Judges 5:19-29

19 "1The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan 2At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; 3They took no plunder in silver.
20 "4The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera.
21 "The torrent of Kishon swept them away, The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. 5O my soul, march on with strength.
22 "6Then the horses' hoofs beat From the dashing, the dashing of his valiant steeds.
23 'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD, 'Utterly curse its inhabitants; 7Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the warriors.'
24 "8Most blessed of women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Most blessed is she of women in the tent.
25 "He asked for water and she gave him milk; In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.
26 "She reached out her hand for the tent peg, And her right hand for the workmen's hammer. Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head; And she shattered and pierced his temple.
27 "Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; Between her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell dead.
28 "Out of the window she looked and lamented, The mother of Sisera through the lattice, 'Why does his chariot delay in coming? Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?'
29 "Her wise princesses would answer her, Indeed she repeats her words to herself,

Judges 5:19-29 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.

Cross References 8

Footnotes 4

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