(13) All his chariots.--He saw at once that this very sudden revolt had assumed formidable proportions, and he would need all his forces to dislodge Barak from his strongly entrenched position on Tabor.
Harosheth of the Gentiles.--This is simply the name of the town Harosheth-haggoim. (See Judges 4:2.)
Verse 13. - Unto the river (or brook) of Kishon, now the Nahr Mukutta. In the plain of Esdraelon, through which the Kishon flowed into the Mediterranean, there would be room for all his chariots to come into action.
4:10-16. Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots would have advantage against him: he quitted the mountain in dependence on the Divine power; for in the Lord alone is the salvation of his people, Jer 3:23. He was not deceived in his confidence. When God goes before us in our spiritual conflicts, we must bestir ourselves; and when, by his grace, he gives us some success against the enemies of our souls, we must improve it by watchfulness and resolution.
And Sisera gathered together all his chariots,.... Or "therefore" he gathered them together, which might lie some in one place, and some in another, for the better quartering of the men that belonged to them:
even nine hundred chariots of iron; and which, as before observed, are magnified by Josephus, and made to be three thousand:
and all the people that were with him; his soldiers, Jabin's army, of which he was captain, and are called a multitude, Judges 4:7; and which, the above writer says (h), consisted of three hundred thousand foot, and ten thousand horse, besides the iron chariots: these he collected together, and brought with him:
from Harosheth of the Gentiles; the place where he resided with his army, Judges 4:2,
unto the river of Kishon; which was near Mount Tabor, the rendezvous of Barak and his men, see Judges 4:6.
Harosheth of the Gentiles.--This is simply the name of the town Harosheth-haggoim. (See Judges 4:2.)
even nine hundred chariots of iron; and which, as before observed, are magnified by Josephus, and made to be three thousand:
and all the people that were with him; his soldiers, Jabin's army, of which he was captain, and are called a multitude, Judges 4:7; and which, the above writer says (h), consisted of three hundred thousand foot, and ten thousand horse, besides the iron chariots: these he collected together, and brought with him:
from Harosheth of the Gentiles; the place where he resided with his army, Judges 4:2,
unto the river of Kishon; which was near Mount Tabor, the rendezvous of Barak and his men, see Judges 4:6.
(h) Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 5. sect. 1.)