undertaking; every means sanctified by the end in view. She has laid the worn warrior to rest; she has given

him for refreshment of the best her tent affords. And now, as he lies in heavy sleep, she stealthily withdraws

one of the long iron spikes to which the tent-cords are fastened, and with a heavy hammer once, again, and

yet a third time, strikes it into his temples. It is not long before Barak - a "lightning" in pursuit as in battle -

has reached the spot. Jael lifts aside the tent-curtain and shows him the gory corpse. In silence Barak turns

from the terrible spectacle. But the power of Jabin and his dominion are henceforth for ever destroyed.

There is, as it seems to us, not a word in Scripture to express its approbation of so horrible a deed of deceit

and violence -no, not even in the praise which Deborah in her song bestows upon Jael. It was not like

Deborah's war, nor like Barak's battle, but strictly Kenite. Her allegiance to the cause of the people of God,

her courage, her zeal, were Israelitish; their fanatical, wild, unscrupulous manifestation belonged to the race

from which she had sprung, to the traditions amidst which she had been nurtured, and to the fiery blood

which coursed in her veins - they were not of God nor of His word, but of her time and race. Heathen history

tells of similar deeds, and records them with highest praise;213 Scripture with solemn silence. Yet even so

Jehovah reigneth, and the fierce Arab was the sword in His hand!

1.

"Then sang Deborah and Barak on that day, saying:

For the loose flowing of the long hair,214 For the free dedication of the people, Praise ye Jehovah!

2.

Hear O kings, hearken O rulers,215 I - to Jehovah will I sing, Will psalmody  216 to Jehovah, the God of

3.

4.  Jehovah, when Thou didst come forth from Seir, When Thou marchedst from out the fields of Edom,

The earth trembled, also the heavens dropped, Even the clouds dropped water.217

5.  The mountains quaked before Jehovah - This Sinai before Jehovah, the God of Israel.218

6.  In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath, In the days of Jael,219 the highways ceased,220 And they who

went on paths, went by roundabout ways.

7.  Deserted was the open country  221 in Israel - deserted - Till I arose, Deborah, I arose a mother in Israel!

8.  Chose they new gods - Then war at the gates - If shield was seen or spear Among forty thousand in

9.  My heart towards the rulers of Israel, Those who freely vowed (dedicated) themselves among the

people. Praise ye Jehovah!

10. Ye that ride on white223 she-asses, Ye that sit on coverings224 Ye that walk by the way - consider!225

11. From the noise (sound, voice) of the archers between the draw-wells  226 - There they rehearse the

righteous deeds227of Jehovah, The mighty deeds of His open country  228 in Israel -Then went down to

the city gates the people of Jehovah!

PART II

12. Awake, awake, Deborah, Awake, awake - utter the song; Arise, Barak, and lead captive thy captives,

son of Abinoam!

13. Then went down a remnant of the mighty, of the people, Jehovah went down for me among the heroes!

14. From out of Ephraim - his root in Amalek;  229 After thee: Benjamin among thy nations230 - From Machir231

come down they who bear rule, From Zebulon who draw out with the staff of the writer.232

15. But the princes of Issachar we re with Deborah - And Issachar the foundation233 of Barak, Pouring on

foot into the valley! By the brooks of Reuben great resolves of heart  234

16. Why abodest thou among the folds To hear the flutes of the flocks? By the brooks of Reuben great

ponderings of heart!

17. Gilead dwells on the other side Jordan!235 And Dan, who pass upon ships? Asher sitteth by the sea-

shore, And by its bays resteth!

18. Zebulon a people that jeoparded its life unto death, And Naphtali on the heights of the field!

19. Came kings - warred - Then warred the kings of Canaan, In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo - Spoil

of silver took they none!

20. From heaven warred, The stars out of their paths warred against Sisera!