And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.
Ver. 9. Went down.] Being heartened by their former successes, but especially by that sweet promise in Judges 1:2 .
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Ver. 9. About the body of Moses] As desirous thereby to set up himself in the hearts of the living. There is a strange strife still, not of earthly, but of spiritual powers, about the possession of man's heart. If Satan can get that, he is safe. And so Satan's vicar. It was a watchword in Gregory XIII's time in Queen Elizabeth's days, "My son, give me thy heart." Be in heart a Papist, and go where you will, and do what you will.
Durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee] Let us also answer the devil in like sort: or as Grynaeus (out of Chrysostom) when he sent back Pistorius's railing letters, not so much as opening the seal, Inhonestum est honestam matronam cam meretrice litlgare, It is not seemly for an honest matron to scold with a base harlot.