Judges 5:26-32

26 She stretched forth her left hand to the nail, and her right to the hand workman's hammer, and she smote Sisara with it, she nailed through his head and smote him; she nailed through his temples.

27 He rolled down between her feet; he fell and lay between her feet; he bowed and fell: where he bowed, there he fell dead.

28 The mother of Sisara looked down through the window out of the loophole, , Why was his chariot ashamed? why did the wheels of his chariots tarry?

29 Her wise ladies answered her, and she returned answers to herself, ,

30 Will they not find him dividing the spoil? he will surely be gracious to every man: spoils of dyed garments for Sisara, spoils of various dyed garments, dyed embroidered garments, they the spoils for his neck.

31 Thus let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: and they that love him shall be as the going forth of the sun in his strength.

32 And the land had rest forty years.

Judges 5:26-32 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. pin of the tent.
• [b]. hammered.
• [c]. having departed this life.
• [d]. feet of his chariots.
• [e]. be gracious and kind in allowing the claim of each to a share.