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and his army to the river Kishon, and to deliver them into Barak's hand. Then once more
did the Lord appear as "a man of war," and fight on the side of His people. It is said:
"And Jehovah discomfited," or rather, "threw into confusion, Sisera and all his chariots,
and all his host." The expression is the same as when Jehovah fought against Egypt
(Exodus 14:25), and again when before Gibeon Joshua bade sun and moon stand still
(Joshua 10:10). It indicates the direct interference of the Lord through terrible natural
phenomena; (comp. also its use in 2 Samuel 22:15; Psalm 18:14; 144:6). As we gather
from Judges 5:20-22, a fearful storm swept down from heaven in face of the advancing
army.^210 The battle must have drawn towards Endor, where its fate was finally decided
(Psalm 83:9, 10). Presently the war-chariots were thrown into confusion, and instead of
being a help became a source of danger. The aftrighted horses carried destruction into
the ranks of the host. Soon all were involved in a common panic. A scene of wild
confusion ensued. It was impossible to retreat, and only in one direction could flight be
attempted. And now the waters of Kishon had swollen into a wild torrent which swept
away the fugitives!^211
To escape capture, Sisera leaped from his chariot, and fled on foot northwards towards
Hazor. Already he had passed beyond Kadesh, and almost reached safety. There the
boundary of Naphtali was marked by what was known as "the oakwood at the twin tents
of wandering" (Elon be-Zaanannim; comp. Joshua 19:33). Here Heber the Kenite had
pitched his tent, having separated from his brethren, who had settled in the extreme
south at Arad (Judges 1:16). Living quite on the boundary of Jabin's dominion, and not
being really Israelites, the clan of Heber had been left unmolested and "there was peace
between Jabin, king of Hazor, and the house of Heber the Kenite."
Only outward, not real peace! There is something wild and weird about the appearance
of these Kenites on the stage of Jewish history. Originally an Arab tribe^212 they retain
to the last the fierceness of their race. Though among Israel, they never seem to
amalgamate with Israel, and yet they are more keenly Israelitish than any of the chosen
race.
In short, these stranger-converts are the most intense in their allegiance to the nation
which they have joined, while at the same time they never lose the characteristics of
their own race. We mark all this, for example, in the appearance of Jehonadab, the son
of Rechab (2 Kings 10:15), and again much later during the troubles that befell Judah in
the time of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 35). Jael, "the chamois," the wife of Heber, was among
the Kenites what Deborah, the "torch-woman," was in Israel, only with all the
characteristics of her race developed to the utmost. At her tent-door she meets the
fugitive Sisera. She disarms his suspicions; she invites him to rest and security; she
even sacrifices the sacred rights of hospitality to her dark purpose. There is something
terrible and yet grand about that fierce woman, to whom every other consideration is as
nothing, so that she may avenge Israel and destroy its great enemy. All seems lawful to
(^)