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Judges 5:19-31 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

19 The kings H4428 came H935 and fought, H3898 then fought H3898 the kings H4428 of Canaan H3667 in Taanach H8590 by the waters H4325 of Megiddo; H4023 they took H3947 no gain H1215 of money. H3701

20 They fought H3898 from heaven; H8064 the stars H3556 in their courses H4546 fought H3898 against Sisera. H5516

21 The river H5158 of Kishon H7028 swept them away, H1640 that ancient H6917 river, H5158 the river H5158 Kishon. H7028 O my soul, H5315 thou hast trodden down H1869 strength. H5797

22 Then were the horsehoofs H6119 H5483 broken H1986 by the means of the pransings, H1726 the pransings H1726 of their mighty ones. H47

23 Curse H779 ye Meroz, H4789 said H559 the angel H4397 of the LORD, H3068 curse H779 ye bitterly H779 the inhabitants H3427 thereof; because they came H935 not to the help H5833 of the LORD, H3068 to the help H5833 of the LORD H3068 against the mighty. H1368

24 Blessed H1288 above women H802 shall Jael H3278 the wife H802 of Heber H2268 the Kenite H7017 be, blessed H1288 shall she be above women H802 in the tent. H168

25 He asked H7592 water, H4325 and she gave H5414 him milk; H2461 she brought forth H7126 butter H2529 in a lordly H117 dish. H5602

26 She put H7971 her hand H3027 to the nail, H3489 and her right hand H3225 to the workmen's H6001 hammer; H1989 and with the hammer she smote H1986 Sisera, H5516 she smote off H4277 his head, H7218 when she had pierced H4272 and stricken through H2498 his temples. H7541

27 At her feet H7272 he bowed, H3766 he fell, H5307 he lay down: H7901 at her feet H7272 he bowed, H3766 he fell: H5307 where H834 he bowed, H3766 there he fell down H5307 dead. H7703

28 The mother H517 of Sisera H5516 looked H8259 out at a window, H2474 and cried H2980 through the lattice, H822 Why is his chariot H7393 so long H954 in coming? H935 why tarry H309 the wheels H6471 of his chariots? H4818

29 Her wise H2450 ladies H8282 answered H6030 her, yea, she returned H7725 answer H561 to herself,

30 Have they not sped? H4672 have they not divided H2505 the prey; H7998 to every H7218 man H1397 a damsel H7356 or two; H7361 to Sisera H5516 a prey H7998 of divers colours, H6648 a prey H7998 of divers colours H6648 of needlework, H7553 of divers colours H6648 of needlework on both sides, H7553 meet for the necks H6677 of them that take the spoil? H7998

31 So let all thine enemies H341 perish, H6 O LORD: H3068 but let them that love H157 him be as the sun H8121 when he goeth forth H3318 in his might. H1369 And the land H776 had rest H8252 forty H705 years. H8141

Commentary on Judges 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 5

Jud 5:1-31. Deborah and Barak's Song of Thanksgiving.

1. Then sang Deborah and Barak … on that day—This noble triumphal ode was evidently the composition of Deborah herself.

2, 3. The meaning is obscurely seen in our version; it has been better rendered thus, "Praise ye Jehovah; for the free are freed in Israel—the people have willingly offered themselves" [Robinson].

4, 5. Allusion is here made, in general terms, to God's interposition on behalf of His people.

Seir … the field of Edom—represent the mountain range and plain extending along the south from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf.

thou wentest out—indicates the storm to have proceeded from the south or southeast.

6-8. The song proceeds in these verses to describe the sad condition of the country, the oppression of the people, and the origin of all the national distress in the people's apostasy from God. Idolatry was the cause of foreign invasion and internal inability to resist it.

9. expresses gratitude to the respective leaders of the tribes which participated in the contest; but, above all, to God, who inspired both the patriotic disposition and the strength.

10. Speak—that is, join in this song of praise.

white asses—Those which are purely white are highly prized, and being costly, are possessed only by the wealthy and great.

Ye that sit in judgment—has been rendered, "ye that repose on tapestries."

11-14. The wells which are at a little distance from towns in the East, are, in unsettled times, places of danger. But in peace they are scenes of pleasant and joyous resort. The poetess anticipates that this song may be sung, and the righteous acts of the Lord rehearsed at these now tranquil "places of drawing water." Deborah now rouses herself to describe, in terms suitable to the occasion, the preparation and the contest, and calls in a flight of poetic enthusiasm on Barak to parade his prisoners in triumphal procession. Then follows a eulogistic enumeration of the tribes which raised the commanded levy, or volunteered their services—the soldiers of Ephraim who dwelt near the mount of the Amalekites, the small quota of Benjamin; "the governors," valiant leaders "out of Machir," the western Manasseh; out of Zebulun.

15. Then comes a reproachful notice of the tribes which did not obey the summons to take the field against the common enemy of Israel. By the

divisions—that is, the watercourses which descend from the eastern hills unto the Jordan and Dead Sea.

For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart—They felt the patriotic impulse and determined, at first, to join the ranks of their western brethren, but resiled from the purpose, preferring their peaceful shepherd songs to the trumpet sound of war.

17, 18. Gilead abode beyond Jordan—that is, Both Gad and the eastern half to Manasseh chose to dwell at ease in their Havoth-jair, or "villages of tents," while Dan and Asher, both maritime tribes, continued with their ships and in their "breaches" ("havens"). The mention of these craven tribes (Jud 5:18) is concluded with a fresh burst of commendation on Zebulun and Naphtali.

19-22. describes the scene of battle and the issue. It would seem (Jud 5:19) that Jabin was reinforced by the troops of other Canaanite princes. The battlefield was near Taanach (now Ta'annuk), on a tell or mound in the level plain of Megiddo (now Leijun), on its southwestern extremity, by the left bank of the Kishon.

they took no gain of money—They obtained no plunder.

20. the stars in their courses fought—A fearful tempest burst upon them and threw them into disorder.

21. the river of Kishon swept them away—The enemy was defeated near "the waters of Megiddo"—the sources and side streams of the Kishon: they that fled had to cross the deep and marshy bed of the torrent, but the Lord had sent a heavy rain—the waters suddenly rose—the warriors fell into the quicksands, and sinking deep into them, were drowned or washed into the sea [Van De Velde].

22. Then were the horse hoofs broken by the means of the prancings—Anciently, as in many parts of the East still, horses were not shod. The breaking of the hoofs denotes the hot haste and heavy irregular tramp of the routed foe.

23. Curse ye Meroz—a village on the confines of Issachar and Naphtali, which lay in the course of the fugitives, but the inhabitants declined to aid in their destruction.

24-27. is a most graphic picture of the treatment of Sisera in the tent of Jael.

25. butter—curdled milk; a favorite beverage in the East.

28-30. In these verses a sudden transition is made to the mother of the Canaanite general, and a striking picture is drawn of a mind agitated between hope and fear—impatient of delay, yet anticipating the news of victory and the rewards of rich booty.

the lattice—a lattice window, common to the houses in warm countries for the circulation of air.

29. her wise ladies—maids of honor.

30. to every man a damsel or two—Young maidens formed always a valued part of Oriental conquerors' war-spoils. But Sisera's mother wished other booty for him; namely, the gold-threaded, richly embroidered, and scarlet-colored cloaks which were held in such high esteem. The ode concludes with a wish in keeping with the pious and patriotic character of the prophetess.