(29) Her wise ladies.--Literally, the wise of her princesses. There is unconcealed scorn in this, showing that the wisest were most utterly mistaken. Their "wisdom" is the seductive flattery of delusive hopes.
Answered her.--The verb is in the singular, implying that one spoke after another. The Vulgate renders it. "One of his wives, wiser than the rest, answered."
Yea, she returned answer to herself.--The meaning of the clause is very uncertain. It may be, "yea, she repeats their answer to herself," accepting their flattering surmises; or, on the contrary, "but she repeats her words to herself," entirely unconsoled; or, again--but this is less likely--"yea, she retracted her own (anxious) words." The anxious foreboding or the inextinguishable hope would be equally true to nature, according to the temperament of the Canaanite princess.
5:24-31 Jael had a special blessing. Those whose lot is cast in the tent, in a low and narrow sphere, if they serve God according to the powers he has given them, shall not lose their reward. The mother of Sisera looked for his return, not in the least fearing his success. Let us take heed of indulging eager desires towards any temporal good, particularly toward that which cherishes vain-glory, for that was what she here doted on. What a picture does she present of an ungodly and sensual heart! How shameful and childish these wishes of an aged mother and her attendants for her son! And thus does God often bring ruin on his enemies when they are most puffed up. Deborah concludes with a prayer to God for the destruction of all his foes, and for the comfort of all his friends. Such shall be the honour, and joy of all who love God in sincerity, they shall shine for ever as the sun in the firmament.
Her wise ladies answered her,.... Every one in their turn endeavouring to comfort her and make her easy. The Vulgate Latin version is,"one that was wiser than the rest of his wives;''but they seem rather to be her maids of honour, or ladies of her acquaintance, who were come to pay her a visit, and share in the pleasing sight they expected to have of Sisera:
yea, she returned answer to herself; before they could well give theirs, she soon recollected herself what might be, and must be, the occasion of this delay; and this, according to the Targum, she made in her wisdom, what her great wisdom quickly suggested to her was certainly the case, and with which she comforted and quieted herself.
Answered her.--The verb is in the singular, implying that one spoke after another. The Vulgate renders it. "One of his wives, wiser than the rest, answered."
Yea, she returned answer to herself.--The meaning of the clause is very uncertain. It may be, "yea, she repeats their answer to herself," accepting their flattering surmises; or, on the contrary, "but she repeats her words to herself," entirely unconsoled; or, again--but this is less likely--"yea, she retracted her own (anxious) words." The anxious foreboding or the inextinguishable hope would be equally true to nature, according to the temperament of the Canaanite princess.
yea, she returned answer to herself; before they could well give theirs, she soon recollected herself what might be, and must be, the occasion of this delay; and this, according to the Targum, she made in her wisdom, what her great wisdom quickly suggested to her was certainly the case, and with which she comforted and quieted herself.