Judges 5:3-13

3 Listen, you kings! Open your ears, you princes! I will sing a song to the LORD. I will make music to the LORD God of Israel.

4 O LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the country of Edom, the earth quaked, the sky poured, the clouds burst,

5 and the mountains shook in the presence of the LORD God of Sinai, in the presence of the LORD God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, roads were deserted. Those who traveled took back roads.

7 Villages in Israel were deserted-- deserted until I, Deborah, took a stand-- took a stand as a mother of Israel.

8 When the people chose new gods, war broke out inside the city gates. Not a weapon was seen among 40,000 in Israel.

9 My heart goes out to Israel's commanders, to those people who volunteered. Praise the LORD!

10 You people who ride on brown donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and who walk on the road--think.

11 Listen to the voices of those singing at the wells. Over and over again they repeat the victories of the LORD, the victories for his villages in Israel. Then the LORD's people went down to the city gates.

12 Get up! Get up, Deborah! Get up! Get up and create a song! Barak, attack! Take your prisoners, son of Abinoam.

13 Then those mighty men who were left came down. The LORD's people went into battle for me against the mighty soldiers.

Judges 5:3-13 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.