The inhabitants. Why not supply the Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6) by the words "the women", considering the objects of Jabin's oppression? see notes on Jdg_4:4, Jdg_4:17; Jdg_5:7, Jdg_5:11, Jdg_5:24, Jdg_5:30.
ceased = ceased [to be]. Same word as "unoccupied" in Jdg_5:6.