2 `For freeing freemen in Israel, For a people willingly offering themselves Bless ye Jehovah.
My heart `is' to the lawgivers of Israel, Who are offering themselves willingly among the people, Bless ye Jehovah!
Thy people `are' free-will gifts in the day of Thy strength, in the honours of holiness, From the womb, from the morning, Thou hast the dew of thy youth.
for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly -- with a stewardship I have been entrusted!
because true and righteous `are' His judgments, because He did judge the great whore who did corrupt the earth in her whoredom, and He did avenge the blood of His servants at her hand;'
and I heard the messenger of the waters, saying, `righteous, O Lord, art Thou, who art, and who wast, and who shalt be, because these things Thou didst judge, because blood of saints and prophets they did pour out, and blood to them Thou didst give to drink, for they are worthy;'
and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,
each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love,
for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;
The exaltation of God `is' in their throat, And a two-edged sword in their hand. To do vengeance among nations, Punishments among the peoples. To bind their kings with chains, And their honoured ones with fetters of iron, To do among them the judgment written, An honour it `is' for all his saints. Praise ye Jah!
Even Sihon king of the Amorite, For to the age `is' His kindness. And Og king of Bashan, For to the age `is' His kindness.
Zion hath heard and rejoiceth, And daughters of Judah are joyful, Because of Thy judgments, O Jehovah.
God of vengeance -- Jehovah! God of vengeance, shine forth.
God -- who is giving vengeance to me, And He subdueth peoples under me,
and the people give a blessing to all the men who are offering themselves willingly to dwell in Jerusalem.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Judges 5
Commentary on Judges 5 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 5
This chapter contains the triumphal song which was composed and sung upon occasion of that glorious victory which Israel obtained over the forces of Jabin king of Canaan and the happy consequences of that victory. Probably it was usual then to publish poems upon such occasions, as now; but this only is preserved of all the poems of that age of the judges, because dictated by Deborah a prophetess, designed for a psalm of praise then, and a pattern of praise to after-ages, and it gives a great deal of light to the history of these times.
Jdg 5:1-5
The former chapter let us know what great things God had done for Israel; in this we have the thankful returns they made to God, that all ages of the church might learn that work of heaven to praise God.
Jdg 5:6-11
Here,
Jdg 5:12-23
Here,
Jdg 5:24-31
Deborah here concludes this triumphant song,
The victory here celebrated with this song was of such happy consequence to Israel that for the best part of one age they enjoyed the peace which it opened the way to: The land had rest forty years, that is, so long it was from this victory to the raising up of Gideon. And well would it have been if, when the churches and the tribes had rest, they had been edified, and had walked in the fear of the Lord.