Jueces 5

La canción de Débora

1 Aquel día Débora y Barac hijo de Abinoán entonaron este canto:

2 «Cuando los príncipes de Israel toman el mando,cuando el pueblo se ofrece voluntariamente,¡bendito sea el SEÑOR!

3 »¡Oigan, reyes! ¡Escuchen, gobernantes!Yo cantaré, cantaré al SEÑOR;tocaré música al SEÑOR, el Dios de Israel.

4 »Oh SEÑOR, cuando saliste de Seír,cuando marchaste desde los campos de Edom,tembló la tierra,se estremecieron los cielos,las nubes derramaron agua.

5 Temblaron las montañasal ver al SEÑOR, el Dios del Sinaí;al ver al SEÑOR, el Dios de Israel.

6 »En los días de Samgar hijo de Anat,en los días de Jael,los viajeros abandonaron los caminosy se fueron por sendas escabrosas.

7 Los guerreros de Israel desaparecieron;desaparecieron hasta que yo me levanté.¡Yo, Débora, me levantécomo una madre en Israel!

8 Cuando escogieron nuevos dioses,llegó la guerra a las puertas de la ciudad,pero no se veía ni un escudo ni una lanzaentre cuarenta mil hombres de Israel.

9 Mi corazón está con los príncipes de Israel,con los voluntarios del pueblo.¡Bendito sea el SEÑOR!

10 »Ustedes, los que montan asnas blancasy se sientan sobre tapices,y ustedes, los que andan por el camino,¡pónganse a pensar!

11 La voz de los que cantan en los abrevaderosrelata los actos de justicia del SEÑOR,los actos de justicia de sus guerreros en Israel.Entonces el ejército del SEÑORdescendió a las puertas de la ciudad.

12 »¡Despierta, despierta, Débora!¡Despierta, despierta, y entona una canción!¡Levántate, Barac!Lleva cautivos a tus prisioneros,oh hijo de Abinoán.

13 »Los sobrevivientesdescendieron con los nobles;el ejército del SEÑORvino a mí con los valientes.

14 Algunos venían de Efraín,cuyas raíces estaban en Amalec;Benjamín estaba con el pueblo que te seguía.Desde Maquir bajaron capitanes;desde Zabulón, los que llevan el bastón de mando.

15 Con Débora estaban los príncipes de Isacar;Isacar estaba con Barac,y tras él se lanzó hasta el valle.En los distritos de Rubénhay grandes resoluciones.

16 ¿Por qué permaneciste entre las fogatasescuchando los silbidos para llamar a los rebaños?En los distritos de Rubénhay grandes titubeos.

17 Galaad habitó más allá del Jordán.Y Dan, ¿por qué se quedó junto a los barcos?Aser se quedó en la costa del mar;permaneció en sus ensenadas.

18 El pueblo de Zabulón arriesgó la vidahasta la muerte misma,a ejemplo de Neftalíen las alturas del campo.

19 »Los reyes vinieron y lucharonjunto a las aguas de Meguido;los reyes de Canaán lucharon en Tanac,pero no se llevaron plata ni botín.

20 Desde los cielos lucharon las estrellas,desde sus órbitas lucharon contra Sísara.

21 El torrente Quisón los arrastró;el torrente antiguo, el torrente Quisón.¡Marcha, alma mía, con vigor!

22 Resonaron entonces los cascos equinos;¡galopan, galopan sus briosos corceles!

23 “Maldice a Meroz —dijo el ángel del SEÑOR—.Maldice a sus habitantes con dureza,porque no vinieron en ayuda del SEÑOR,en ayuda del SEÑOR y de sus valientes”.

24 »¡Sea Jael, esposa de Héber el quenita,la más bendita entre las mujeres,la más bendita entre las mujeresque habitan en carpas!

25 Sísara pidió agua, Jael le dio leche;en taza de nobles le ofreció leche cuajada.

26 Su mano izquierda tomó la estaca,su mano derecha, el mazo de trabajo.Golpeó a Sísara, le machacó la cabezay lo remató atravesándole las sienes.

27 A los pies de ella se desplomó;allí cayó y quedó tendido.Cayó desplomado a sus pies;allí donde cayó, quedó muerto.

28 »Por la ventana se asoma la madre de Sísara;tras la celosía clama a gritos:“¿Por qué se demora su carro en venir?¿Por qué se atrasa el estruendo de sus carros?”

29 Las más sabias de sus damas le responden;y ella se repite a sí misma:

30 “Seguramente se están repartiendoel botín arrebatado al enemigo:una muchacha o dos para cada guerrero;telas de colores como botín para Sísara;una tela, dos telas, de coloresbordadas para mi cuello.¡Todo esto como botín!”

31 »¡Así perezcan todos tus enemigos, oh SEÑOR!Pero los que te aman sean como el solcuando sale en todo su esplendor».Entonces el país tuvo paz durante cuarenta años.

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.