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her in such an 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!- "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! - Hear O kings, hearken O rulers,^215 I - to Jehovah will I sing, Will psalmody^216 to
Jehovah, the God of Israel! - 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 - The mountains quaked before Jehovah - This Sinai before Jehovah, the God of Israel.^218
- 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. - Deserted was the open country^221 in Israel - deserted - Till I arose, Deborah, I arose a
mother in Israel! - Chose they new gods - Then war at the gates - If shield was seen or spear Among forty
thousand in Israel!^222 - My heart towards the rulers of Israel, Those who freely vowed (dedicated) themselves
among the people. Praise ye Jehovah!
10.Ye that ride on white^223 she-asses, Ye that sit on coverings^224 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 deeds^227 of Jehovah, The mighty deeds of His open country^228 in
Israel -Then went down to the city gates the people of Jehovah!
(^)