Judges 5:5-15

5 The mountains quaked before the Lord of Sinai, ¹ before the Lord, the God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, caravans no longer went through the land, and travelers used the back roads.

7 The towns of Israel stood abandoned, Deborah; they stood empty until you came, came like a mother for Israel.

8 Then there was war in the land when the Israelites chose new gods. Of the forty thousand men in Israel, did anyone carry shield or spear?

9 My heart is with the commanders of Israel, with the people who gladly volunteered. Praise the Lord!

10 Tell of it, you that ride on white donkeys, sitting on saddles, and you that must walk wherever you go.

11 Listen! The noisy crowds around the wells are telling of the Lord's victories, the victories of Israel's people! Then the Lord's people marched down from their cities.

12 Lead on, Deborah, lead on! Lead on! Sing a song! Lead on! Forward, Barak son of Abinoam, lead your captives away!

13 Then the faithful ones came down to their leaders; the Lord's people came to him ready to fight.

14 They came from Ephraim into the valley, behind the tribe of Benjamin and its people. The commanders came down from Machir, the officers down from Zebulun.

15 The leaders of Issachar came with Deborah; yes, Issachar came and Barak too, and they followed him into the valley. But the tribe of Reuben was divided; they could not decide to come.

Judges 5:5-15 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.

Cross References

• 1. 5.5Exodus 19.18.

Footnotes

• [a]. abandoned, Deborah . . . you came; [or] abandoned; they stood empty until I, Deborah, came.
• [b]. Tell of; [or] Think about.
• [c]. from their cities; [or] to their gates.
• [d]. [One ancient translation] him; [Hebrew] me.
• [e]. [Probable text] They came; [Hebrew] Their root.
• [f]. [One ancient translation] into the valley; [Hebrew] in Amalek.