Juízes 5

O Cântico de Débora

1 Naquele dia, Débora e Baraque, filho de Abinoão, entoaram este cântico:

2 “Consagrem-se para a guerra os chefes de Israel.Voluntariamente o povo se apresenta.Louvem o SENHOR!

3 “Ouçam, ó reis! Governantes, escutem!Cantarei ao^[a]SENHOR, cantarei;comporei músicas ao^[b]SENHOR, o Deus de Israel.

4 “Ó SENHOR, quando saíste de Seir,quando marchaste desde os campos de Edom,a terra estremeceu, os céus gotejaram,as nuvens despejaram água!

5 Os montes tremeram perante o SENHOR, o Deus do Sinai,perante o SENHOR, o Deus de Israel.

6 “Nos dias de Sangar, filho de Anate,nos dias de Jael, as estradas estavam desertas;os que viajavam seguiam caminhos tortuosos.

7 Já tinham desistido os camponeses de Israel,^[c] já tinham desistido,até que eu, Débora, me levantei;^[d]levantou-se uma mãe em Israel.

8 Quando escolheram novos deuses,a guerra chegou às portas,e não se via um só escudo ou lançaentre quarenta mil de Israel.

9 Meu coração está com os comandantes de Israel,com os voluntários dentre o povo.Louvem o SENHOR!

10 “Vocês, que cavalgam em brancos jumentos,que se assentam em ricos tapetes,que caminham pela estrada,considerem!

11 Mais alto que a voz dos que distribuem água^[e] junto aos bebedouros,recitem-se os justos feitos do SENHOR,os justos feitos em favor dos camponeses^[f] de Israel.“Então o povo dodesceu às portas.

12 ‘Desperte, Débora! Desperte!Desperte, desperte, irrompa em cânticos!Levante-se, Baraque!Leve presos os seus prisioneiros, ó filho de Abinoão!’

13 “Então desceram os restantes e foram aos nobres;o povo do SENHOR veio a mim contra os poderosos.

14 Alguns vieram de Efraim, das raízes de Amaleque;Benjamim estava com o povo que seguiu você.De Maquir desceram comandantes;de Zebulom, os que levam a vara de oficial.

15 Os líderes de Issacar estavam com Débora;sim, Issacar também estava com Baraque,apressando-se após ele até o vale.Nas divisões de Rúbenhouve muita inquietação.

16 Por que vocês permaneceram entre as fogueiras^[g]a ouvir o balido dos rebanhos?Nas divisões de Rúbenhouve muita indecisão.

17 Gileade permaneceu do outro lado do Jordão.E Dã, por que se deteve junto aos navios?Aser permaneceu no litorale em suas enseadas ficou.

18 O povo de Zebulom arriscou a vida,como o fez Naftali nas altas regiões do campo.

19 “Vieram reis e lutaram.Os reis de Canaã lutaramem Taanaque, junto às águas de Megido,mas não levaram prata alguma, despojo algum.

20 Desde o céu lutaram as estrelas,desde as suas órbitas lutaram contra Sísera.

21 O rio Quisom os levou,o antigo rio, o rio Quisom.Avante, minh'alma! Seja forte!

22 Os cascos dos cavalos faziam tremer o chão;galopavam, galopavam os seus poderosos cavalos.

23 ‘Amaldiçoem Meroz’, disse o anjo do SENHOR.‘Amaldiçoem o seu povo,pois não vieram ajudar o SENHOR,ajudar o SENHOR contra os poderosos’.

24 “Que Jael seja a mais bendita das mulheres,Jael, mulher de Héber, o queneu!Seja ela bendita entre as mulheres que habitam em tendas!

25 Ele pediu água, e ela lhe deu leite;numa tigela digna de príncipes trouxe-lhe coalhada.

26 Ela estendeu a mão e apanhou a estaca da tenda;e com a mão direita o martelo do trabalhador.Golpeou Sísera, esmigalhou sua cabeça,esmagou e traspassou suas têmporas.

27 Aos seus pés ele se curvou,caiu e ali ficou prostrado.Aos seus pés ele se curvou e caiu;onde caiu, ali ficou. Morto!

28 “Pela janela olhava a mãe de Sísera;atrás da grade ela exclamava:‘Por que o seu carro se demora tanto?Por que custa a chegar o ruído de seus carros?’

29 As mais sábias de suas damas respondiam,e ela continuava falando consigo mesma:

30 ‘Estarão achando e repartindo os despojos?Uma ou duas moças para cada homem,roupas coloridas como despojo para Sísera,roupas coloridas e bordadas,tecidos bordados para o meu pescoço,tudo isso como despojo?’

31 “Assim pereçam todos os teus inimigos, ó SENHOR!Mas os que te amam sejam como o solquando se levanta na sua força”.E a terra teve paz durante quarenta anos.

Juízes 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ou "sobre o"
• [b]. Ou "Com cânticos louvarei o"
• [c]. Ou "Desapareceram os guerreiros em Israel,"
• [d]. Ou "até que você, Débora, se levantou;"
• [e]. Ou "dos flecheiros"
• [f]. Ou "guerreiros"
• [g]. Ou "os alforjes"

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.