Judges 5:9

9 My heart is with the princes in Israel. It's with the people who follow them just because they want to. Praise the Lord!

Judges 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 5:9

My heart is towards the governors of Israel
Most of the Jewish commentators interpret this of their wise men and Scribes, who were willing to teach the people the law and the commandments, even in times of trouble, and did not cease from doing it on that account, and therefore Deborah praises them for it; so the Targum; but Kimchi and Ben Melech understand by them the great men of the nation, their nobles and rulers, who enacted good laws and statutes; or at least took care to see that the good laws they had were put in execution; and these had a share in the affections and good wishes of Deborah, and that chiefly for the following reason:

that offered themselves willingly among the people;
to go along with them, and march at the head of them, to fight Sisera and his army; thereby setting a good example, and animating the people to battle, and inspiring them with courage and intrepidity; when they saw their chiefs and the heads of them exposing their lives with them in defence of their country, and the rights of it:

bless ye the Lord;
for giving them such spirits, to engage so willingly in this service, and for giving them success in it.

Judges 5:9 In-Context

7 Life in the villages of Israel stopped. It stopped until I, Deborah, came. I came as a mother in Israel.
8 The people chose new gods. Then war came to the city gates. But no shields or spears were seen anywhere. There weren't any among 40,000 men in Israel.
9 My heart is with the princes in Israel. It's with the people who follow them just because they want to. Praise the Lord!
10 "Some of you ride on white donkeys. Some of you sit on your saddle blankets. Some of you walk along the road. Think about
11 the voices of the singers at the watering places. They sing about the right things the LORD does. They sing about the right things his warriors in Israel do. "The people of the LORD went down to the city gates.
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