Jerusalem; and that thcywere nov defeated, and the city itself set on fire: but,* lhat they still wer« able to keep possession of their ttrong fort on mount Zion, which appears to have been the citadel of Jerusalem.

Verse 9. Tlit CanaanUcM, thai dwelt in the nuniniain] lYw territories of the tribe of Judah lay in the most wuAem part of the promised laad, which was very mounlainousi though, toward the ite^ it had many fine plains. Jn some of these the Canaanitea had dwelt; and the expedition marked here, was for the purpose of finally expelbngr them. But probably rhis is a recaoiiulation of what is related, Joah. ciiap. z. 36. xi. 21. xv. 13.

Varse 12 — IS. And Caleb, &c.^ See this whole account, which is placed here by way of recapitulation, in Joshua, sr. 13—19. and the explanatory notes there.

TTie cUy qf palm trees] This seems to have been some ptaoe near Jericho, which city is expressly called the city of pahn trees, DeuL xxxtv. 3.; and though destroyed by Joshua, it might have some suburbs remaining, where these harmless people had taken up their residence.

The Kmitet, the descendants of Jethro, the f&iher-inlav of Uosea, were always attached to (he Israelites: they remained with them, says Calmet, during their wanderm^ in the wilderness, and accompanied mem to the promised land. Tliey received (here a lot with the tribe of Judah, and remained in the cUi/ of palm tree* during the life of Joshua: but after his death, not contented with their portion, or molested by the original inhabitants, they united with the iribo of Judah, and wsnt with them to attack Arad, After the conquest of that country, the ICeniiea established themselves diere, and remained in it till the dajrs of Saul, mingled with the Amatekites. When this king received a commandment fi^m Ood to destroy the Amuekites, be sent a message to the Kenilea to depart firom amon^ thein, as God would not destroy them with (he Amalekiies. From them came Hemalh, who vat the father of the house of Rechob, 1 Chron. iu B6. and the RechaiUet, of whom we have a remarkable account, Jer. XZXT. 1, &C.

Verse 17. T%e city vat eaOed Uarmah.) Tliis wpaars to be the same transaction stentioned Numb. xzL I, Ac. where see the notes.

16 If ' And the children of the Kenite, Moses* fhther-in-law, went up oat ^ of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of

Arad; * and they went and dwelt among the

17 H * And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and tliey slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called ■ Hormah.

18 Also Judah took ' Gaza with the coast thereof, and Aekelon with the coast thereof, and Kkron with the coast thereof.

19 And ' the Lord was with Judah; and ' he drave out the inhabitatiU of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had ^ chariots of iron.

SO * And they gave Hebron unto Caira, sis Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.

21 IT And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited JemsAlem: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.

22 IfAnd the house of Joseph, they also went thereof; neither Askelon, nor the coasts tnereof; neither Ekron, nor the coasts thereof] neither Azotus, nor its adjacent places: and the Lord was with Judah." TTiis ie the reading of the Vatican and other copies of the Seplu9' gint: but die.Jt/efant/rtanMS. and the text of dte Conplutenaidn and Antwerp Polyglotts, agree more nearly with the Hebrew text. St. Auguitin and JVeetyi— read the same as die Vatican H8. and JbsapHue euresaly says, that the Isnelitea took (ftily Aaketm «ad.Xsaftu^ but did not take Gaxa nor Ekron i and the whole histotj shows that these cities were not in the poesession of the Israelites, but of the Philistines: and if the Israelites did take them at diis time, as the Hebrew text stBtee, th^ certainly lost them in a very short time after.

Verse 19. And the Lord was with Judah, and he dross out the inhabitants of the mountain; but eouM not driwt out the inhabitants of Ae vaUet/, beeatue they had dmriote of trim.] Strange I were the iron chariot* too strong for Omnipotence? llie whole of this verse is improperly rendered. The first clause, 7Vu Lord wot vUh Judah, should terminate the I8di verse; and this gives the reaaoa for the success of this tribe: lite ttord w vilh Judahf and therefore he alste the Canaanitee thai inhabited phalh, &c. Ac. Here, then, is a complete period: the remaining part of the verse either refers to a different tia& or to (he rebellion of Judah against the Loid, which caosed him to withdraw his support TTiercfore, the Lord was with Judah, and these were the effects of his protection: but afterward, when the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, aivd served BasJim, Ac Ood was no longer with them, and their enemies were left to be sridn in their eyes, and tfaoms in their side, as God himself hsd ■aid.

"niia is the turn given to the verse fay Jonathan ben UzzieL, the Chaldee poraphrast j "And the WORD of Jehovah was in the support of the bouse of Judah; and tber extirpated the inhabitants of the mountains: but afterward WHKff THZV SINNED, they were not able to extirpate the inhabitants of the plain countir, because they had chariots of iron." lliey were now left to their own atrengfk t and their ad verMuies prerailed against them.

Versei 20. They gave Hebron unto Ca/c6] See dm whole transaction explained. Josh. xiv. 12, Ac

Verse 21. The JebuaUea dweU wiOi the cfctldirm ^ Benjamin] Jerusalem was situated partly in the tribe of Judah, and pertly in the tribe of Benjamin; Ak iwrAem port belonging to the latter tribe, the eoufkem to the former. The Jebuaitee had their strongest position in the part that belonged to Benjamin; and from iliia plaee itmj were not wholly expelled till the days of David. See the notes on ver. 8. What is said here of Bet^min, im mid of Judah, Joth. XV. 63. Ilwre must be an interefacngv of die names in one tx other of these places.

Unto thie davA As the Jebusites dweh in Jerusalem till the days of David, by whom they wct« drivsn ootf sad tba suihor of die Book o£ Judges sMtss dm K lav*

DP against Bedi-el: 'and the Lord vat with

23 Andthehouseof Joseph 'Bent todescry Bethel. (Now the name ol" the city before wtu « Luz.)

24 Aofl the Bpies saw a man come forth out of the city, and ui'ey said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, tlie entrance into the city, '■aud we will show thee mercy.

■ 25 And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with tlie edge «f the Bwora; but they let go the man and all his fhmily.

26.Ana the man went into the land of the Hittitea, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto

27 If 1. Neither did Manasseh drive out the tn- }uibitant8 of Beth-shean and her towns, nor Taaoach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Me*

Siddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would well in that land.

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, wid not utterly drive them ouL

29 TT * Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezerj but the Canaaoitea dwelt in Gezer among them.

30 If Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the > inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.

31 T[ - Neither did Aeher drive out the in- been in posaeaaion of Jenualem when he wrote; therelore, this htxA waa wriuen i^fort the reign of David.

vem 22. Tha hotut tff /oaep^ tftei/ also xeenX up againat BtOi-4l That ii, Uw tribe of Ephnim, and the half'iribe of Httnua^ who dwelt bevona Jordan. Bediel waa not taken by Joihua, ibou^ he took Ai, which was nigh to iL

Instead of cpt^ tvz beilh ToaeptL " the howe of Joseph," ten of Dr. Kennicotfa MSS. and six of De RoaaVa have

Eiia beney IWenft, " the dtUdren of Joseph;" and u the raitdiiig <« both the Seplua^int and AriMe, aa well M of two copies in the Hesapla of (h-lgm.

Verse 23. Beth-el — &e name qf &e Hty before was [mz.\ CoDcemine this cily sad its names, see the notes oa Cfea. xxviiL 19.

Terse 24, Suno ua — Qu entrance into tt« Taken in whatever li^ht we chsoie, the conduct of this nian was flxecrablo. He was a traitor to his country, and he was anw—i ry to the deuruotifHi <X the Uvea and property of hia fellow-ciiizens, wbiob he most ainfiiUy qetrayeo, in order to save his own. According to the rules and taws of war, the children of Judah mielit avail themselves of such men and their information; but this does not lessen, on the side of this traitor^ the turpitude of the action.

Terse 26. TTie land the HUlUea] Probably some place beyond the land of Canaan, in Arabia, whitncr this people emigrated when expelled by Joshua. The nmn himself appears to have been a Hittite; and, to perpetuate the name of his city, he called the new one which he now bunded Ijuz, this being the ancient name of Beth-el.

Verse 27. BeHi-^ean] Called by die Septuogint Z«d- •»»»«»Xk, Scifihopolia, or pie city of the Scythian*. On these towns see the notes, Josh. xvii. 12, 13.

Verse 29. Neither did E]Araim\ See the notes on the panHel pasewea. Josh. xvi. 6 — 10.

Verse 30. NtiAer did ZtAulun drive out} See Mi Josh. xix. 10— IS. Verse 31. Neither did AtAsr] See onJoih.zix. 24—31. Jeeftol Suppoaad to be Ou city of PteUmaia, near to toount Carmel.

Verse 34. TTie AmoriUa forced the thUdren <f Dan-, Ac] Juat as the ancient Britons were driven into the mountains of Wales by the Romans; and the native Indiuts driven badt into tha woods by the Britiah aetdera in Anerica.

Verse 36. "Hia Amorttee wtdd d^eelt in mount Herea] They perhaps agreed to dwell in the mountainous coimtry, Mi^ unable to maintain themaeWea on dw plain; and yet

habitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, not* of Aphik, nor of Rebob;

32 But the Asherites "dwelt among the Ca^ naanites, the inhabitants of tlie land: for they did not drive them out.

33 H "Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Belh-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Betb-auath; but he •'dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabituits of the land; nevertheless the iidiabitantB of Beth-ehemesh and of Beth-anath ' became tributaries unto them.

34 IT And the Amoritea forced the children of Dao into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley.

35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres 'in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph * prevailed, so that they became tributaries,

36 And the coast of the Amoritea wa» from " the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

An aofa] UBM to i)m Inattta u Bodiin, ud fiw Ih« larioM u whkA

Suiiwlj mSacMd, I— S. Tlinr (cmd tba LAnldiiripc the (tonof liirtin UKaUenvbsnaHdad liiiD,4,T. JoiiiH kkfkw did, tbu hdo?

nou, Uh Imiplt Terollol Dm llie imi Gad ud mal liUi, S— Id. fit Lsn balu ■ufrr. ddinnd rhrin liiinihr hiii li rfip iniiii miihiij-niii rwiMj illiriiwl![ 10. A ■encnl ■cEoudC ot Un mxtaad lAidi (nl mad m nclum Omn, In aiiulBS

AND an ^ angel of the Lobd came An.Eiad.tar.«. up from Gflgal » to Bochim, and l tS^^ln.

said, I made you to go up out of

Egypt, and have brought vou unto the land which I sware imto your fathers: and ' I aaid, I will never break my covenant with you.

were bo powcrfii] that the Danites could not totally expel them: they were, however, laid under tribute, and tnus uie house of Joseph had the aovereknty. Tb^ Scpiuaginl Itave sought out a literat meoniiw tor the namea of several of these places, and they render the verse thus; And the Amorites began to dwell in the mount of Tilesjin which [here are bears, and in which there tuefoxea." Thus they translate Ilerea, Aijalon, and Shaalbim,

Verse 36. AArabbiml Of Seorpiojta i probably so called iirom the number of those auimalH in ttutt place.

FVom the rack, and upvard.] The Vulgate underatanda by pVo aeldy a rocA:, the cjty Pclra, which waa the cofrilal of Arabia Petraa.

The whole of this chapter appears to be designed as a sort oi supplement to those places in the Book of Joshua, which are referred to in the notes, and in the margin: nor is there any dting in it worthy of especial remark. Wo every where see the same fickle character in the Israelites; and the goodtiess and.long-sutTering of Ood toward them. An eapeetal Providetice guides their steps; and ^fiaiherly hand cbaaiises them for their transgressions. They are obliged to live in the midst of ihcir enemies, often straitened, but never oveicome so as to lose tlie land which God gave them as chefr portion. We should learn wisdom from what they have sufiWred; and confideiice in the protection and providence of Qod, from their support: because these things were written for our learning.

Few can be persuaded that adversity is a blessing; Jiut without it how little should we learn! He, whom iho school of aiHiction haa liis mind turned toward God,

^ Rndf unfua* in tnr*. boulu in iba ninfuDf brookft,

NOTES ON CHAPTER II. Verse 1. An angel of the Lord] In the preceding cfai^ ter we have a summary of several things which took place portly after the death of Josluia j especially during the time in which the elders lived, (that is, the men who were contemporary with Josliua, but survived him,) and while the people continued fiiith&l to the Lord. In iiiis chapter, and some naris of the following, we have on accoimt of the same people abandoned by their God, and reduced to the heaviest calamities, because they had broken their covenant with their Maker. Tliis chapter, and the eight first verses of the next, may be considered as an epitome of the whole book; in which we see, on one hand, Uie armies of the Is* raeliiea; and on the uUier, the punishment inflicted on them 1^ the Lord; their repentance, and return to their alle^- once; die long-suffering of God, and his mercy showed in pardonini; their backslidings, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies.

3 And * ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land: *ye duUl throw down their altars: ' bat ye have not obeyed my vmce: why have ye done this t

3 Wberelbre I also said, I will not drive them out I'rom before you; but they shall be > as thonu in your sides, and ^ their gods shcdl be a i snare unto you.,,.

4 And It came to pass, when the angel or the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

5 And they called the name of the place * Boehim: and they sacrificed there unto the Loan.

6 IT And when > Joshua had let the people so, the children of Israel went every man unto nis Inheritance to possess the land.

7 - And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that "outlived Joshua, who ted seert all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel.

8 And " Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten years

9* 9 And they buried him in the border of his mheritance, in ' Tininath-heres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.

10 H And also all that generation were gathered unto their Ikthers: and there arose another generation mr^wa. after them.which'knewnot the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done fdr Israel.

11 And the children of lanel did ««fl ia Aa

sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:

12 And they > forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which broueht them out of the land of Egypt, and followed <■ other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and ' bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.

13 And they forsook the Lord, "and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

14 IT " And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he ^ delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and 'he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they * could not any longer stand before their enemies.

15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had Kiid, and ^ as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed..

16 IT Nevertheless "the Lord raised ^*yf" up judges, which •'delivered them out agja^ of tne hand of those that spoiled them. — —

17 And yet ihey would not hearken imto their judges, but they *went a whoring afler other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quicklv out of the way which their &thers wialked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not bo.

18 And when the Lord raised them up judres, then ' the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all

TtiK angtt <^0u Lord, mentionecl here, is varioualy interpreted; sonw think it wu Phinehm, the higb prieat, irliich U possible; and others, that il w<ts a prophet sent to the place where they were now assembled, with on ex- Uaonlinary commission from God, to reprove (hem for their aim, and to show them the reason why Qod had not rooted out their enemies from the land; this is the opinion of the ChiUdee paraphnut, consequently of the ancient Jews: others think that an ang'el, properly nuh, ia intended; and ■everolareof opinion that it was the ilnff'd^tAc covenant, the Captain of tiu LortTa ho»t, which bad appeared unto Joshua, chap. v. 14, and no lesa than the Lord JeauM Chritt himself. I think it more probable that eome extraordinary human mtasengtr is meant; oa such mesaengers, and indeed pnqiheta, apostles, &C. arc frequently termed angtl», that IS, flieasen^era of the Lord. The person here mentiODcd i^peara to have been a resident at OUgal, and to hsre come to Bodiim on this ezpreaa errand.

IvrtU never break my covenaTu] Nor did God ever break h. A covenant is never broken but by him who violates the conditions of it; when any of the contracting parties violates any of the conditions, the covenant ia then Ivdcen, ood by that party alone t i.ai the emditioiia on die otiier ■ide are null and void.

Terse 3. IwtU not drive 0tem out from h^are you] Hieir tnnagreaalMU, aitd breach of (he coveoool, were the reascHU why they were not put in entire possessum of the proaussd land. See note at the end of this chapter.

Tene 5. 7%ey called the nama cf thai place ^ocftfm] Tbe word ooa hoHm, signifies tMcptn^c, or lamentationa I and is tronslaiea by the Septuagint K>a«9f<uy, or ISXavOfutwtt beuaiUnga; and it is suppcwed that the place derived its name from these lamentationa of the people. Some think the place itael^ where the people were now aasemblcd, was £!fct/o, now named BocMm, necauae of the above circumstance. It should be observed, that the angel speaks here in the person o/* Qod, by whom he was aent; OS the propbeu frequently do.

Terse 6. When Jomta had let the people go] Hie author of this book is givioK here a history of the people, from the division of (he land by Joshua, to the tune ia which the angel speaks. Joshua divided the land to them by lot; recommended obedience to God, which they solemnly promised { and Ihey eoniiimed faitUid during his life, and duringlbe lives oTthoae who bad beeahiacontem. pOrariea, but who had survived him. When all that generation who had seen the wondrous works of God in uieir behalf bod died, then the succeeding generation, who ftnete not the Lord, who had not seen his wondrous works, forsook bisworMtip^ and worshipped Baaiim. and Jahtaroth,. the gods of the nstiona aiaoag whom ihey lived } and thus the Lord was provoked to anger: and this was the: why they were delivered into the hands of their enemies. This ia tne sum of their history to the time ia wfaidi the angel delivers his message.

Verse 11. Served ^aa^tfnl The word o^pa baSHm, aignifiea lordt. Their false gods they considered luptmatural ru/ers, or governor*; each tunving bis peculiar district and office: lut when they wished to express a particular Vva ba£i, they Rcnerally added some particular epiihei, as Baal-zephott. Baal-peor, Baal-xebub,Baal-*haniayim, &c. OS Calmet has well observed. Hie two former were adored by the MoabUe*; Baol-zebub by the Ekronitet: Bosl-benth was honoured at Suchem; and Bool -abamay im, the lord or ruler qf theheavena, was adored anuag the PtuBnidanM, ^/riana, Chaldtana, Ac And irtieaever the word BaaiiM used without an epithet, this is the god that ia intended; and propably among all these people meant the aun.

Terse 12. WMA brought them out qf the land eg ^S^P'l of the highest aggravmtioDs a their offence s they forsook the God who brought them oat of Egypt; a place in which they endured the most i oppression, aiul were aubjectod to the moot degrao vitude; from which tbev never could have rescued aetves: and they were aelivered by such a signal di^i^ of the power, justice, and mercy of God, as anould new have been forgotten; becauae the most atupendoua that ba4 ever been exhibited. They forsook him; and served idol^ as destitute of real being as of influence and power.

Terse 13. Served Baal and AMaroth,] In a geaeni way, probaUy, Baal and Aehlaroih meaa the tut* asd moon; but in many coaea AMaroth aeeau to havs ben the same among me Conaanites, as VemiM was uMaf the Oredu and Bomana; sad to have beea wovritvpea with die aaoie obaoene rilea.

Terse 14. 7%e Aanda ^ spoilera] Probacy marsitijiig' partiea of the Canaanitea, making fr^uent inoimiaBB ia their londa carrying away cattl& spoiling their cropa, Ac

Verae lb. Tm hand tff the Lord waa agabut themi Tht power ^ich before protected Ihem wbsn obedwo^ was now turned aainat ibrao, baeauae of their ^aobediattBe. They not only baa not God latA them, but they bad Qai agaaut then.

Tersel6. 7^ Z<or(f raised up Jiu^vaJ That i^lMdet^ generals, and govemora. roiaed up by an especial sfpoialment of the Lord, to delivw lh«m from, ana awge them on, their odvnnriea. See the vrtfut.

ibe iaya of the judge: ■ for it repented the Lord because of their groaniogs, by reason of them that oppressed them, ana vexed them.. 19 And it came lo paas, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and i qorrupted tkemr velres. more thttn their faLhers, in following other goha to eerve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

80 Tt 1 And the anger of the. Lord was hot a^nst Israel; and he @aid, Because that this people bath " transgressed mv c«venant which I eommaoded their fathers, 4na have not hearkened unto my voice >

21 "1 also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua

22 ' That through them I may p prove Israel, whether they will xeep the way of the Lord, to walk therein, as their fathers end keep or not.

23 Therefore the Lord ' leu those nations, without drivii^ them out hastily: neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

Israel by them; {even as many of Igrael as had not known all tjic wars of Canaan:

2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might, know to teach thera war, at thQ least such ae before knew nothing thereof:)

3 Namely, >iive lords of the Philistines, and nil the Canaanites, and tlie Sidonians, and the Hivites that- dwelt in. mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon untQ the entering in of Hamath.

4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they "would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

5 IT ' And the children of Israel dwelt among the CanaaniteSj HitUtes, and Amorites, and Parizzites, and Hivites, and Jcbusites:

6 And * they took their daughters to be their wiv«s, and gave their daughters to their boo^ and served their gods.

7 ' Atid the children of Israel did evfl in the eight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord ^eir Ood, ' and served Baalim and * the groves.

8 TT Thereibretheangerof tneLoRD *b'u1S:" was hot against Israel, and he * sold Jut's^t im. them into the hand of *• Chushan-rish- aow «m athaimking of 'Mesopotamia: atidtlie *- o'y"?-,"?- children of Israel served Chushan-rishatbaim eight years.

9 And when the chHdren of Israel '^^tm cried unto tiie Lord, the Lord ■ raised

up a 'deliver to the children of Israel, l (^oflm terjftjliintiieatwn, and vihbreriom, in Iba Sacred Writing. As ntany of thek idolatrous pnictiMt vers accompanied with impure ritm, the term voa DM only m^pbonoally, but titeraOy proper.

Vena IS. The Lord wa« vAth the Judge] Qod hjmaelf woB king, KoA die Ju(1k« was his rejveseatative.

It repenUd Lora\ He choiqted bis purpose toward them: be purpond to destroy them, bteaw* tff their sin; tfaey repented, and turned to him, and he wnged tliis purpoet. The purpose vnu to dcBtriiy them if th^ did not repent i when they did repent, his [u>t destroying. tbem was quite -consislent with hi* purpose.

VerM 19. When the Judge vae dead] It appears that, io general, the office of. the judge was for life.

TTuir ttubbom way] Their hard or di0tcuit way. Most •imwrt go tbro<^ gnat tribultfioik in order lo nt to eternal percution.' they would have had less pain in oieir way to' heaven.

Verse 20. TV anger qf the Lord hol\ They were M fuel by iheij transgreuions; and the diapleaaure of the Lord was as a^e, about to kindle and cgnaume that fuet.

Verse 21. IteiU not hmojirrth drive out] As a people, thw never had personal eounge, discipline, or hardihood, ■uffieient to stand befwe their enemies: ue advantues tfafey gained were by the peculiar interference of Qod. Tnis they had while obedient; when they ceased to obey, his strong arm was no longer stretched out in their behalf; therefore their enemies continued lo possess the land which Qod purposed to give them aa their mliecitauce for ever.

Verse 22. Tnat through them I may prove /n-aef] Here appotred to be no other way to induce this people to aeknowMge the true Ood but by permitting diem to fall straits from whidi thcv could not be ddiveretl but by bis especial providence. iVse words arc spoken after die manner of men; and the msiuphor is token from the case of a master or father, who dietruau the fideUty or obedience of his servant or son, and places Uiem in such circumstBiieea that, by their good or evU conduct, they may justify him saapicioDs, or give him proob of ihelr fidelity.

Verse 2i. Without driving them out haatUy) Had Ood expelled all the ancient inhabitants at onee, we plainly sec, from the subsequent conduct of ttie people, that tliey would soon have abandoned hie worship; and in their prosperity forgotten their deliverer. He drove out at first M many as were aeceataiy, in (nder to afford the people, as th^ wen then, a tufflHency iif roam to settle in: as die trwea increasad in population, they were to extend themselves to the uttennoat of dtetr assigned borders, and CJipel all the remainlM inbaUlants. On iheM accounta Ood did |ot dM woriginal iohaUtanta hattitjh or ot once; and thue gave the Israelites time to increase: and by continuing the ancient inhabitants, prevented the land from running into vaale, and the wild bea«ts from, multiplying; both of wbiob must have infallibly taken place, had God driven oui.all the old -inhBhilants at once, uefwa the laraeHlCB were suffieienily numerous t« tieewftf- the whole of the land.

These obecrvations cu-e important, as diey contain the reason why God did not expel the Canaanites. Qod gave the Israelites a grant of the v^le land, and promised to drive out their enemies from before them, if they continued faithful. While iliey continued faithful, God did -continue to ftilfil liis promise; their borders were enlarged, and their enemies fled before them. When ihey rebelled against the Lord, he abandoned them; and (heir enemies prevaUed against them. Of ibis, their frequent lapies and miscarriages, with God's repeated interpositions in their behalf are ample evidence. One or tva solitary instances nug^t not bo considered as aufficienC propf; but by these numereiie inatonces, the f^t is eatobhshcd. Each rebellion against God produced a consequent disaster in their alfairB; each true humilkiion was invariably followed by an eepecial divine interposition in dieir bebolf. fheae afibruad continual proof of God's being, providence, and grncoL The whole economy is wondrous, and the eSeeu impressive and convincing. Hie people were not hastily put in poBsesaion of the promised land beeauee qf their infidelity. Can the infidcta controvert this statement? IT not, then their argument against divine revelation, from "the foil UK at positive promisee utid oaths," tul\a to the ground. They have not only io this, but ih all other respects, lost all ineir props.

Verse 1. Noip these are Ae nations] Ttic natioos left to prove the lamelitcs were-^ihcjlre lordships, or eatrapite, of the Philistines; viz. Chith, Atktlon, Ashdod, Eleron, and Gaza; the SiJoniani, the I/tvt(es of Lebanon, Baalhermon, &c. widi the remains of the Canaanites, viz. the Hiltitte, Amorites, Ptrizxitts, and JibueUes.

"niose who were left to be proved were those iBraelitea that had not seen ail the aara of Canaan.

Verde 2. Thal—Jeraet might hww to teaA them war] This was another reason why the Canaanites were left in the land, that (he laraeliles might not forget mihtary discipline; but habituate themselves to the use of arms, that they might always be able to defend themeelves against their foes. Had they been faithfid to God, diey wenld have had no need of Teaming the art of wart hut nnr arme'became a sort of oeeeosa^substituife for that spirit

10 And ■> the Spirit of th6 Lord ■ came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim kine of k Mesopotamia into hia hand; and hishaoa iverailed against Ciiuflhan-nBhathaim. ' II And the land had rest ibrty years. And Othniel the son of Eenaz died, a c im 12 IT ' And the children of Israel did jks ^ad-ir. evil ai^ain in the sight of the Lord: j^^mam ftnd trie Loitn strengthened ■"^gloa L^mt-mn. the Idnff of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.

ilal amnMh whHi had departed from ihem. Thus God, in bis jui%iB«nla Iravea ons iniqiuious dm ton to htatm and (orment aaoiner. Wera all to Inm to God, men ami leant war no more.

Vene 4. To httw vAetlur thty xtould Aearjbn} This vould be the oonaequeoce of the Canaaaitea being left among tbam. If tber ahotild be faithful to God, their esemiea would not be able to enalave them: should they be rebellioua, the I.ord would abandon them to their foei.

Verie 6. And they look Aeir daughtertX They fwmed niatrimoniaj alUancea with those proBcrlbeanaitoii^ serred their idols, and thus became one with them in poHace and religion.

Verae 7. Serrtd Baalim and the gretet] lio j^tovm were ever worshipped; but the deiiit*, which were auppoaed to bs rMident in them: and-in many eaan (etaples ■nd allsra wer* built in grovu} and the luperatitHm of ceiuteraHnp grmte and woods to the honom- of (he deities was a practice very usual with tbe ancients. P/uiy assures us that lree», in old times, served for the temples of the gods. Tacitut reports this custom of the old Oermana,- thiintua Curtiia, of the Jndiane t and Catar, and our onf writers, mention the same of the Ih-uidt in Britain. Dm Roman* were admirers of this Way of wor^ip, and therefore had their htci, or Ppttt, in raostparu of the city, dedicated to some dei^. Bitt it is very probable that the word miVK ariteroth, which we translate grovte, is a corruption of the word tdv^vk athteroth, the moon, or Venue; see on chap. ii. 13. which differs only in the letter n tav, from the former. AriUeroth is read in this place by dte CAolifM T^rguin, the Syrtoe, the Arabic, and the FiUgotef and by one of Dr. Aennicott** M8S.

VcimS. Chxt^n-RlAalhaim] Kiuhati^ the teidctd, or impioue; and wt the word ia rendered hj the OtalHee Tar^m, 0ie Sj/riae, and the Arabic, vhsnrsr it oeeun in this chapter.

King qf MeeopolaiHta] King of o>*«ii B-vt Aram?faharayim, "Syria of the two rivers t" translated Jftsopolamia by the Septua/^t and VuSgaU.

It was the diatriet situated between the Tigris and Eht- Arata; called by the Arabian geofraidiera Jtfewranna- Inr, "the coUnlry beyond the river j*' it is now called Diarbek. See the note on Acta ii. 9.

Served OtuAan—eigfU yeare.] He overran their county ttad forced them to p^ a very heavy tribute.

Ttrwe 9. Raieed up— Othniel the eon, iif Kenax} This noble H«brew was of the trihe of Jodah, and n^>hew spd soD-iOpIaw to Caleb, whose waiu stands without abatement id the sacred records. Clthniel had already signalized his valour in taking nrjath-sepher, whichappeare 10 have been a very hazard oub exploit. Bv his natural lAlour, experience in war, and the peculiar influence of the Divine Spirit, he was well qualified toimpirefais coimtrymen with courage, and to md them socceHftilly against Aeir oppressors.

TsnelO. BU hand prtvalted^ Wears not told of what natiuv this war was, but it was most dedrive; andtheconsCqtience was an undisturbed peace of forty rears, during the whole life of Othniel. By the:^nrU i^lhtt Lord com' ing upon Aim, the Chatdee understands the epirit of propkecy; others understand " the apirit tjf fbrtUude arid artravrdtMOrt/ eottrage, as opposed to the spirit cffear, or faintnen ^ heart!" but as Othniel was judi^ and bad many offices to fulfil beside* diat of agenerid, he had need of the Spirit of Qod, ia the proper sense of the word, to enable him to guide and govern this most refractory and llekls people: aqihis receiving it for these purpose^ shows thai the poIiUoal state of the Jews was adU a theoeracy. No man auampted to do si^ thing in that atala without me iaamedkleinqHiationof Godi lbs pMeniioD to which was •iiwys justiflsd by Ifoe event. VsMsia. 1U dtUdrm^ braetdtdnOjl 'tttar higu

13 And he gathered unto him the ckBdrsn of Ammon and 'Amalelc, and went and smote rael, and possessed " the city of palm trees.

14 So tne children of Israel p served Bglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 Bnt when the children of Israel ar^ff 4 cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised a» c>^V up a deliverer, Ehud, the son of G^n. jJ^Im ''aBenjamite.aman'left-hnndediana »■ tgi».s» bv him the children of Israel cent ajvesent onto Eg-lon the king of Moab.

16 But Ehud made him a dagger ^leh hat two ed^es, of a cubit I«i|gth; and hedUgtnt it under his ridment upon his right thigh.

the Lord, and became idolaters; and Ood made diose vsiy people whom the^ had imitated in their idtdalroua wmhip, the means of their chastisement.

The Lord etrengthened Eghn As idng ^ JMbaft] The success he had against thelsraeNtea was by the eap^ ciol appointment and energy of Gh>d. He not onJy abwdoned the Israelites, but strengtheaed the Hoabites gainst

Eglon is supposed to have been the immediate sueetsMr of Baldk. Some great men have borne names which, whm reduced to their grammaiical meaning, appear vetr ridieBlous; the word p^jp Eglon, signifies a tiiUe eaffl

Verse 13. TVie city ^ palm trea) "Hiis the Twgn^ renders tha city of Jmdui; but Jencho had been destroyed by Jorfiua, and eertainly was nM rdniilt tjl] the reiga of Anab^ loog aflar this, 1 Kangs zvL 34. However, as Jericho it ezpres^ called Oie city palm trees, Diat, xxiv. 3. the eity in question must mve facon m the vieiaity or plain of Jenidio: and die king of Moab had seized it aai a frontier town, contiguous to his own estates, fi^lmt supposes thai the ciCy ^ patm ireee means Bn-raddi.

Verse 1&. Ehud, the eon of Oirm — a mats Is^-AoiuU] uvr-imwiA itter jatl yemino, a man /amsteikas r^Aon^ and dierefors obliged loose his <^ TbsSip- Uiagiot render it axipa tf^ntaeii^tet, anamHdaUrf m man who could use both hands alike. The Vulgate, firf xUrSque numu pro detrterd ut«6aAtr, amaawboeoulduN either hand as a right band; or, to whom richt and left were uqnally ready. Hue is not the sense of the original but it is the sense u> which most interpreters understand it. Tt is well konwn that to be an amfrwissfaK was in high repute among the ancients: Hector bosals of i^ Amp lyair n siAi /tajDK r*, onifMrawtms n* Off tvi Jffia, eiff is' aptr^ rttfnm ffw Aj^sXcDv, reiMtr* rMOPfiwemwsXtpi^eDr

Huh bbd H iw, ud I cu lUa por

Fane Au mAm far RMmulL" Omif^.

Asteroft—s is also rsnescnted by Honiar as an muMdmleri fiwmiriiidi he oerivss great advantages mfigjhtt— Ot ^ar* «KiXwa(' ( mrtvxtro it»f AxtXXssr

Ws are informed by Aristo^e that I^to rceonsMBded to all soldfers to acquire, by study and exercise, an emj fiuilityofusingbothnands. Speaking of Plato^ be s«ys^ Est npi tr r»tf -woXtfiunit amvalr, ^w*M a/i^iltfiei yi»M»ra* s Tifw fitXrriri',wc ttwfni nr/m xfle^l"* ratrxywis ntf it axf>i"V¥, DeBepub. lib. ii. cap. \2. "He (Pnto) also made a law concerning their warlike exereioe% that iheyriiould acquireahabit of using AoMAant^roJiAs; asit ia not fit that one of the hands riiould be oscful and the other useless."

In chap. XX. 16. of diis book, we have an aeeouH ot eeven hundred men of Benjamin, each of whom was "m -n itter yadysmino, fame of A(«rfgAfAafi< and yet slinging stones to a hairs breadth without mining; these aregenerally thought to be ambidextere.

Sent a present unto EgUm\ lliis is general^ mdsrstood to be the tribiUe money which the king of Jtoab had imposed on the Israelites.

' Verse 16. A dagger loAicft had two odges, of a embU length] The word tOJ gomsd^ which w» tnnuste enM^ is of very doubtful signification. As the root ssbm to signify MUraeted, it probably means an hmtntnent BNds for the purpose mortar than nsnal, and someAiar IOdb M the Ilauu itttetto. Hm Sqitasgint trunlato Slfoa^

17 Aad he bronght the present unto Eglon Un^ofMoab: andKglon ■*o»ii verr fat man.

18 And when he had made aa end to offer the preseHt, he sent away the people that bare the present... ^

10 But he himself tarned affain > fron the • quarries thai •were by Qii^l, artd said, I bave a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep siienoe. And all that stood by him "went «at Irwn him.,..

£a And Ebod cmm onto faim; and he was ■itting in ' a stimmer parlotir, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from Qod unto thee. And he arose ont of his seat.

21 And Ehud pilt forth his left hand, and toob Ihe Aajggec from fals right thigh, and throat it iqto hie belly;

22 And the haft also w^nt in after the blade; and the &t doaed upon the blade^ ao tiiat he toald not draw the daiccer out of hia belly; and 'the dirt came onL

S3 Th«i Ehud went forth through the pordi.

Cbm hit right Aigh.] Beeanse be ma-Mt-baoiIed. Ordimrily the vmAd iaon the Idtnda, that it may be readily drawn out by the right hand; but aa Ehud was l^flkmnded, to be eoBnaient, hia sword must be oa tha right aide.

Tens 17. Bglm was a very fat man] The icu r<M Uk baria of i& text w truislaited by the SeptuagitU u»np «r*ia{ foif*, a vmy htautiful ar poUie man,- and the ^fiac, a very rude man. It profaab^ meena what we call

Vene 19. AMaanamito^ar A«prMmi] Preaent^ trttote, Ac. in the eaatern eoiintriea, were mered with very great ceMmaoy; and, to make the more parade, aev- •rn perwnu, ordinuily riavea, aumptuously dreaBei^ and in ecniaideTable number, were employed to carry what would not be a faarden eveai to me. iW appears to have been the cm* in the present inataitee.

Terse VL Be — twmtd—ffom Uu^ptarriea] ean'rotpegi' ttm. Some of the ▼ecwona uadetaiand thUword as mean-, er gi aim imagtat or sme apot where the •tea bad a shea sf idolatntus worriiqi. AaVpapoao^ aigniSea to crd. Ana, or tngrmse, it may be implied to the inagaa ihtu cot, or ie the place or guarry woeBce they ware 4ig^i: but it ia moat likely that m1oJ# are meant.

Vcraezb. He uoa eiUinif in a mmmer parlour] Beaidea lh» pimtforiiM, aaya Dr. Stnw, which were upon the an* eiaat hooaea fit tlw'fiut, Mad iriuefa are found there to thia Ay, it it protadde that berMofiar^ as mH aa at present, Mat of the giroat hooaea had a snuJler one antMxed i whkh aeldom eooiialed ef more than one or two rooma •od a terrace. Oth«^ built aa they fi^uently are, above ibe porch or gateway, hare, if w« exe^t the ground floor, ^ the ^Mmnnieneea bdOQging to the houae properly ao eaDed. Ttiere ia a door of communieation from dwm utto Iba salleiy of the houae, kafM opm or dut at ilu diaerotion of the nmalar of ibt housei beaidea anoiber whieh opaoa inaediaff ly from a privy staira down into the porch, or #ireA, without giving the kaal diatiirbance to the houae. in theae bask houaea atraagera are luually lodgetl-and enlenained; hither the men are wont to retire from the hurry aad Doiae irf their &mi1iee, tQ be more at leisure for madi- MtfimordivernonB; and they are often uaed (or wardrobes pid magaxintf. Tham the Anbo eall ofeoA, which ai- •edy ana wen to fha Hdiraw word al^aik, fiwnd in ddtplaea t and, wilhont dosArt, such waa ibeaparHneat in whieh BfftoM feeeived Ehud, by lha privyttaire behwging 10 wfakh he aaro^eri, after having killed figlon. The <toara of the eastern biiildinga are large, and their chanubcn apaeiou^ eonvanieiteaa vail adilHad to thoaa hotter climates: bat in ifaa arcWnt paatag^ soowthing uore soema to be aMaot; at least there are bow other coaveoianoea in the: to Ktve eoolBea* to pariioular room% which are vary man, In Egypt, the eooUo^ their rooms ii aflactad aammga at tha tof, whieh let m the fredt air. Hons. Mfitttl infbmia im, that thor. balls ara made very large and Mky, with a dome at the top^ which, toward the nor£, iMaaevml open wjrtdows, ao eoBatmcud as to throw the MbA wind down km Ihe rooav t nn4 by Ibis atean^ ihoBgh the eouDtry ia ezeeaaivety hot, they can «ka ibe and abut die Socfn of Ifae parloor iipon him, and locked them.

24 When he was goire out, his servants came; and when they aaw that, behold, the doors or the parlour were locked, they said, Surely lie ' covereth his feet in his summer chi^inber.. 25 And they tarried till they were ashamed; aad, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour: Uterefore they took a key, and opened them; and, behold, their lord v!a» fallen dowa dead on the earth.

26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the qnarriea, and estio^d unto Seirath.

27 And, it came to pass, when he was come, that rhe b(ew a trumpet ia the ■motmtaia-ef Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down tyiih bim fi-om the mount, and he before them.,

28 And he said unto them, Follow after me; for * the Lord hath delivered your enemies the Mo^bites into your hand. And they went down after him, and ^oo^ the fords of Jordan toward Mooli, and stiSered not a man to pasa over.

coolneMs of thoee apartnenta ao great as often not to be borne without being wr^iped in fuca Eglon's waa a o^tnAar; and eome contrivance to mitigate the heat of it waa the more necessaiy, as he appears to bave kept his court at Jeridu^ vcr. 13, 28. where the heat ta so ezceasive aa somatiiaaa to prove EUaL See Ifarmar'a Obsnrvationa.

I Kaee a nuaaogv J"'"^ f«xi unto thee] Vr debar elohim fi alicba, a teord vf llU gutU to me. waio Asc It ia veir likely that the fr<vd elmim is used here to sifnlfy id^,,or the veeitim mentioned abov^ ver. 19. Enod having gone ao Mr aa this place of filolatry, mi^ Csign be had uure been wonbip^ng, and that tha pestUm bad inspurad him with a meaasge for the kingj and thia was the reasMi why the kuig commanded »iIeHc^ why every man uent out, and why he rose from his ttat, or throne, that be might receive it with the greater reepoct. Thia, being an idohuar. he would not have done k> any toeastee coming from tne God qf Israel. 1 have a mef aagefrom (loa utUo thee, ia a popular text: many ara fond of preaching from iL Now. aa no man aliould ever depart from the hlenl meaning of Scripture in hiB preach* ing, we may at mm see the absurdity of taking auch a text aa thia; tor auch preachers, to be consistent, should carry a two-edged dagger of a cubit long, on their right thigh, and be ready to tarutt it into the boieelt qf all those Ihey addressed I ThiB ia certainly the ^«rat meaning ot the paaaage; and that it haa no other meaning is an inoontroveroble truth.

Verse 22. Tke hajt also leeht in after the blade] As llm inatrumant waa veiy «Aor^ and Eglon very eotpulaii, this might readily take place.

And ihe airt eame out.] l^is is variously nnderatoad) either the contents of the bowels issued through the woun^ or he had an evacuati<to in the natural way, through lbs ' /rirAl and «nni*A.

Hk originaL Twwru parehsdonah, occura only here} and ia •upoosed to Jbe compounded of ris pareah, dung^ and mv siiodeh, to shed, and be very well applied to the latter circumstance j ao the Vulrale underatoou it.

Verse 24. Be eovereth lus feet] He is bun down on his Bofa, in order to sleep: when this waa done, they dropped their alSppera, lifted up their feet, and covered them with (heir long looae garmenta. But the version/, in reneral, aeem to underattmd it aa imjdytng a certain natural act.

Terse 26. Passed beyond As qaarriesS Beyond tha PesUim, which appoara to have been the Hoabtidi borders, where diey had set up those hewn atones as landmarks, or sacred boundary stones.

Terse 2a Took the fbrds qf Jordan] It ia very likely that the Moahile^ who were on the weatom side of Jordai^ bearing of Ihe deaib of Bglon, were panic-struck, and«n> deavoiuwl to eaewe over Jerdan, at lbc./br«Et near Jeriidi^ when Ehud hlewnis trumpet in the mountaina of Ephrain^ and thua got into Ibe lowl of dte Moabitea, which lay oa the eaat of Jordan: but Bhud and his men, seizing the only pass by which they could moke their escape, slew ten thousand of them in their attempt to entss at thoaa fbrds. What an called here the /owfi^ waa doubileta tb^ place where the Israelites had passed Jordan, when they (nnder JosbwO look poaaesaion of Ihe promised land. j619

99 And they slew of Moab «t that time about ten thousand men, all 'lusty, and sU men of valour; and there escaped not a man.

30 So Moab was subdued that day under the band of Israel. And ''the land hail rest fourscore years.

31 TF And after him was "Sham^ar the eou of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men 'with an ox-^ad: ' and he also deliv' «red I' Israel.

AND ^the chiidren-of lai^iei again did evil in the si^ht of the Lord, Am.sui.ha when Ehud was dead. t^mm^ 2 And the LoRO sold them into the i-otn^tm hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned la

Vans 29. Mi Itufy, and all mm iff wUmr] Picked, 4faosea troops, vhtch Egloo k«pt among ihs Imelites to leduee and ovmwe (hero.

Veiw 30. 71i« land had reat fouraeort yMrv] ThU is amally reckoned from the deliverance under Otbniel; that beinK & Itrtn from which they dated every transactioD| aa in o£er cases ihey dated from the Exodw, from ihe bmlding qf Sa'ovion t temple, &g., and as otiier nations did from particular event* ( the Romanb, from the building qf the city; the MoBAMBfEOAira, from tlie Bljreh, or JKgM if Mohammed to Heditta; dw Chkistiam^ from the birAqfChrUttAa. But lee (he preface, and the di^M«nt ehronouMneol acheiDes there mennoned. ' Verse 31. And after him wu Shamffor Ou ton of AiiaM\ Dr. Hales mipposeB that " Sluungar'i administration in (he weat, included Ehud's administration-of eighty

Cm in the east; and that, as this administration might 9t beeu of some continuanee, so this Philistine servitude, vhich is not noticed elsewhere, might have been of some duiation; as may be Incidenttlljr colleoled from Deborah's dianksgivin^" en. v. 6.

Slew—rix hundred men tcilh an ox-goad^ ipan inSa Hialmad habakar, the instructer of the oxen. This instrument is differently understood by the versions: the VvlimU has romer^ witK the amiter, or jtUmghthare, a dreufiU weapon in the hand of a man endued with so much strength; the S^)tuagint has apai-Mnii rmfiouv, •pM As pUnighthart of tht. oxen; the Chaidtt, Syriac, and Anmie, understancTU of the goad; as does our translation.

1. That the oz-goad, stilt used in Palestine, is a sufli- 6ient1j[ destructive weapon, if used by a strong and skilful hand, is evident enough from the- description which Mr. Maundrd gives of this implement, having seen many of ihemboth iu Palestine and Syria. "'Twas ohserVable," says he, "that in ploughing they used goads of an extraordinary size; upon tneasuring of several Lfound them about e\ght feet lung; and at the bigger end about »ix inAet in dreumference. "Hiev were armed at the lesser end with a sftorp prieieie, for driving the oxen; and at the other end, with a mtUl tpade, or paddle of iron, strong and massy, for eleansins the plount from die clay that ei»nimbers it in working?' St^hinJoiimevfromJMppo, fte. 7th edit, page 110, 111. In the hands of a strong, aldlful man, au<^ an instrumeat mtist be more dangertms, and more latal, than any sword.

It is wortlw of remarx, that the ox-ffOttd is repreeented by Homer to nave been nsied, prior to this time, in the saute way. - In the address of Dlomed lo Olaueus, Iliad, lib. vi. ver. 129. Lycurgus is represented as diseomniing Buchus and die Bacdianals with this weapon. The siege Of Troy, aecordiog to the best chronologers, happened widiin the time of ttie Israetiiish judges.

^Tiit meaning of this (able tst Lynirgus, king of Thrace, finding his subjects addicted to dnrnkennens, proscribed the cultivation of the vine in bis dominions, and inntituted agriculture in its stead: thus, enoflXojdie Tliyrai, were expelled, ^tsirXiiyi, by the ox-goad. Tha account, however, diowB that Shamgar was not (he onlv person who used the ox-goed as an otFensive weapon. It m translate ^ the 0»mt\r)i a eaYi-vihip, the paralUi is Idbt.

2. It a^^ears that Shamgar was merely a labouring ■ant that the Philistines were making an inroed oa the

Israelites when the latter were cultivating their fields i dwt Shamgar and his neighbours succesrinlly reuated diem; that tliey armed themselves with their more portafala agricultural iostniments; and thai Shamgar, either with aphughAareoT an ox-goad, slew six bundled of ihoae marauders.

3. The c&so- of Ehud killing E^lon, is a very serious one; and how tar he was justi&d in this aetioB is with alt a question of importance; and, with not a fiew, a question of difficulty.

"Is it right to day a tyrant r' I, without any luBtatioa, answer, no individual has ari^t to slay any man, exosK it be hi his own defence, when a person atiadw biaa lo order to take away his life. " But may not any of im oppressed subjects put an end to the Ufe n a tyrant 1" N«k The state alone can judge whether a king is ruUng oost- (rary to the laws sod ccmetiUKion of that state; sod if that B(ate have provided laws for thepuniahmem of a ruler ^hi> is endeavouring to destroy -or subvert that oonstitatkm, (hen lethimbedealtwidioeesrdjng'folihaseJaiss: Botna individual, or number of individuals is that state, has any right todiHpoee of Ihe life of the riUer but accordii^ to law. To take his life in anv other way is no less than murder. It is true, Ood, the author of life, and the judge of all men, may commission one man to take away (bsHwof a tynuiL But the pretoiaion to such a commission must be slroaf^ clear, and unequivocal.- in short, if a roan diink he have such a commission; to be safs, he-ifaouM require the Losd to give him as full an evidenee of it as be did to Moses: and when such a person comes to ihe peopU, they shoukl require him to give as many proofe of his divine cul as lbs Hebrews did Moses, before tnev diould credit his pretensions. " But had not Ehud a aivineealll" I cannot teU. If he had, he did not murder Eglon; if he had net, his ae^ however it succeeded, wasa mimlerons act: and if be haa no me»»age from Ood, and there is no proof thu be had, then he was a most base sod hypocritical asBassiii. The sacred historian says nothing at nis motitet nor call; ba mentions simply the fact, ana leaves it without eiifaar observatton or comment; and every reader is left t»dimw Ma own inference.

The life of anv ruler can only be at the disposal ol A* eonstttution; or that system of rales, laws, and r^uIatkNM^ by which the people he rules diould be governed: if be ru)« not according to these, he is, ipoo facta, deposed from his

Stvernment. If he bretdc (be eonstiwtioo, to the graat jury or ruin df his subjects, then be is to be ndged by those lawB^ according to which be must have pleogsd hti^ selftosovam. If aKinEbednasscf on any otheraeeom^ it is nSellim. If his Itfe be taken away by any means htt those provided by the coiksUtutiOn, it is munler. Kojntsndeo, or proved tyranny, can justify bis being taktn erf in aiiy other way, or en any other accotuii And what constitution in the civiHzed world provides for the dmHk ot the supreme magistrate 1 It is true, the good peo|di^ as they were called, of England and Franee, have caet^ under a pretence of law, behMded their kiag; and A&f endeavoured to justify tbmr oonduet on the gioond ifau those kings had broken tbe oonstitution: this harngproMd^ diey should have been d^tOMd. But by what lam, eitfaer of those nations, or the civilind wortdi wese their livoa takenavayl Lm itbe remembered, that dte infiietioa of the punidiiaent of death, either ogonsl or wittsMfiWh im murder.

Verse 1. Whm Ehad was dead] Why not uAwa Shamgar Wis dnd? Does dits not intimate that Sfaaaor gar was not reckoned in the number of the Jndgn 7

Verse 2. Jabin king qf Canaan] ProbaMy a deseeadant of die Jabin mentioned JoA. xi. 1, Ac. who had gathered teeedier the wrecks of dw armv of diat JaUn defeated W Joshua. Cofnsd supposes that these OoManiMa had the dominion orer the triMs of NofldaH, JBsfraiMS^ and Muaehari while Deborah judged in A>»ra<ss wM SbainBar in Judah,

• Razor; the captain of whose host if (w Siaera, which dwdt in "Harosheth of the Qentiles.

3 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he hod nine hundred " chariots ofiron; and twenty years ^he nu'shtUy oppressed the children of Israel.

Ai^HU that time.. t oiT»p-y 5 ' And the dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah, between Raraah and Beth-el io mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to ner for iudgmcnt.

6 Am ahe sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out • of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him. Hath not the Lono Giod of Israel commanded, sayinff, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the chddren of r4aphtali, and of the children'of Zebulun;

7 And ' I will draw unto th^, to the ■ rirer Kiehon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude > and I will deli>rer him into thine hand?

8 And Barak said nnto her. If thpii wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not so.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey -that thou takcst fihaU not be for thine honour; for the Lonn shall 'sell Siaera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah aroae, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

10 If And Barak called * Zebulun and Napbtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thou-

sand men 'at his feet: aiidPeborahwentupwith

1 1 Now Heber ' the Kenite, loAtcA was of the children of 'Hobab. the father-in-law of Mosesf had severed himselffrom theKenitcs, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zoanaim, ' which is by Kedesh.

12 And they showed Sieera that Barak the stin of Abinoara was gone up to mount Tabor.

13 And Sieera'' gathered together all his chariots, even aixie hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Haroabetb of the GentileB unto the river Kiehon.

14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this IS the day in which the Lord hath deuvered Sisera into thine hand is not the LoRp gtme out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men af\er him.

15 And ^ the Loan 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 leet. '

16 But Barak pursued atler the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosbeth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edee of the sword; and there was not * a man left.

17 IT Howbeit Siaera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there iDos 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.

Ver^S. NiiuhundrtdiJiaj^ta ^ xTim] CharioU armed vith HOB ■cythet u 18 generally ■iipposed: they could not hSTc tieen made all of iron; but they mi^ht have been fhod vilk iron, or had iron sevthea prajecling from the azTe on each side, by which mfantry might be e&sily cut down, or thrown into confusion. The aocient BrUmu are Hud to have had such charioia.

Tera»4. Deborah, a prophttut] One on whom the Spirit of God descended, and who was the instrument of conveying lo the Israelitea the knowledge of the divine wUL in thiiiga sacred and civil.

SlUjudged T»raef\ Thia is, I believe, the firtt inatance of gitmneoeramf, or female government on record. Deborah secma to have been supreme both m civil and religions aflUra; and Lapida&,iMt htuband, appears to have tiad no hand bt the government. But the original may as well be translated a woman o/ LapidcthjMthewtftqfCapidoth.

Verae 6. Sfie sent and eaUed Barakl She appointed him Xt3 ha general of the armiea on this occasion; which iriiowB that ahe posBeased the supreme power in the state.

MauM TaboT\ Hount Tabor, says Maundrel, stands bv ilaet^ about two or three furlongs within 'the plains of Radraelon. It hasaptain tueaattlie top, both fertile and delicious, of an oval figure, exteikling mwA one fUrlong in breadth, and two in length. The prospect from the top is beautiful: on the IV. W. is the Medittrrantan i and all around you have the spacioui plains of Bsdradmt and CfaliUe, which present you with a viaw of many places fiunous for the resort ana miracles of the Son of God. At the bottom of Tabor, wMtward, stands Daberah^ small ▼illag^ auppeaed to have taken its name from Deborah. If ear mis valley' ia the brook KS^um. During the rainy season, alt the water that ftJIs on the eastern side of the mountain, or upon the rising ffrmind to the southward, empties itself into it, in a number of torrenia; at whieh conjuncture it overflows its banks, acquires a wonderful rapidity, aiul carries all before it. It migjnt be at such a thne as this when the «<ars are said to Eght against SUtra, chap. v. 21. bv bringing an abundance of rain, vfoeTeby 6k Kiakon pecame so high (uid rafrid, as to sweep away the host of Sisera, in attsmpting to fbrd it. See Mawiartl and Shaw. This mountain is very difficult of ascent; it took Mr. Maundrel nearly an hour to reach the top: this, with its grand area on the smmil. made a very proper place for the rendezvous of Barak^s amy. lAnmAut used it for the sane purpose in his wars; SikI Jbmftut appstrs to have fbniflsd U) and Piaeidm, om ^"n^^n's generally was sett to leduos it. See awe tcomanl Does not ilus mean, If I go widi thee, the eonqueat shall be attributed to me, and thou wilt have no honour 1 Or, is it a ^edietUm of *e exploit of Jael? In both these senses tra words have been understood. It seems, however, more likely that Jatl ia intended.

TTie Septuagint make a remarkable additim to the nteeisb <rf Barak: " If thou wilt go whh me, I will go; but if ibou wilt not go with me, I will not go; m mw «iJa rsr qfitpAv tv fi tvoSti KtifKot rof' (lyytXav /icr* t/MVf beeauie T know not Ihe day in which the LordwiUsendkU angd to give me rtuxeea." By which he appears to mean, that, although he was certain of a divine call to tliis worlt, yei, as he luiew not the time in which it would be proper for him to make the attack, be wishea dtat Deborah, onwhom the Divine Spirit crostamly rested, would accompany hint, to let him know when to strike that blowj whieh be knew would* be decisive. This was quite natural, and quit* reasonable; and is no impeachment whatever of Baiok's Uth. Saint AmbToae and Sl Auguttin have the sams reading; but it is found in no MS. nor in any other ofths vereiane. See ver. 14.

Terse 10. Ten thouaand mm at Ais/dt/] Ten thousand footmen. He badnocftoHofs; hisannjr wasallcomposed of ij^antry.

Verse 14. Hohah; the father-in-law tif Moee»'\ For a circumstantial account of thia person, and the Rteaning of the original word pn xhoten, which is translated »on-inlaia in Gen. six. 4. see the notes on Exod. ii. 16, 16^ 18. tii. 2. iv. 20^ 24. and xviti. 6.

TerBSl4. Ifp for tkxM ^ At day} lliis Is ezacdr 4m purpose tat wUdi the Septuagint BMt& ver. 8. dtatBank wiabed Deborah to accompany him. "I knew not {s^ he) TUE DAT in which God will send bis angel to give ms prosperity; oome thou with me that thou mayest direct me, m^this respect." She went, and lokt him the preetsa Itma in which lie was to make the attack. UpifgrnmiMei* DAT tn isUiA As Lord Aaf4 dsttesrwt fibnv iiils Otes

Went dawn from novnt TUsr] He had probably en- (omped his men on and Bear Ihe summjl of dtis mount.' See the note on ver. &

Verae 16. TTu Lord diaeomJUed Sieera] mrr> aim valyaham Jehovah; The Tiord ootfroinmsD, ikrew them aU into eot^fitaUm, droee them pelt-melt; caused chariots to break and overthrow chariots, and threw univeml disorder into all their ranks. In this case Barak and his qten had Uttle to do but kill and puraua: and SisM, in ordw to escape, was obliged to dMndoohisfibimoL Tbsn is no-doiiktul this wasmebrsnpsniaiural aveneyt God •em his flRf sl and eoafaundsddMiii.

30 Again he said unto her,-Stana id the door oT'tbe tent, and it ehallhe, when.amr man doth come and inquire of thee, and Bar, Is there any ■uu here 1 that thou shaJt ear. No.

ai ThenJael,Heber'Bwire,^tooltanailofthe tent, and ' took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and emote the nail into his temples,-and fastened it into the ^ound: (for he was fast asleep and weary:) so he died.

32 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sieera.Jael eame out to meet him, and said unto him. Come, •Dd I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. Aad when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay 4ea4, and the nail ua«. in his temples.

23 ir So ^ Ood subdued on that day Jabin the kiiag of Canaan before the children of Israel

And the hand of the children oTIsrael " prospered, and prevailed againit Jabin the king of Canaan, ulrtil they bad destroyed Jabin kin; of Cftnaaa.

Vena 19l JmelitentoiittowiMt SUara} Heprafcmd 6m woman'a tant beeaiuo of aecncy; for, according to du •tifiiette <rf the Mutern countrim, do person ever mtrudea imto the ap«rtment> of the women. And in every dweUin^ the wotnea h«ve a a^>aiate aputment

Verae 19. She cpmed a httU* {fmUkl Sba axtt more dutn he requested; aitd har frienduip ineraaMifiiis flonfi- Jewee and Mourtty

Vene 20. iStantf in Ou door of the tm£\ As no dmh vottld intrude ioio the woman's apartment without perninoi^ her simply saying tiure w no man «n my tent w«uld preclude all search. '

Verse 21. ^ noU («n^] One of the Bpikes by which they fasten to (he ground the corda v^ich are attaclied to the cloth or covenog.

H* iMu faat tutetft and wtary) As he lay on one side, and was overwhelmed with sleep through (he heat and far tiguea of the day, the piercing of bis temples must have in a momeittjmt him past resistance.

Vorae 2l JBtMd, SUera lav daadj What impression diia made on (he victorious Barak ia not aaid; it could not give him mucli plaawre, especially when be learnt the cir< eumatancea of his death.

It will oaiHiaUy be «apoeted that aomedUng should be said to justify the eondoct of Jael: it must be owned that slew Siam in eireomalaoeer whiefa canae the whole tranaactioa nt appear exceedingly queaticiwble. They are lha fblhnriog:

1. There was juaee benraen her fhmily and die king of Caoaao.

S. Th*t peace wM no doubt mads, as all tnJuactiMW of &a kiwi imtt with a aaoriAee and «n oadk

3. Siaen, knowing this, came te har teat with the ot- Boat oonfideaca.

4. She met him with the most friaadly gnstui^ aod Munneea (tf sa£e».

& Having Hkad far water, to Aow her frieadshq) and MMBtdMgavahhn erann, and that in a veaael atulable to Agility.

8. ^ptttbiminR aeeret part of her own tnt| and esvflnd bim in aneb a way aa lo evideaee bar g6od fUtl^ and to iBifnra him with me greater eonftdeooe.

7. She agreed lo keep watch at the doer, and deny hie being there to any that might inquire.

8. Aa cam him permission to aeerete hinuelf with 'hw, and gave nim refreehment, ahe was bound by the nUea of Aaistic hospitality to have defended hia life, evMt at the fMr of her own.

9. NotwithatawKng,^ took the advanlanirfUB weariaeea and deep sleep, aikd took away bis Ufa 1

10. She exalted in her deed; met Banl^ ind dumd Mm ia triampfa what she had doiie.

Now do we MOt find in all Itua, bad hidi, deceit, deep bypacriaT, hriaK breadi of traaty, Mtenpt of rduleua HtM^lmadio^ lawsef hospiM^deliberaie ttf uapmwDkednarderl Butiriiatflastw'HHdiBbwjwtiAMClNa},

THEN ■■ aans Deborah, and BanA the son of Abinoam on that ^y, i^Sfih

J F^n ye the Loan for the * aTenging of Israel, ' when the people wiUtitgly t^red^m- '

3 p Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes: I, even], will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Loan God of Israel.

4 Lord, ^ when thou wentest oot of Setr, when thou marchedst out of the field of £!doin, ' the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

5 ■ The mountaiaa * melted from befbre the LoliD, even " that Sinai from befbre the Lobd God of Israel.

6 In the days of * Shamgar the eon of Anath, in- the days of ' Jael, * the highways were unoccupied, and the j> ^avellers walked throivlk * by-ways.

7 The inhabUants of ibe villages ceased.

All that can be aaid, and all Aat has be«n sau^ is aimp^ this: " She raiffht l»ve been sincere at firKt, but was anerward divinely £rected to do what she did." If this was so, is aumciently vindicated by the &ct; fbr God haaa right to dispofle of me lives of fais creatores as be pleaaea t and probably the cap of Siseia'a iniquity was ftdl, nod bis life already forilEited 10 Ae juatioe of Ood. Bmdces it appear that uie received any siich direction lirom God? ibcfw M no eufficient evideace of it: it is true that Deborah, a. prophetess, declaims her blUiad above wmen; and taia seems to intimate that her conduct was pleaaing lo God. If Debmh was itwiired on this occasion, her worda are a presumpdva proof mat the act was right; unless we are to undentana it as a simple declaratioQ of the reputatioa •he should be held in among her own sex. But we do not find one word from Jael henell^ atating how she was led to do an act repugnant 10 her feelings as a iromon, eootrai7 to good fiutl), Olid a bre&di of the rules of hospitttlity. Nor does the aaend penman mj one wotd (o explain the eaae ( as in the ease of Ehud, he states the fact, and leaves his readera to form their own opiqion. ~ To say, aa haa been sain in the case of Eglen, that " Sisera was a puhlte eneww, and any of the people whon he oppressed mi^ be justifted in taking aw^ his life," is a very dangerous position, as it refers one of the meat solemn acts of judgment and justice to the caprice^ or prqadiee, or enthusiastic CeeUng, of every indiviinial wlu» may permiade hiSMelf that ha ia not only eoneemed kt tho business, bat aodiorized l:^ Ood to take veogouica at his own hahd. While justice and law are in the world, Ood never will, aa he never did, abandon cases of this kiisd lo the cilice, prejudioe, or party feeling of any man. Tim eonduct of Bhud and Jael are before die tribunal of God; I will not justify, I dare not absolutely condemn: there I leave tliem, aiM entreat my readers to do the like 1 after referring diem to^ obaervations at die end <^ Ae preceding chapter where the adbject ia eonaidered mun at UxireL,

Verse L Then eaa^ Deborah and Bmni] There are many (kfficuliiea in this very auUime song; and ieamed men have toiled much to remove them. That tbemase several gross miatakea in oat version will be inamntly knowleoged by all who can critically examine the oripamL Dr. fmiucsti haa diatributed it into porls, aasiyned 10 Deborah and Barak alternately. But hia divisToa u by far tooariifieM.

Dr. Bdlae has also given a versioa of it, which, feAaaa, eomee nearer to the tmpUeity of the original; but it also leaves several difScnlties behind. As dwae are the two best versiona I base mat with, I shall lay them both in parallel eelumna before the reader, after miroduaag nm gecKral deacripUon at this aeog^ givdh by each of thsae Wnedman. Ilteae (be reader will ftnd at the ooodiUMm of the chapter.

Verae 4. When Ikon wnieat oirf 4/ Stir] Hare i* aa aUuakm to the giving of dte law, and ^ mtnifasiaiiBn of Osfspvvsr aad^Mrattbsttifssi sadss this was dw llMy MMed -ia Itf ael, natil that I DttbuMbaroK, Ibftt X''^ >a Bwlber in Isnel. 6 Tbcfx ^ohoM new goda; tbeB wa» war in gates: * was there a abield or spear »een amone fWty thousand in Israel 7

9 My heart i* toward the governors of Israel, that <> ottered tbeoiaelveB willingly amang tfie people. Hess re the Leas.

10 ■ Spc»k, ^ ye < that ride oa white asses, ^yc that sit ia judgmeot, and wallc by the way.

11 Thejt that ar« delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, ^re ahftU they reheuM the i righteoiM 'acts of the LoBD, even the rijghteous aots ttnomrd the inhsbittmia of his vjUages in Israel: than shall the people of the Loan go down to the gates.

13 Then he made him that remaiMth ■ hare

most ttjpial display of his majesty and nanj, in bcbaU of tbsir f«f«£wiMV, Deborah very properlr oegiim bet moot with > enmmeiBonUion of thw timnsoctiop.

VeneS, TV Ajgftway* mt* iMOon^McQ Tlw land ma full of •mrtity mod cmhmm, bsing «Tery where tnfcMad with UodiBi. No pobtis rood wma waAt md in goiag fasa |dsM to ptase^ dw pMpla were oUigsd to oae

VeraeS. TVy cAom nMi foclrl Hus vaa dw oMue of /•H their oalasBiisi; Uuy/ortocJe JMotoh, and trved. othtrgodtt «mdlkmwtMvar^llukfgmt4»i dteywere hsaiianil up in tmrj pbee, and baaisgeJin all their fiirtiflsdeitiMi aadlhey wesedefiaoelass:.th^hBdiwt]MMM ofjsaiati^ lhair advenariee; Ibr, even amoag thnwmd man, there was baithar vpmr nor aUM ia be tm%.

The> Vtdgau givea a atraam and ourioua torn to dils Tcne: beUa dy^ Dmiinm, 4t pmlaa hoMim ipnwuhmtrtUs " Ute Load ehoaa a sew apeoiea of war, -and faiaaaalf anbverted dM galea of dw aaamy." Now, what w— ihia wsw spssias of wwt A woataa signiAea hwsrdenloBaiik; he lakea nan, irinDy unrmed, asd TCtirea to auxiM Tabor, where they are imntediaiely bawiegad by a powerful and well-appoinisd anay. Ob a ewddrfs Bmfc and Ua man mah upon then, terror aad diamsy an spread tbraogh dia whole CanaaaitiA amy, and lha roul ia ioataataDaaaa and eoaafOeW. Tbe Iwaalirra 1— niliamj arm ibentsehraa with uw anna of ABifannaiea,aad' slay all betMadMoi: they rua, and are pBffsaed in w diNofioM. Siaent, their geeem), is no Imgrr aafe in bia abariot; eifbar bia bonea &i^ or the iinniinnnaaa of the roada oblige bim to deeert it, efid flr aw^ on foot: in the eod, the whole anny ia imAnjtA, aad dia lander jngloriaaatyabuBi This woe a naw *p«na« ^wmtt and waa moat evidentty tba lior^a dUngt. Whsssw^beaaidof tbevetaiooof the Vidg^ifitA the Arfoe aad.AiwMa ara sonwthiag Urn it,) the above an au beiai, and show dw woodrvaa working of dta Lord.

Terse 10. Yi Mot rids onvAci* amet] PeriMpa ntum rmm atmolh taethanth, abould be rendered afaafe, or wallfid aaaea; rendered aafiiM nitnUaa, riuaiog aaaea^ by the

^T/irtiLt ^ imjudgwumi} r<o ^p«aBn«isakatayaf Jlflddimi aoRw ban rauered Mm, y* isAo oisalf <n MUdtn, likia was a plaee ia die tnln of Jtdtik and kBseatiooed Jadi. XT. 61.

And toaik bf Ot* te^.] PenoaS'^rtw ge from plaee to plac« for the purposea of traffic.

Twee 11. » Oa ptatea tf drmttnr isotar} As wella wan nry ■oarce ia every part of die Bast, ana travellsra ia each hat oeontriee muat have water, robbert and banditti genafmlly took their stationa near tanka, po(rfa, and q>ringa, in onler that thnr might suddenly fUl upon thoae who came to (brink t aoa, wnen the country waa badly rtvemed, annoyancea of thia kind were very frequent, lha viotoay (amad now hy the Iiraelitea put die whole egaany uadtr their own government, and the land waa efcaaaed firon such marauden. Dr. Aatfb <» his aeeouot ef the siar aaal of the MmirUud* CataHmttt, p. 20. r a baautifiil riH of wsKs diat raas into a baain of t-wwkaaaMUpkteUnUMwMv "driak aad dMBlnioa over Hk noblea among tbe peo^; the Loan nrade me have domiBion nrer ttis

14 " Ont of fiphraim va» there a root of them ragainst Amaleii; afler thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of ^ Madur came dewngoveriH ore, and oat of Zebuton they that ' handle the pen of the writer.

15 And the- prhices of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issechar, and also ■ Barak: he was sent on t foot into the valley. " For the divisions (rf* Reuben (Aere were great *tlioughta fflf heart.

16 Why abodest thoa "amone the sheepfolds, to hear the bleetinga of the flocks? ' For the divisions of Reuben there were great searebinsn of heart.

17 rcmeed abode beyond Jordan: and why did Deu] remain in ships 1 * Asher oontinoed oa th» sea ^shore, and abode in his ^breachea.

be off," baeaoaa of the danger of meetfaig with aawssiaa in the place i inatrad of aucfardaoger and inaaourity, Deborah intimatea that they mav ait down at the placea of drawing water, and then rehearse tbe righteoua acta of the LokI; the latod being now every where in peace, order and good government beiiu; reatonitL

Oo dom to tk» gatu.] Tbey may go down to thegatac to receive judgment and junice aa naual. It is well known that ihegttfawaathe place of iadgmentintheEast.

Verae 13. Lead Ay eaptivUy captiveyMake du»e captiveg who have Cornwrly captivatea ua.

Terse 13. iMbde him tka rtmaintth] Hum appears to be apokan of Bande, who ia repreaented aa being only a rtmnajU of the people.

Teise 14. Oul nf Bpkraim—^i root OflnyDeborah probiMy mean% uwt out of f^pArafn and Bm^!min caneeminetu warriora JbaAuo, whowaa of flie tribe of JS^roim, routed the AmoXd^f a short time after flis Israehtea came out of Egypt, Exod. xvii. 10, Ehud, who waa of the tribe of Benjamin, dew Eglon, and defeated the Hoabite^ tbe friends and allies of the Ammonites and Amalekitea. Madilr, in the land of Oilead, produced eminent warrior*; and ZdnUtm produced eminat date9' mm, and men of literature, mbably Deborah apealts here of thepoaf worr, and not of any thing that was done OD thia oceaaicm; forwe know that no peraona from CifMCf' were present in - dte war between Jabin and IsneT. See ver. 17. GiUad ahod* beyond Jordan.

TerselB. TTUprtaaea AaaaAar) llisy ware at hand | and cams wilUagly fcrtb, at dM call of Deboral^ to dus important war.

Barak laoa aawf on f oat) I have no doobt that vVn^ without regarding the pointy ahouM be aranalalad wfA JUs Jboimaa, oa ta/^»Ury. Ihua tbe Alexandrian Skvtuagimt underatood it, rendering the clause thus: mfm Bum.nmXar nfnv «»ra* «( rv aeAa^ " Barak awo ssnt 'ftrth kis foodam into the vall^." XufAer has parfted* hit the meaning, Barak wdt adnmfim ssUb^ Bank wkh hm fcataten.

For the divuima of 7?eu&<R] Bidnr the Rsnbeniias were divided among thenwelves into faethms, whick provented their co-operation with their brelfann; or ttey were divided in their judgment eoneeming the measures' nsw t« bs parsnad i wnieh prevented tham from joining with tbe oamr tribea, till the buainasa waa entirely settletL The IhottghU Iff h^art, and teorddngt <(f hmrt, might refbr to the datiotr and tmaa*fiu«M» folt by tba o£er tribea^ when thay fbond the Reubenites did not join ihem i for tbey mi^t bave eoniectured that tbey were either uttoenecmed about dieir Morty, or were aednating a ooalition with the Canaanitaa.

Terse 17. QUtad abode bej/and Jordan] That ia tbe Chditta, vfao-had their lot in those parta, and oouM not wall eoaM to the aid (d theirbredusn at ariMrtawnmons; But the words of Deborah imply a criminal negleet on tho part of the Daniua: diey were intent upon their traffic, aai truated In their abipa. Joppa was one of their aaworta.

AaAar coa^mtad on Aa aaoaAore] kK of Ariwr extended aioag the Heditenaneaa aeai and, being contiguous to Zafaulua and Na^Uali, they might have easily aaeeoureddieir brethren; hut diey had die pretanee that Ihllr pests ware ongwaidsit and dwyrteda in iheirftrsatAsirti ordnr to dtliM Aan.

18 <■ Zebulun and Naphtsli wer« a iwople that *jeaparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

19 The ki^s came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taonacn \v£ the waters of Megiddo ' they took no gain of money.

20 ( xhey fou^hl from heaven: the stars in their > courses looght against Sisera.

21 "The river oi Kistion swept them away, that ancient fiver, the river Kiehon. O myaoal, thou hast trodden down strength.

22 Then were the horsehooiB broken by the means of the > proncingB, the pranoings of their mighty ones.

23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LoBD, curse ye bitterly the ii^bitasts thereof; ■* because they came not to the help " the Lord, to ^ help of the Loan against the

^ blessed above women shall <* Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be; f blessed shall she be dMire women in the tent

U5 4 He asked water, and she gave Attn milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.

26 'She pat her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer.; aad * with the hammer she smote Siscra; ^e f>mote ofi* hie head, when she iiad pierced and atridcen through his temples.

27 t At her teet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fellc where he bowea, there he fell down " dead.

28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried^hrough the lattice, Why is hiu chariot «o long in coming 1 why.tarry the wheels of hUchariotsI ^

29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned ' answer to herself,

30 * Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; * to every man a damsel or two: to Siaera a prey of divers ctrfoure, a prev of divers colours of needlework, of divers coloarv o* needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil Y

31 ' So let all thine enemies peririi, O Imso: but lei them that lovafaim &« ■ as the sun * when he goeth forth in his mi^t. And the land had rest forty years.

.Verse 18. Zebulun and Naphiali— jeoparded Uuir Uvtal The ordinal ia very emphaUt:, niin 'ww «pn cherei^ nafJuiho lamutb, thei/ detolated their livet to death; tluy vera determined lo conquer or die^uid Iberefore plunged isio the thickeid of the battle.- The word Jeo-_ fiortud ui a tilly French term, snd comet from the excUimslioa of a diga^pmiMi gamaier; jeu perAx.' the game is lost; or,/ai perdu/ Ihave losL

Vena 19. 7^ king9 came nai fought] It is coiqactured that Jabia and his coafederaies had invaded fl^naateh, aa both Taanaoh and Hegiddo were id that tribe; and that they were diBComfited py the tribe* of Zebulun and Naf^- Iftli, at Taanach and H^iddot while Barak defeated Siaera at mount Tabor.

Tha/ took no gain of morteyA ThKv expected much boo^ in the total rout of th^ IsraeUtea; nit Utay we defeated, and got DO prey: or, if applied to (be liraeliteM,, they KMight For libtrty, not for jAitndcr.

Verse 20. T%ey Jought from heaven] The angels of God came to the assistance of Israel; aod the alare in their, orbit* fought agaitut Sieera. Probablysome thtmder-atorm, or great inundation from the river Kiahon, took place ai that timej which, ia poetic Ungjiaga, was attributed to the sbm. So our poeta sunR relative to the ■tonns whieh dispersed the Spanish annscw, in 1688

Perhaps it means no more than this; the iiint which waa measured aad ralad by the heavenly bodies seemed only to exist for the detnucdon of the Cbaaaailas: there nay be also a reference to the sun and moon standing otill in the- days of Jodiua. VeraeXl. The river- <if KiAonavejU Oum away] 1^ ■ gives plausibility to the above eoojecture, that thera was a atorm at this time, whidi produced an inundation in the rivar Kisbon, wbicn die routed Caaaaoitea aitampting to

''venn2t!^l%m^iMr« Ae horaeho^ frro&en] In very ancient times, horses were not shod; nor are they to the pMaent day in several parts of the East. Sisera bad iron dtariaU vben his hosts were routed -, the hones that drew itMsn being strongly urged on by those wbo drove ttwm, had taeit hoo& broken by the roughness of the roads; in wnssqiteiiea of which they became lame, and oould not carry off their riders. TTus is marked as one cause of tfiair disaster.