Judges 5:11

11 from the noise of disturbers among the drawers of water; there shall they relate righteous acts: O Lord, increase righteous acts in Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the cities.

Judges 5:11 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 5:11

They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the place
of drawing water
Meaning either the army of the Israelites, delivered from the archers of Sisera's host at the river Kishon; or such persons, as maidens and others, that went out of the cities to fountains and wells of water, to fetch water from thence for their necessities, but were frightened by the noise of archers that shot at them; or shepherds who led their flocks to water them there, but were repulsed or slain by archers that lay in wait in woods or lurking places thereabout; but now the country being cleared of them, they could without fear have recourse to these places of drawing water for their flocks or other uses, which laid them under obligation to do as directed in the next clause. The words are by some rendered,

``because of the voice of those that number (sheep and other cattle) at the places of drawing water ^F7:''

which now they could do, being a time of peace; and for which the persons before described ought to be thankful:

there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord;
coming to those places again, it would put them in mind to what hazards and dangers they had been exposed formerly by the enemy, but now were freed from; and this would lead them to discourse of and repeat the righteous dealings of God in taking vengeance on their enemies and delivering them from them:

even the righteous acts towards the inhabitants of his villages in
Israel;
they being now in no danger of having their houses broke open, and their substance plundered as before, ( Judges 5:7 ) then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates; either of their enemies, pursuing them unto them, as they did, ( Judges 4:16 ) or rather to the gates of their own cities, where they had now free egress and regress; and those that were in the fortified cities, who had fled thither from the villages because of the rapine of the enemy, now would go down to the gates, and pass through them, and return to their villages again; or else the meaning is, that the people would now frequent as formerly the courts of judicature held in the gates of their cities, to have justice done them, and be in no fear of being disturbed by the enemy, as before.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 So Cocceius, Noldius, p. 561. No. 1992.

Judges 5:11 In-Context

9 My heart to the orders given in Israel; ye that are willing among the people, bless the Lord.

10 Ye that mount a she-ass at noon-day, ye that sit on the judgment-seat, and walk by the roads of them that sit in judgment by the way; declare

11 from the noise of disturbers among the drawers of water; there shall they relate righteous acts: O Lord, increase righteous acts in Israel: then the people of the Lord went down to the cities.

12 Awake, awake, Debbora; awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barac, and lead thy captivity captive, son of Abineem.

13 Then went down the remnant to the strong, the people of the Lord went down for him among the mighty ones from me.

Footnotes

• [a]. noisy ones.