Judges 5:9

9 My heart is with the commanders of Israel. They volunteered freely from among the people.

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 There were no warriors in Israel until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose to be a mother to Israel.
8 At that time they chose to follow new gods. Because of this, enemies fought us at our city gates. No one could find a shield or a spear among the forty thousand people of Israel.
9 My heart is with the commanders of Israel. They volunteered freely from among the people.
10 "You who ride on white donkeys and sit on saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road, listen!
11 Listen to the sound of the singers at the watering holes. There they tell about the victories of the Lord, the victories of the Lord's warriors in Israel. Then the Lord's people went down to the city gates.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.