105
The reader will notice the significant change from Melchi-Zedek, "My King righteousness," to Adoni-
Zedek, "My Lord righteousness," marking the change of dynasties. See History of the Patriarchs, p.86.
106
Jerusalem, either the habitation of peace, or the possession of peace - perhaps originally the habitation of
Shalem.
107
Hoham: "the Jehovah of the multitude."
108
Piram: "coursing about," wild and free.
109
Japhia: exalted.
110
Debir: scribe.
111
We have so rendered the Hebrew particle "and" which is here used explanatively.
112
A German writer has noticed that a similar hailstorm determined the battle of Solferino against the
Austrians in 1859.
113
The word probably means "to become dumb." Accordingly, a recent Italian writer has regarded it as a
poetical expression for "ceasing to shine," and treated the event as an eclipse of the sun. But the context
shows that this view is untenable, and that "to become dumb" means here to rest silent or stand still.
114
That is, like any ordinary complete day. We attach considerable importance to our rendering as here
proposed.
115
It is impossible here to enter on a detailed criticism. Substantially our view is that of all the best critics,
except that some regard the five lines after the parenthesis as the remarks of him who inserted in the Book of
Joshua the quotation from the Book of Jasher. But the poetical terms used in these five last lines render this
view, to say the least of it, most improbable. Poetical expressions, similar to those used in the text, will recur
to the reader, specially Judges 5:20: "the stars fought out of their courses (not "in their courses," as in
Authorized Version) against Sisera." See also Psalm 18:10; 29:6; 114:4-6; Isaiah 34:3; 55:12; 64:1; Amos 9:13;
Micah 1:4. The passage Habakkuk 3:11 does not refer to the event in the text, as its correct rendering is:
"The sun and moon enter into their habitation," that is, go into shadow. Our view does not, of course,
militate against a miraculous intervention on the part of God.
116
The locality of these two places has not been ascertained.
117
It seems even to have been practiced by the Byzantine emperors long after the Christian era. See the
reference given, Bynaeus in Kid's Commentary, p. 81.
118
Such as Gezer (10:33), Hebron, and Debir (14:12; 15:13-17; comp. Judges 1:10-15). Masius rightly
observes, that in this expedition Joshua had rather rapidly swept over the south of Palestine than
permanently and wholly occupied the country.
119
Of course not the province of that name in Egypt, but a district in the south of Judah, probably deriving
its name from the town of that name (15:51).
120
Jabin seems to have been the title of the kings of Hazor (Judges 4:2).
121
Hazor in the mountains, north of Lake Merom, was afterwards rebuilt, and again became the seat of
royalty (Judges 4:2; 1 Samuel 12:9). Thence Sisera issued against Israel.