, the land
had rest eighty years (Judges iii. 30). This, again, is one
of those numbers which represent an indefinite space of
time.

** It has been maintained that two versions are here blended
together in the text, one in which the principal part is
played by Sisera, the other in which it is attributed to
Jabin. The episode of Deborah and Barak (Judges iv., v.)
comprises a narrative in prose (chap, iv.), and the song
(chap, v.) attributed to Deborah. The prose account probably
is derived from the song. The differences in the two
accounts may be explained as having arisen partly from an
imperfect understanding of the poetic text, and partly from
one having come down from some other source.

*** Some critics suppose that the prose narrative (Judges
iv. 5) has confounded the prophetess Deborah, wife of
Lapidoth, with Deborah, nurse of Rachel, who was buried near
Bethel, under the "Oak of Weeping" (Gen. xxxv. 8), and
consequently place it between Rama and Bethel, in the hill-
country of Ephraim.

**** In the prose narrative (Judges iv. 2-7) Sisera is
stated to have been the general of Jabin: there is nothing
incompatible in this statement with the royal dignity
elsewhere attributed to Sisera. Harosheth-ha-Goyim has been
identified with the present village of El-Haretiyeh, on the
right bank of the Kishon.

It would appear that heavy rains had swelled the streams, and thus
prevented the chariots from rendering their expected service in the
engagement; at all events, the Amorites were routed, and Sisera escaped
with the survivors towards Hazor.

[Illustration: 275.jpg TELL]

Drawn by Boudier, from a photograph in Lortet.

The people of Meroz facilitated his retreat, but a Kenite named Jael,
the wife of Heber, traitorously killed him with a blow from a hammer
while he was in the act of drinking.*

* Meroz is the present Marus, between the Lake of Huleh and
Safed. I have followed the account given in the song (Judges
v. 24-27). According to the prose version (iv. 17-22), Jael
slew Sisera while he was asleep with a tent-pin, which she
drove into his temple. [The text of Judges v. 24-27 does not
seem to warrant the view that he was slain "in the act of
drinking," nor does it seem to conflict with Judges iv. 11.-
-Tr.]

This exploit was commemorate