Judges 5:15-25

15 duces Isachar fuere cum Debbora et Barac vestigia sunt secuti qui quasi in praeceps ac baratrum se discrimini dedit diviso contra se Ruben magnanimorum repperta contentio est
16 quare habitas inter duos terminos ut audias sibilos gregum diviso contra se Ruben magnanimorum repperta contentio est
17 Galaad trans Iordanem quiescebat et Dan vacabat navibus Aser habitabat in litore maris et in portibus morabatur
18 Zabulon vero et Nepthalim obtulerunt animas suas morti in regione Merome
19 venerunt reges et pugnaverunt pugnaverunt reges Chanaan in Thanach iuxta aquas Mageddo et tamen nihil tulere praedantes
20 de caelo dimicatum est contra eos stellae manentes in ordine et cursu suo adversum Sisaram pugnaverunt
21 torrens Cison traxit cadavera eorum torrens Cadumim torrens Cison conculca anima mea robustos
22 ungulae equorum ceciderunt fugientibus impetu et per praeceps ruentibus fortissimis hostium
23 maledicite terrae Meroz dixit angelus Domini maledicite habitatoribus eius quia non venerunt ad auxilium Domini in adiutorium fortissimorum eius
24 benedicta inter mulieres Iahel uxor Aber Cinei benedicatur in tabernaculo suo
25 aquam petenti lac dedit et in fiala principum obtulit butyrum

Judges 5:15-25 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.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.