Judges 5:9

9 My heart [goes out] to the commanders of Israel, those offering themselves willingly among the people; bless Yahweh!

Judges 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 5:9

My heart is towards the governors of Israel
Most of the Jewish commentators interpret this of their wise men and Scribes, who were willing to teach the people the law and the commandments, even in times of trouble, and did not cease from doing it on that account, and therefore Deborah praises them for it; so the Targum; but Kimchi and Ben Melech understand by them the great men of the nation, their nobles and rulers, who enacted good laws and statutes; or at least took care to see that the good laws they had were put in execution; and these had a share in the affections and good wishes of Deborah, and that chiefly for the following reason:

that offered themselves willingly among the people;
to go along with them, and march at the head of them, to fight Sisera and his army; thereby setting a good example, and animating the people to battle, and inspiring them with courage and intrepidity; when they saw their chiefs and the heads of them exposing their lives with them in defence of their country, and the rights of it:

bless ye the Lord;
for giving them such spirits, to engage so willingly in this service, and for giving them success in it.

Judges 5:9 In-Context

7 The warriors ceased; they failed to appear in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose; I arose [as] a mother in Israel.
8 God chose new [leaders], then war [was at the] gates; a small shield or a spear was not seen among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart [goes out] to the commanders of Israel, those offering themselves willingly among the people; bless Yahweh!
10 The riders of white female donkeys, [those] sitting on saddle blankets, and [those] going on [the] way, talk about it!
11 At the sound of [those] dividing [the sheep] among the watering places, there they will recount the righteous deeds of Yahweh, the righteous deeds for his warriors in Israel. Then the people of Yahweh went down to the gates.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.