Judges 5

CHAPTER 5

The Song of Deborah (5:1–31)

1–3 In biblical times, great national victories were commonly celebrated in song (Exodus 15:1–21; Deuteronomy 32:1–43). This song is a poetical recounting of the events described in Chapter 4; it was most likely written by Deborah herself. It is a song of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord, who was the real victor over Jabin and Sisera.

4–5 These verses recall images of the Lord as He appeared in the cloud at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16–18) and at subsequent occasions throughout Israel’s desert wanderings.

6–8 These verses describe the terrible conditions in Canaan before God raised up Deborah and Barak to deliver Israel from Sisera. In the days of Shamgar (Judges 3:31) and Jael (Judges 4:17–22), the main roads were not safe because of robbers and Sisera’s soldiers (verse 16). Village life ceased, because the Israelites were not safe except in walled towns (verse 7). When [the Israelites] chose new gods—when they started worshiping Canaanite gods—Sisera brought his soldiers to the city gates of Israel’s towns (verse 8); God allowed Sisera to do this in order to punish the Israelites for their apostasy. Israel had forty thousand fighting men, but no shield or spear could be seen among them; either they were afraid to fight Sisera, or they had already been disarmed by him.

9–11 These verses anticipate the victory which will be described later in the song. Deborah praises the willing volunteers (verse 9); she invites the people to listen to the singers recite the righteous acts of the Lord and of His warriors (verses 10–11). After Israel’s victory, the people will start meeting again at the city gates, which had previously been occupied by Sisera’s soldiers (verse 8).

12–18 In these verses, Deborah praises the tribes of Israel who fought with Barak to defeat Sisera. Zebulun and Naphtali bore the brunt of the battle, because their tribal land had been most affected by Sisera’s cruel oppression (verse 18). But men from Ephraim, Benjamin, Makir³⁰ (Manasseh), and Issachar also came to help (verses 14–15). Reuben thought about coming, but in the end didn’t (verse 16). Gilead (Gad), Dan and Asher also did not come to help (verse 17).

No doubt the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Asher believed it was in their best interest not to join the battle against Sisera: they didn’t want to get involved, they didn’t want to take the risk, they had their own affairs to tend to. But in the end they were the losers; they incurred Deborah’s (and God’s) displeasure. Those who do not step forward and volunteer their services to God will always miss the blessings God gives to those who serve Him with all their heart and soul (Deuteronomy 10:12; 11:13–15).

19–23 Here Deborah describes the actual battle, which took place in the valley of the Kishon River (verse 21). Even the stars fought (verse 20)—a poetic way of saying that God and His angels were fighting on the side of Israel (Matthew 26:53). God sent rain and caused the river to rise, and thus swept . . . away the army of Sisera. His horses thundered off in wild retreat (verse 22). In verse 23, mention is made of the Israelite town of Meroz in the territory of Naphtali; because its people did not join in the fight, the town was cursed by the Lord.

24–27 These verses describe Jael’s killing of Sisera with a tent peg (see Judges 4:1722 and comment).

28–30 In these verses, Deborah imagines the mother of Sisera waiting for her son to return from the battle. He is delayed; she is worried. She and her ladies try to comfort themselves with the thought that he is merely collecting plunder and will soon return with captured maidens and expensive garments.

31 The song ends with Deborah expressing hope that Israel’s future battles will be as successful as the battle with Sisera’s army. May the Lord’s enemies perish! But may those who love the Lord rise like the sun (Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 6:5).