Judges 5:1-10

1 Then sang Devorah and Barak the son of Avino`am on that day, saying,

2 For that the leaders took the lead in Yisra'el, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless you the LORD.

3 Hear, you kings; give ear, you princes; I, [even] I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Yisra'el.

4 LORD, when you went forth out of Se`ir, When you marched out of the field of Edom, The eretz trembled, the sky also dropped, Yes, the clouds dropped water.

5 The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD, Even Sinai at the presence of the LORD, the God of Yisra'el.

6 In the days of Shamgar the son of `Anat, In the days of Ya`el, the highways were unoccupied, The travelers walked through byways.

7 The rulers ceased in Yisra'el, they ceased, Until that I Devorah arose, That I arose a mother in Yisra'el.

8 They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Yisra'el?

9 My heart is toward the governors of Yisra'el, Who offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless you the LORD.

10 Tell [of it], you who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, You who walk by the way.

Judges 5:1-10 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.