Judges 5:19-29

19 venerunt reges et pugnaverunt pugnaverunt reges Chanaan in Thanach iuxta aquas Mageddo et tamen nihil tulere praedantes
20 de caelo dimicatum est contra eos stellae manentes in ordine et cursu suo adversum Sisaram pugnaverunt
21 torrens Cison traxit cadavera eorum torrens Cadumim torrens Cison conculca anima mea robustos
22 ungulae equorum ceciderunt fugientibus impetu et per praeceps ruentibus fortissimis hostium
23 maledicite terrae Meroz dixit angelus Domini maledicite habitatoribus eius quia non venerunt ad auxilium Domini in adiutorium fortissimorum eius
24 benedicta inter mulieres Iahel uxor Aber Cinei benedicatur in tabernaculo suo
25 aquam petenti lac dedit et in fiala principum obtulit butyrum
26 sinistram manum misit ad clavum et dexteram ad fabrorum malleos percussitque Sisaram quaerens in capite vulneri locum et tempus valide perforans
27 inter pedes eius ruit defecit et mortuus est ante pedes illius volvebatur et iacebat exanimis et miserabilis
28 per fenestram prospiciens ululabat mater eius et de cenaculo loquebatur cur moratur regredi currus eius quare tardaverunt pedes quadrigarum illius
29 una sapientior ceteris uxoribus eius haec socrui verba respondit

Judges 5:19-29 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.

The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.