Judges 5:9-13

9 My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who 1offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD.
10 "Tell of it, 2you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets[a] and you who walk by the way.
11 To the sound of musicians[b] at the watering places, there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the LORD, the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel."Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD.
12 3"Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, 4lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam.
13 Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for me against the mighty.

Judges 5:9-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 5

This chapter contains a song of praise on account of the victories obtained over Jabin, and his kingdom; after an exhortation to praise is given, and kings excited to attend to it, the majestic appearance of God at Seir, on Sinai, is observed, to raise in the mind a divine veneration of him, Jud 5:1-5; then the miserable state and condition Israel was in before these victories, and therefore had the more reason to be thankful, Jud 5:6-8; the governors, and judges, and the people that were delivered, together with Deborah and Barak, are stirred up to rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, and bless his name, Jud 5:9-13; and those who willingly engaged in the war are praised, and such who were negligent reproved, and some even cursed, Jud 5:14-23; but Jael, Heber's wife, is particularly commended for her exploit in slaying Sisera, Jud 5:24-27; and the mother of Sisera, and her ladies, are represented as wondering at his long delay, and as assured of his having got the victory, Jud 5:28-30; and the song is concluded with a prayer for the destruction, of the enemies of the Lord, and for the happiness and glory of them that love him, Jud 5:31.

Cross References 4

  • 1. ver. 2
  • 2. [Judges 10:4; Judges 12:14; Zechariah 9:9]
  • 3. Psalms 57:8
  • 4. Psalms 68:18; Ephesians 4:8

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain; it may connote saddle blankets
  • [b]. Or archers; the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.