Judges 5

Judges 5:2

THe people] Namely some of the tribes thereof, v. 18.

Judges 5:4

When thou] As when thou appearedst to thy people, giving them thy Law in the Wildernesse (which is a part of Seir, or Idumea) and afterwards diddst miraculously conduct them, causing the prodigious effects of thy presence to be left, even so hast thou done at this time.

Judges 5:6

The high wayes] A description of the calamities of warre, when the country is over-runn, and the high wayes kept by Souldiers and theeves, and all trading cutoff, none daring to travaile, but only through by-wayes: See Leviticus chapter 26. verse 22. 2 Chronicles 15:5. I say chapter 33. vers. 8. Lam. cha. 1. verse 4. and 4. 18.

Judges 5:7

A Mother] That is to say, a governesse, and protectix.

Judges 5:8

Seene] The people were taken unprovided of all manner of defence: Peradventure it hath a relation to their being disarmed by their enemies, see 1 Sam. 13. 19. 22.

Judges 5:9

The gavernors] I do honour and love the Magistrates and Judges of the people, who notwithstanding their peaceable offices and dignities, have beene willing to participate of the labours, and dangers of warre.

Judges 5:10

That ride] A token of dignity in these dayes, and countries: See Judges 10. 4. and 12. 14. He would say, let all the Magistrates and eminent persons, take an example of these mens zeales, and let travailers, safeguarded through their valours, praise God, and honour his instruments.

Judges 5:11

They that are delivered] Seeing that now the Country is in peace, and the fields are freed from Souldiers incursions, and countrey people may go abroad about their businesse, to fetch water at the common wels, Ne emiah cha. 4. 23. Let those places of great meetings sing out Gods praises: Then shall.] by meanes of this victory, the countrey people may frequent the Cities, on Court and Market dayes, and the inhabitants of the cities may attend upon their businesses in the publick places, which ordinarily are neere the gates of the cities.

Judges 5:13

He made him] He hath given him the victory over his enemies, and granted him the conquest of their land: That remaineth] The remainder of the children of Israel, who had been rescued out of the Canaanites oppression and tyranny: The Lord made] That is to say, by the hands of me Deborah, he hath delivered Princes and great Captaines into the hands of a multitude of meane people.

Judges 5:14

Was there a root] Namely out of Manasseh, whose countrey began at the foot of the hill called Amaleck, which was within the Tribe of Ephraim, Judges 12:15 After thee]Namely Ephraim and Manasseh whose land was on the backside of Benjamin from the South to the North: Out of Machir] Out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh, which was beyond Iordan, Numbers 32:39 Came downe] Namely the Magistrates are come down to this war: They that handle the pen of the Writer] The Italian hath it, Conducting their troopes with staves of Scribes] Annotations in the Italian are thus, Staves] bearing in their hands the signes and badges of their offices, Numbers 21:18 Of Scribes] In Scripture they are so called which are towards the Law, as well by teaching and expounding it, as by judging according to it.

Judges 5:15

Into the valley] Of mount Tabor, Iudges 4. 14 For the divisions] The Italian, Amongst therivers] That part of the Reubenites, whose countrey, is bounded by two rivers, namely Iordan, and Arnon, have shewed themselves very valorous and free in this expedition.

Judges 5:16

Why abodest thou] What was the reason that the other Reubenites have chosen rather to stay at home unworthily, to attend their cattel whereof they have great store, Numbers 32:1. then to come to this 〈◊〉 glorious and necessary a war? For the divisions] The Italian, Amongst the rivers] The reason of dis unworthynesse was carnall wisdome, which considering the dangers of the war, thought they did very wisely, in making more account of their security, then of employing themselves any way, for the publick good and safety.

Judges 5:17

Gilead] Machir, who had his portion in Gilead, hath been commended verse 14. for being come freely to this enterprise, wherefore it seemeth that we must here by Gilead understand the tribe of Gad, which possessed the one halfe of Gilead, Ioshun 13. 15 In Ships] Because Dan and Asher had their Countrey neere to the Sea, Ioshua chapter 19. verse 29, 40.

Judges 5:18

In the high places of] Namely in plaine and open field.

Judges 5:19

The Kings] Namely Jabin and his confederates: They tooke no] they could not get any prey, nor take any prisoners to put to ransome.

Judges 5:20

They fought] See upon Iudg. 4. 15 In their courses] Hebrew, ways, or pathes.

Judges 5:21

The river] These rivers, and torrents were neere the place where the battaile was fought, and it is very likely that many were drowned in them whose bodies were carried away with the water, Strength] of the enemies,

Judges 5:22

Broken] In their rash, and over-hasty flight.

Judges 5:23

Meoz] This name is not any where else to be found, and it is likely, that it is some altered name, to point, out some city obscurely, as Mich. 1. 10 11, 12. Or every consonant of this word did shew the first letter of the names of some places, as might be Megiddo, Rabbot, Zabulon; three cities neere unto the place of that battaile: Said the] I do pronounce this curse, by the revelation, and command of the Son of God himselfe, Iudges 2. 1. who appeareth to me in the shape of an Angell, whose only servant, and instrument I am, in the conduct of his people: Of the Lord] of his Church, to the safeguard of which, the Glory of God himselfe is annexed.

Judges 5:24

In the tent] As the Kenites did dwell for the most part in tents in Palestina, Iudges 4. 11. Ier. 35. 7.

Judges 5:25

Lordly dish] In a dish or cup fitting for his greatnesse and dignity.

Judges 5:27

Dead] The Italian, Desolate, losing his life as he had lost his men, and armes.

Judges 5:29

Returned answer] To confirme, and comfort her selfe: An ironicall representation.

Judges 5:30

On both sides] Before, and behind: Meet for the neck] meaning some great kind of Royall mantles, buckled under the chin.

Judges 5:31

Forty yeares] Counting from the fourescore, Iudg. 3. 30.