Jueces 5

1 Cántico de Débora
Ese día, Débora y Barac, hijo de Abinoam, entonaron el siguiente cántico:
2 «Los líderes de Israel tomaron el mando,
y el pueblo los siguió con gusto.
¡Alabado sea el Señor
!
3 »¡Escuchen, ustedes reyes!
¡Presten atención, ustedes gobernantes poderosos!
Pues cantaré al Señor
;
tocaré música para el Señor
, Dios de Israel.
4 »S
, cuando saliste de Seir
y marchaste por los campos de Edom,
la tierra tembló,
y los cielos nublados derramaron lluvias torrenciales.
5 Las montañas temblaron ante la presencia del Señor
,
Dios del monte Sinaí,
ante la presencia del Señor
,
Dios de Israel.
6 »En los días de Samgar, hijo de Anat,
y en los días de Jael,
la gente evitaba las rutas principales
y los viajeros no salían de los caminos sinuosos.
7 Ya quedaba poca gente en las aldeas de Israel,
hasta que Débora surgió como una madre para Israel.
8 Cuando Israel escogió nuevos dioses,
la guerra estalló a las puertas de la ciudad.
¡Sin embargo, no se veía ni un escudo ni una lanza
entre cuarenta mil guerreros de Israel!
9 Mi corazón está con los comandantes de Israel,
con los que se ofrecieron para la guerra.
¡Alabado sea el Señor
!
10 »Piensen en esto, ustedes que cabalgan en burros selectos,
ustedes que se sientan sobre elaboradas mantas de caballo
y ustedes que andan por el camino.
11 Escuchen a los músicos de las aldeas,
que están reunidos junto a los abrevaderos.
Relatan las justas victorias del Señor
y los triunfos de sus aldeanos en Israel.
Entonces el pueblo del Señor
descendió a las puertas de la ciudad.
12 »¡Despierta, Débora, despierta!
¡Despierta, despierta y entona un cántico!
¡Levántate, Barac!
¡Llévate a tus cautivos, hijo de Abinoam!
13 »De Tabor descendieron los pocos para juntarse con los nobles;
el pueblo del Señor
marchó colina abajo contra poderosos guerreros.
14 Descendieron de Efraín,
tierra que antes pertenecía a los amalecitas;
te siguieron a ti, Benjamín, con tus tropas.
De Maquir los comandantes descendieron a paso de marcha;
desde Zabulón llegaron los que llevan el bastón de mando.
15 Los príncipes de Isacar estuvieron con Débora y Barac;
siguieron a Barac a toda prisa hasta el valle.
Pero en la tribu de Rubén
hubo gran indecisión.
16 ¿Por qué se quedaron sentados en su casa entre los rediles,
para oír a los pastores silbar a sus rebaños?
Así es, en la tribu de Rubén
hubo gran indecisión.
17 Galaad permaneció al oriente del Jordán.
Y ¿por qué Dan se quedó en su casa?
Aser se sentó sin moverse a la orilla del mar,
y permaneció en sus puertos.
18 Pero Zabulón arriesgó la vida,
igual que Neftalí, en las alturas del campo de batalla.
19 »Los reyes de Canaán llegaron y pelearon
en Taanac, cerca de los manantiales de Meguido,
pero no se llevaron tesoros de plata.
20 Desde el cielo lucharon las estrellas;
las estrellas en sus órbitas pelearon contra Sísara.
21 El río Cisón arrasó con ellos,
ese antiguo torrente llamado Cisón.
¡Marcha hacia adelante con valor, alma mía!
22 Luego los cascos de los caballos martillaron el suelo:
el galope resonante de los poderosos corceles de Sísara.
23 “Que sean malditos los habitantes de Meroz —dijo el ángel del Señor
—.
Que sean completamente malditos,
porque no vinieron para ayudar al Señor
,
para ayudar al Señor
contra los poderosos guerreros”.
24 »La más bendita entre las mujeres es Jael,
la esposa de Heber, el ceneo.
Bendita sea más que todas las mujeres que viven en carpas.
25 Sísara le pidió agua,
y ella le dio leche.
En un tazón digno de nobles,
le trajo yogur.
26 Después tomó una estaca con la mano izquierda,
y con la derecha, el martillo del trabajador.
Golpeó a Sísara con el martillo y le aplastó la cabeza;
con un terrible golpe le atravesó las sienes.
27 Él se desplomó, cayó,
quedó inmóvil, tendido a sus pies;
y allí donde cayó,
quedó muerto.
28 »Por la ventana se asomó la madre de Sísara.
Desde la ventana esperaba su regreso mientras decía:
“¿Por qué tarda tanto en llegar su carro?
¿Por qué no oímos el sonido de las ruedas del carro?”.
29 »Sus sabias mujeres le responden,
y ella se repite estas palabras a sí misma:
30 “Seguramente están repartiendo el botín que capturaron,
que tendrá una o dos mujeres para cada hombre.
Habrá túnicas llenas de todos los colores para Sísara,
y para mí, coloridas túnicas con bordados.
Seguro que en el botín hay
túnicas de colores y bordadas de ambos lados”.
31 »¡S
, que todos tus enemigos mueran como Sísara;
pero los que te aman, que se levanten como el sol cuando brilla con toda su fuerza!».
Después hubo paz en la tierra durante cuarenta años.

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Jueces 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.

Jueces 5 Commentaries

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