Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 4:2

"And Jehovah sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles." — Judges 4:2 (ASV)

See the note on Joshua 11:1. Since the events narrated there, Hazor must have been rebuilt and resumed its position as the metropolis of the northern Canaanites; the other cities must also have resumed their independence and restored their fallen dynasties.

Harosheth (identified by Conder with El Harathlyeh) is marked by the designation "of the Gentiles," similar to Galilee of the nations (Genesis 14:1; Isaiah 9:1).

The name Harosheth signifies workmanship, cutting and carving, whether in stone or wood (Exodus 31:5), and therefore, might be applied to the place where such works were carried out.

It has been conjectured that because this was a great timber district, rich in cedars and fir-trees, and near Great Zidon (Joshua 11:8), Jabin kept a large number of oppressed Israelites at work hewing wood and preparing it at Harosheth for transport to Zidon.

It has also been conjectured that these woodcutters, armed with axes and hatchets, formed the soldiers of Barak’s army.