Juízes 5

1 Então cantaram Débora e Baraque, filho de Abinoão, naquele dia, dizendo:

2 Porquanto os chefes se puseram � frente em Israel, porquanto o povo se ofereceu voluntariamente, louvai ao Senhor.

3 Ouvi, ó reis; dai ouvidos, ó príncipes! eu cantarei ao Senhor, salmodiarei ao Senhor Deus de Israel.

4 ç Senhor, quando saíste de Seir, quando caminhaste desde o campo de Edom, a terra estremeceu, os céus gotejaram, sim, as nuvens gotejaram águas.

5 Os montes se abalaram diante do Senhor, e até Sinai, diante do Senhor Deus de Israel.

6 Nos dias de Sangar, filho de Anate, nos dias de Jael, cessaram as caravanas; e os que viajavam iam por atalhos desviados.

7 Cessaram as aldeias em Israel, cessaram; até que eu Débora, me levantei, até que eu me levantei por mãe em Israel.

8 Escolheram deuses novos; logo a guerra estava �s portas; via-se porventura escudo ou lança entre quarenta mil em Israel?

9 Meu coração inclina-se para os guias de Israel, que voluntariamente se ofereceram entre o povo. Bendizei ao Senhor.

10 Louvai-o vós, os que cavalgais sobre jumentas brancas, que vos assentais sobre ricos tapetes; e vós, que andais pelo caminho.

11 Onde se ouve o estrondo dos flecheiros, entre os lugares onde se tiram águas, ali falarão das justiças do Senhor, das justiças que fez �s suas aldeias em Israel; então o povo do Senhor descia �s portas.

12 Desperta, desperta, Débora; desperta, desperta, entoa um cântico; levanta-te, Baraque, e leva em cativeiro os teus prisioneiros, tu, filho de Abinoão.

13 Então desceu o restante dos nobres e do povo; desceu o Senhor por mim contra os poderosos.

14 De Efraim desceram os que tinham a sua raiz em Amaleque, após ti, Benjamim, entre os teus povos; de Maquir desceram os guias, e de Zebulom os que levam o báculo do inspetor de tropas.

15 Também os príncipes de Issacar estavam com Débora; e como Issacar, assim também Baraque; ao vale precipitaram-se em suas pegadas. Junto aos ribeiros de Rúben grandes foram as resoluções do coração.

16 Por que ficastes entre os currais a escutar os balidos dos rebanhos? Junto aos ribeiros de Rúben grandes foram as resoluções do coração.

17 Gileade ficou da banda dalém do Jordão; e Dã, por que se deteve com seus navios? Aser se assentou na costa do mar e ficou junto aos seus portos.

18 Zebulom é um povo que se expôs � morte, como também Naftali, nas alturas do campo.

19 Vieram reis e pelejaram; pelejaram os reis de Canaã, em Taanaque junto �s águas de Megido; não tomaram despojo de prata.

20 Desde os céus pelejaram as estrelas; desde as suas órbitas pelejaram contra Sísera.

21 O ribeiro de Quisom os arrastou, aquele antigo ribeiro, o ribeiro de Quisom. Ó minha alma, calcaste aos pés a força.

22 Então os cascos dos cavalos feriram a terra na fuga precipitada dos seus valentes.

23 Amaldiçoai a Meroz, diz o anjo do Senhor, amaldiçoai acremente aos seus habitantes; porquanto não vieram em socorro do Senhor, em socorro do Senhor, entre os valentes.

24 Bendita entre todas as mulheres será Jael, mulher de Heber, o queneu; bendita será entre as mulheres nômades.

25 Água pediu ele, leite lhe deu ela; em taça de príncipes lhe ofereceu coalhada.

26 Â estaca estendeu a mão esquerda, e ao martelo dos trabalhadores a direita, e matou a Sísera, rachando-lhe a cabeça; furou e traspassou-lhe as fontes.

27 Aos pés dela ele se encurvou, caiu, ficou estirado; aos pés dela se encurvou, caiu; onde se encurvou, ali caiu morto.

28 A mãe de Sísera olhando pela janela, através da grade exclamava: Por que tarda em vir o seu carro? por que se demora o rumor das suas carruagens?

29 As mais sábias das suas damas responderam, e ela respondia a si mesma:

30 Não estão, porventura, achando e repartindo os despojos? uma ou duas donzelas a cada homem? para Sísera despojos de estofos tintos, despojos de estofos tintos bordados, bordados de várias cores, para o meu pescoço?

31 Assim ó Senhor, pereçam todos os teus inimigos! Sejam, porém, os que te amam, como o sol quando se levanta na sua força. [ (Judges 5:32) E a terra teve sossego por quarenta anos. ]

Juízes 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.