Jueces 5

1 Y aquel día cantó Débora, con Barac, hijo de Abinoam, diciendo:

2 Porque ha vengado las injurias de Israel, porque el pueblo se ha ofrecido de su voluntad, load al SEÑOR.

3 Oíd, reyes; estad, oh príncipes, atentos; yo cantaré al SEÑOR, diré salmos al SEÑOR Dios de Israel.

4 Cuando saliste de Seir, oh SEÑOR, cuando te apartaste del campo de Edom, la tierra tembló, y los cielos destilaron, y las nubes gotearon aguas.

5 Los montes se derritieron delante del SEÑOR, aquel Sinaí, delante del SEÑOR Dios de Israel.

6 En los días de Samgar hijo de Anat, en los días de Jael, cesaron los caminos, y los que andaban por las sendas se apartaban por sendas torcidas.

7 Las aldeas habían cesado en Israel, habían cesado; hasta que yo Débora me levanté, me levanté madre en Israel.

8 Al escoger nuevos dioses, la guerra estaba a las puertas. ¿Se veía escudo o lanza entre cuarenta mil en Israel?

9 Mi corazón está por los príncipes de Israel, por los voluntarios en el pueblo; load al SEÑOR.

10 Vosotros los que cabalgáis en asnas blancas, los que presidís en juicio, y vosotros los que andáis por el camino, hablad.

11 A causa del estruendo de los arqueros, quitado de entre los que sacan las aguas, allí recuentan las justicias del SEÑOR, las justicias de sus aldeas en Israel. Ahora bajará el pueblo del SEÑOR a las puertas.

12 Levántate, levántate, Débora; levántate, levántate; profiere un cántico. Levántate, Barac, y lleva tus cautivos, hijo de Abinoam.

13 Ahora ha hecho que el que quedó del pueblo, señoree a los magníficos; el SEÑOR me hizo enseñorear sobre los fuertes.

14 De Efraín salió su raíz contra Amalec, tras ti vino Benjamín contra tus pueblos; de Maquir descendieron príncipes, y de Zabulón los que solían manejar punzón de escribiente.

15 Príncipes también de Isacar fueron con Débora; y también Isacar, como Barac se puso a pie en el valle. De las divisiones de Rubén son grandes los pensamientos del corazón.

16 ¿Por qué te quedaste entre las majadas, para oír los balidos de los rebaños? De las divisiones de Rubén grandes son los pensamientos del corazón.

17 Galaad se quedó al otro lado del Jordán; y Dan ¿por qué se estuvo junto a los navíos? Aser se asentó a la ribera del mar, y en sus quebraduras se quedó.

18 El pueblo de Zabulón expuso su vida a la muerte, y Neftalí en las alturas del campo.

19 Vinieron reyes y pelearon; entonces pelearon los reyes de Canaán en Taanac, junto a las aguas de Meguido, mas no llevaron ganancia alguna de dinero.

20 De los cielos pelearon; las estrellas desde sus caminos pelearon contra Sísara.

21 Los barrió el arroyo de Cisón, el antiguo arroyo, el arroyo de Cisón. Pisaste, oh alma mía, con fortaleza.

22 Los cascos de los caballos se embotaron entonces, por las pisadas, por las pisadas de sus valientes.

23 Maldecid a Meroz, dijo el ángel del SEÑOR; maldecid severamente a sus moradores, porque no vinieron en socorro al SEÑOR, en socorro al SEÑOR contra los fuertes.

24 Bendita sobre las mujeres Jael, mujer de Heber cineo; sobre las mujeres bendita sea en la tienda.

25 El pidió agua, y ella le dio leche; en tazón de nobles le presentó crema.

26 Su mano tendió a la estaca, y su diestra al mazo de trabajadores; y majó a Sísara; le quitó la cabeza; hirió, y atravesó sus sienes.

27 Cayó encorvado entre sus pies, quedó tendido; entre sus pies cayó encorvado; donde se encorvó, allí cayó muerto.

28 La madre de Sísara asomándose a la ventana aulla, mirando por entre las rejas, diciendo : ¿Por qué se detiene su carro, que no viene? ¿Por qué las ruedas de sus carros se tardan?

29 Las sabias mujeres de sus príncipes le respondían; y aun ella se respondía a sí misma.

30 ¿No han hallado despojos, y los están repartiendo? A cada uno una doncella, o dos; los despojos de colores para Sísara, los despojos bordados de colores; la ropa de color bordada de ambos lados, para el capitán de los que han tomado los despojos.

31 Así perezcan todos tus enemigos, oh SEÑOR; mas los que te aman, sean como el sol cuando nace en su fuerza. Y la tierra reposó cuarenta años.

Jueces 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.

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.