Judges5
New International Version
1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2“When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves— praise the Lord!
3“Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.
4“When you, Lord, went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water.
5The mountains quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel.
6“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned; travelers took to winding paths.
7Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.
8God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
9My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!
10“You who ride on white donkeys, sitting on your saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, consider
11the voice of the singers at the watering places. They recite the victories of the Lord, the victories of his villagers in Israel. “Then the people of the Lord went down to the city gates.
12‘Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song! Arise, Barak! Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam.’
13“The remnant of the nobles came down; the people of the Lord came down to me against the mighty.
14Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s staff.
15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley. In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
16Why did you stay among the sheep pens to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben there was much searching of heart.
17Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.
18The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.
19“Kings came, they fought, the kings of Canaan fought. At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo, they took no plunder of silver.
20From the heavens the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera.
21The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon. March on, my soul; be strong!
22Then thundered the horses’ hooves— galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds.
23‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord. ‘Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the Lord, to help the Lord against the mighty.’
24“Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.
25He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.
26Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple.
27At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay. At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead.
28“Through the window peered Sisera’s mother; behind the lattice she cried out, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?’
29The wisest of her ladies answer her; indeed, she keeps saying to herself,
30‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils: a woman or two for each man, colorful garments as plunder for Sisera, colorful garments embroidered, highly embroidered garments for my neck— all this as plunder?’
31“So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Judges 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Praise and glory ascribed to God. (1–5). The distress and deliverance of Israel. (6–11). Some commended, others censured. (12–23). Sisera's mother disappointed. (24–31).
vv1-5
No time should be lost in returning thanks to the Lord for his mercies; for our praises are most acceptable, pleasant, and profitable, when they flow from a full heart. By this, love and gratitude would be more excited and more deeply fixed in the hearts of believers; the events would be more known and longer remembered. Whatever Deborah, Barak, or the army had done, the Lord must have all the praise. The will, the power, and the success were all from Him.
vv6-11
Deborah describes the distressed state of Israel under the tyranny of Jabin, that their salvation might appear more gracious. She shows what brought this misery upon them. It was their idolatry. They chose new gods, with new names. But under all these images, Satan was worshipped. Deborah was a mother to Israel, by diligently promoting the salvation of their souls. She calls on those who shared the advantages of this great salvation, to offer up thanks to God for it. Let such as are restored, not only to their liberty as other Israelites, but to their rank, speak God's praises. This is the Lord's doing. In these acts of his, justice was executed on his enemies. In times of persecution, God's ordinances, the walls of salvation, whence the waters of life are drawn, are resorted to at the hazard of the lives of those who attend them. At all times Satan will endeavour to hinder the believer from drawing near to the throne of grace. Notice God's kindness to his trembling people. It is the glory of God to protect those who are most exposed, and to help the weakest. Let us notice the benefit we have from the public peace, the inhabitants of villages especially, and give God the praise.
vv12-23
Deborah called on her own soul to be in earnest. He that will set the hearts of other men on fire with the love of Christ, must himself burn with love. Praising God is a work we should awake to, and awake ourselves unto. She notices who fought against Israel, who fought for them, and who kept away. Who fought against them. They were obstinate enemies to God's people, therefore the more dangerous. Who fought for them. The several tribes that helped are here spoken of with honour; for though God is above all to be glorified, those who are employed must have their due praise, to encourage others. But the whole creation is at war with those to whom God is an enemy. The river of Kishon fought against their enemies. At most times it was shallow, yet now, probably by the great rain that fell, it was so swelled, and the stream so deep and strong, that those who attempted to pass, were drowned. Deborah's own soul fought against them. When the soul is employed in holy exercises, and heart-work is made of them, through the grace of God, the strength of our spiritual enemies will be trodden down, and will fall before us. She observes who kept away, and did not side with Israel, as might have been expected. Thus many are kept from doing their duty by the fear of trouble, the love of ease, and undue affection to their worldly business and advantage. Narrow, selfish spirits care not what becomes of God's church, so that they can but get, keep, and save money. All seek their own, Php 2:21. A little will serve those for a pretence to stay at home, who have no mind to engage in needful services, because there is difficulty and danger in them. But we cannot keep away from the contest between the Lord and his enemies; and if we do not actively endeavour to promote his cause in this wicked world, we shall fall under the curse against the workers of iniquity. Though He needs no human help, yet he is pleased to accept the services of those who improve their talents to advance his cause. He requires every man to do so.
Key Words
דְּבּוֹרָה: Deborah, the name of two Hebrewesses
בָּרָק: Barak, an Israelite
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אֲבִינֹעַם: Abinoam, an Israelite
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
פַּרְעָה: leadership (plural concretely, leaders)
פָּרַע: to loosen; by implication, to expose, dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
נָדַב: to impel; hence, to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously
Cross References
Judges 5Poetic imagery of God's majestic march from Seir and Edom to deliver His people.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct verbal parallel regarding the earth trembling and heavens dropping at God's presence.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Refers to Mount Sinai melting/shaking before the Lord, a key comparison in Deborah's song.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The prose account of Jael giving Sisera milk and driving the tent peg.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the days of Shamgar son of Anath, the preceding deliverer in Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explains choosing 'new gods' and the consequent judgment of war in the gates.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament fulfillment of leading captivity captive, applied typologically to Christ's ascension.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel blessing 'above/among women' pronounced on Mary, echoing Jael's blessing.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The prototypical triumphal song led by Moses and Miriam after victory.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the people 'willingly offering themselves' in the day of battle.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophetic parallel of God marching from Teman/Paran and the mountains trembling.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates Israel's lack of shield and spear under foreign oppression and disarmament.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reuben's choice to stay among the sheepfolds, prioritizing livestock over national battle.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The literal battlefield defeat of Sisera which Deborah attributes to heaven's intervention.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the enemy's premature boast of dividing the spoil before being destroyed.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Describes the righteous as being like the clear shining of the sun.
Supported by Matthew Henry