Richter 5

1 Da sang Debora und Barak, der Sohn Abinoams, zu der Zeit und sprachen:

2 Lobet den HERRN, daß Israel wieder frei geworden ist und das Volk willig dazu gewesen ist.

3 Höret zu, ihr Könige, und merket auf, ihr Fürsten! Ich will, dem HERRN will ich singen; dem HERRN, dem Gott Israels, will ich spielen.

4 HERR, da du von Seir auszogst und einhergingst vom Felde Edoms, da erzitterte die Erde, der Himmel troff, und die Wolken troffen von Wasser.

5 Die Berge ergossen sich vor dem HERRN, der Sinai vor dem HERRN, dem Gott Israels. {~}

6 Zu den Zeiten Samgars, des Sohnes Anaths, zu den Zeiten Jaels waren verlassen die Wege; und die da auf Straßen gehen sollten, die wandelten durch krumme Wege.

7 Es gebrach, an Regiment gebrach's in Israel, bis daß ich, Debora, aufkam, bis ich aufkam, eine Mutter in Israel.

8 Ein Neues hat Gott erwählt, er hat die Tore bestritten. Es war kein Schild noch Speer unter vierzigtausend in Israel zu sehen.

9 Mein Herz ist mit den Gebietern Israels, mit denen, die willig waren unter dem Volk. Lobet den HERRN!

10 Die ihr auf schönen Eselinnen reitet, die ihr auf Teppichen sitzet, und die ihr auf dem Wege gehet: singet!

11 Da die Schützen schreien zwischen den Schöpf-Rinnen, da sage man von der Gerechtigkeit des HERRN, von der Gerechtigkeit seines Regiments in Israel. Da zog des HERRN Volk herab zu den Toren.

12 Wohlauf, wohlauf, Debora! Wohlauf, wohlauf, und singe ein Lied! Mache dich auf, Barak, und fange deine Fänger, du Sohn Abinoams!

13 Da zog herab, was übrig war von Herrlichen im Volk; der HERR zog mit mir herab unter den Helden.

14 Aus Ephraim die, so ihre Wurzel haben in Amalek, und nach dir Benjamin in deinem Volk; von Machir zogen Gebieter herab und von Sebulon, die den Führerstab hielten.

15 Und Fürsten zu Isaschar waren mit Debora. Und Isaschar war wie Barak, in den Grund gesandt ihm nach. Ruben hielt hoch von sich und sonderte sich von uns. {~}

16 Warum bleibst du zwischen den Hürden, zu hören das Blöken der Herden, und hältst groß von dir und sonderst dich von uns?

17 Gilead blieb jenseit des Jordans. Und warum wohnt Dan unter den Schiffen? Asser saß an der Anfurt des Meers und blieb an seinen zerrissenen Ufern.

18 Sebulons Volk aber wagte seinen Seele in den Tod, Naphthali auch auf der Höhe des Gefildes.

19 Die Könige kamen und stritten; da stritten die Könige der Kanaaniter zu Thaanach am Wasser Megiddos; aber sie brachten keinen Gewinn davon.

20 Vom Himmel ward wider sie gestritten; die Sterne in ihren Bahnen stritten wider Sisera.

21 Der Bach Kison wälzte sie, der Bach Kedumin, der Bach Kison. Tritt, meine Seele, auf die Starken!

22 Da rasselten der Pferde Füße von dem Jagen ihrer mächtigen Reiter.

23 Fluchet der Stadt Meros, sprach der Engel des HERRN; fluchet ihren Bürgern, daß sie nicht kamen dem HERRN zu Hilfe, zu Hilfe dem HERRN unter den Helden!

24 Gesegnet sei unter den Weibern Jael, das Weib Hebers, des Keniters; gesegnet sei sie in der Hütte unter den Weibern!

25 Milch gab sie, da er Wasser forderte, und Butter brachte sie dar in einer herrlichen Schale.

26 Sie griff mit ihrer Hand den Nagel und mit ihrer Rechten den Schmiedhammer und schlug Sisera durch sein Haupt und zerquetschte und durchbohrte seine Schläfe.

27 Zu ihren Füßen krümmte er sich, fiel nieder und legte sich; er krümmte sich, fiel nieder zu ihren Füßen; wie er sich krümmte, so lag er verderbt.

28 Die Mutter Siseras sah zum Fenster hinaus und heulte durchs Gitter: Warum verzieht sein Wagen, daß er nicht kommt? Wie bleiben die Räder seiner Wagen so dahinten?

29 Die weisesten unter ihren Frauen antworteten, da sie ihre Klageworte immer wiederholte:

30 Sollen sie denn nicht finden und austeilen den Raub, einem jeglichen Mann eine Dirne oder zwei zur Ausbeute und Sisera bunte gestickte Kleider zur Ausbeute, gestickte bunte Kleider um dem Hals zur Ausbeute?

31 Also müssen umkommen, HERR, alle deine Feinde! Die ihn aber liebhaben, müssen sein, wie die Sonne aufgeht in ihrer Macht! -Und das Land war still vierzig Jahre.

Richter 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

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)

1-5. 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.

6-11. 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.

Verses 12-23 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, ( Philippians 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.

Verses 24-31 Jael had a special blessing. Those whose lot is cast in the tent, in a low and narrow sphere, if they serve God according to the powers he has given them, shall not lose their reward. The mother of Sisera looked for his return, not in the least fearing his success. Let us take heed of indulging eager desires towards any temporal good, particularly toward that which cherishes vain-glory, for that was what she here doted on. What a picture does she present of an ungodly and sensual heart! How shameful and childish these wishes of an aged mother and her attendants for her son! And thus does God often bring ruin on his enemies when they are most puffed up. Deborah concludes with a prayer to God for the destruction of all his foes, and for the comfort of all his friends. Such shall be the honour, and joy of all who love God in sincerity, they shall shine for ever as the sun in the firmament.

Chapter Summary

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.