Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary: Judges
Ver. 23. Meroz. Where this land of Meroz was, which is here laid under a curse, we cannot find: nor is there mention of it any where else in holy writ. In the spiritual sense, they are cursed who refuse to assist the people of God in their warfare against their spiritual enemies. (Challoner) --- Eusebius seems to have thought that Merom, a body of water, and the village of Meroz (Haydock) were the same place, 12 miles from Sebaste. The inhabitants were surely under an obligation of assisting their brethren; and these, it appears, lived in the vicinity, and neglected their duty. Septuagint Alexandrian reads Mazor. Some stars are styled Mazzaroth, Job xxxviii. 32. --- Angel, Michael; or the high priest, or Barac, Debbora, &c. See chap. ii. 1. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "Curse ye Meroz, (said the angel of the Lord) curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof." --- To help. Protestants, "to the help of the Lord against the mighty." Septuagint, "our helper is the Lord in the mighty warriors." He assists their endeavours, which would otherwise prove unsuccessful. (Haydock) --- The Jews think that Barac cursed Meroz, the star or the angel of the Chanaanites, who protected Sisara. (Chaldean) See Serarius, q. 15. Others say that he was an ally of that general, who was excommunicated by Barac, at the sound of 400 trumpets. But these opinions only deserve contempt. (Calmet)
Ver. 24. Among. Hebrew, "above." After cursing those who befriended the enemy, Debbora pronounces a blessing upon Jahel. (Haydock) --- The blessed Virgin is surely still more entitled to praise. (Worthington) --- Tent. It was esteemed a mark of virtue for a woman to keep at home. (Drusius)
Ver. 25. Dish. Hebrew sephel; whence the sympule of the Lydians, Tuscans, and Romans, was probably derived, denoting a bowl or jug with a handle, designed for libations. They were formerly made of potter's ware, fictilibus prolibatur sympuciis, or sympulis. (Pliny, [Natural History?] xxxv. 13.) "Aut quis---Sympuvium ridere Numæ, nigrumve catinum---Aut vaticanas fragiles de monte patellas---Ausus erat." (Juvenal, Sat. vi.) (Calmet)
Ver. 26. Sisara. Hebrew says with the hammer; (Protestants,) "she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken (the nail) through his temples." But we may rather translate, (Haydock) "she pierced his head, she struck it, and pierced through his temples." (Calmet) --- For we cannot suppose that she severed his head from his body with the hammer; but she fastened it to the ground with the nail, chap. iv. 21.
Ver. 27. Wretched. Hebrew, "he expired where he fell down." (Haydock) --- Debbora represents Jahel as ready to tread the unhappy Sisara under her feet, if he should offer to stir. She thrice repeats his death.
Ver. 28. His mother, &c. This poetical imagination is very natural. --- Room. Hebrew, "through the lattices," eshnab, of which the windows then consisted, Proverbs vii. 6. (Calmet) --- Horses. Protestants, "why tarry the wheels of his chariots?" (Haydock)
Ver. 29. Wives. This is not expressed in Hebrew, "his wise ladies answered her," or joined in her lamentations. Then the mother comforted herself with the hope that they might possibly be employed in dividing the spoils. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "yea she answered herself, Have they not gained the victory? have they divided the prey? to every man a damsel, yea two? to Sisara a booty of divers colours," &c. (Haydock) --- Perhaps instead of damsel, literally, "a belly or two," which occurs no where else, the Hebrew should be, "to the general a most beautiful embroidery work." (Calmet)
Ver. 30. Necks. Hebrew, "the spoils of various colours, the embroidery of divers colours, on both sides, for the necks (of the captors) of the spoil." (Haydock) --- Or more simply, "for the neck (general) of the army;" (Vatable) or "the necks of the soldiers," who will be laden with the abundance of spoils. (Calmet) --- The ladies dwell with great delight on the thought of possessing rich embroidery or needle work. How dreadfully would their hopes be blasted, when a few hours after they saw Barac at their gates, and their city in flames! (Haydock)
Ver. 31. Rising. Hebrew, "when he goeth forth in his might." Let the just advance in virtue, and glory, as the sun becomes more beautiful and hot as he leaves the horizon, on a clear summer day. This comparison is often applied to the servants of God, Ecclesiasticus xvii. 16., 2 Kings xxiii. 5., and Matthew xiii. 45. (Calmet)
Ver. 32. Forty. Usher says only 20 from the victory of Barac. Petau and other able chronologers allow the full term of 40 years, after that event. See chap. iii. 11. (Haydock) --- Barac was buried at Cedes, where Benjamin (Itin.) saw his tomb. (Calmet) --- Ozi, the high priest for the last 40 years, was succeeded by Zaraias, in the year of the world 2760, who reigned an equal length of time, and died with Gedeon. Maraioth took his place, in the year 2801, at the commencement of Abimelech's usurpation, and died in the year 2841. (Salien)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The canticle of Debbora and Barac, after their victory.
1 In that day Debbora and Barac, son of Abinoem, sung, and said:
2 O you of Israel, that have willingly offered your lives to danger, bless the Lord.
3 Hear, O ye kings, give ear, O ye princes: It is I, it is I, that will sing to the Lord, I will sing to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 O Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, and passedst by the regions of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens and clouds dropped water.
5 The mountains melted before the face of the Lord, and Sinai before the face of the Lord the God of Israel.
6 In the days of Samgar, the son of Anath, in the days of Jahel, the paths rested: and they that went by them, walked through by-ways.
7 The valiant men ceased, and rested in Israel: until Debbora arose, a mother arose in Israel.
8 The Lord chose new wars, and he himself overthrew the gates of the enemies: a shield and spear was not seen among forty thousand of Israel.
9 My heart loveth the princes of Israel: O you, that of your own good will offered yourselves to danger, bless the Lord.
10 Speak, you that ride upon fair asses, and you that sit in judgment, and walk in the way.
11 Where the chariots were dashed together, and the army of the enemies was choaked, there let the justices of the Lord be rehearsed, and his clemency towards the brave men of Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the gates, and obtained the sovereignty.
12 Arise, arise, O Debbora, arise, arise, and utter a canticle. Arise, Barac, and take hold of thy captives, O son of Abinoem.
13 The remnants of the people are saved, the Lord hath fought among the valiant ones.
14 Out of Ephraim he destroyed them into Amalec, and after him out of Benjamin into thy people, O Amalec: out of Machir there came down princes, and out of Zabulon they that led the army to fight.
15 The captains of Issachar were with Debbora, and followed the steps of Barac, who exposed himself to danger, as one going headlong, and into a pit. Ruben being divided against himself, there was found a strife of courageous men.
16 Why dwellest thou between two borders, that thou mayst hear the bleatings of the flocks? Ruben being divided against himself, there was found a strife of courageous men.
17 Galaad rested beyond the Jordan, and Dan applied himself to ships: Aser dwelt on the sea shore, and abode in the havens.
18 But Zabulon and Nephthali offered their lives to death in the region of Merome.
19 The kings came and fought, the kings of Chanaan fought in Thanac, by the waters of Mageddo, and yet they took no spoils.
20 There was war made against them from heaven: the stars, remaining in their order and courses, fought against Sisara.
21 The torrent of Cison dragged their carcasses, the torrent of Cadumim, the torrent of Cison: tread thou, my soul, upon the strong ones.
22 The hoofs of the horses were broken whilst the stoutest of the enemies fled amain, and fell headlong down.
23 Curse ye the land of Meroz, said the angel of the Lord: curse the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord, to help his most valiant men.
24 Blessed among women be Jahel, the wife of Haber the Cinite, and blessed be she in her tent.
25 He asked her water, and she gave him milk, and offered him butter in a dish fit for princes.
26 She put her left hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workman's hammer, and she struck Sisara, seeking in his head a place for the wound, and strongly piercing through his temples.
27 Between her feet he fell: he fainted, and he died: he rolled before her feet, and there he lay lifeless and wretched.
28 His mother looked out at a window, and howled: and she spoke from the dining-room: Why is his chariot so long in coming back? Why are the feet of his horses so slow?
29 One that was wiser than the rest of his wives, returned this answer to her mother-in-law:
30 Perhaps he is now dividing the spoils, and the fairest of the women is chosen out for him: garments of divers colours are given to Sisara for his prey, and furniture of different kinds is heaped together to adorn necks.
31 So let all thy enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love thee shine, as the sun shineth in his rising.
32 *And the land rested for forty years.
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32: Year of the World 2719, Year before Christ 1285.