Bible Commentaries
Judges 5

Verse 1

Then sang. No singing till after victory. Compare Exodus 15:1 . Only weeping before. Compare Judges 2:4 with Exodus 2:23 , Exodus 2:24 . See note on Exodus 15:1 for the ten songs.

Verse 2

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 3

I, even I. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 4

when. Compare Exodus 19:18 .

dropped = dripped.

Verse 5

The mountains melted = from the mountains flowed down streams.

Verse 6

Shamgar. Compare Judges 3:31 .

the highways, &c. = the highways were closed.

Verse 7

The inhabitants. Why not supply the Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) by the words "the women", considering the objects of Jabin's oppression? see notes on Judges 4:4 , Judges 4:17 ; Judges 5:7 , Judges 5:11 , Judges 5:24 , Judges 5:30 .

ceased = ceased [to be]. Same word as "unoccupied" in Judges 5:6 .

I arose. Figure of speech Epizeuxis.

Verse 8

new gods. Compare Deuteronomy 32:16 .

Was there . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

Verse 9

is toward. Supply "saith to", instead of "is". The next clause gives the words spoken.

Verse 11

the places of drawing water: i.e. where the women were to be found. See notes on Judges 4:4 , Judges 4:17 ; Judges 5:7 , Judges 5:30 . Compare Genesis 24:11 .Exodus 2:15-19 .

Verse 12

Awake, awake. Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 .

lead thy captivity captive = lead thy captives captive; "captivity" put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject) for the persons made captive = lead captive thy captive train.

Verse 13

Some codices and Septuagint divide the two lines thus: Then came down a remnant of the nobles, And the People of Jehovah [came down] with me against the mighty ones.

Verse 14

was there. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis thus: "came down", from Judges 5:13 and Judges 5:15 .

a root, &c. = whose root was in Amalek. Compare Judges 12:15 . Or, according to Septuagint, "they who rooted them out in Amalek. "

handle = draw, in the sense of numbering, enrolling, or mustering, as in Judges 4:6 .

pen = rod (used in numbering). Leviticus 27:32 .Ezekiel 20:37 . Nowhere else rendered pen.

writer = numberer. Hebrew. saphar, translated scribe. Compare 2 Kings 25:19 . 2 Chronicles 26:11 .

Verse 15

And = But.

Even = Yea.

He was sent, &c. = into the valley they rushed at his feet.

For = among.

Verse 16

Why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

Verse 17

breaches = creeks or bays.

Verse 18

lives = souls. Hebrew. nephesh. See App-18 .

Verse 19

gain = plunder.

Verse 20

fought. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6 . Compare Joshua 10:11 .

Verse 21

rive r = torrent.

Kishon. Rising in Mount Tabor and running into the Mediterranean near Mount Carmel.

swept. Swollen by the heavy rains (Judges 5:4 ).

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 22

the pransings. Figure of speech Epizeuxis.

Verse 24

Blessed above women. Compare Luke 1:28 "among". See notes on Judges 4:4 , Judges 4:17 ; Judges 5:7 , Judges 5:11 , Judges 5:30 .

Verse 25

butter. See note on Judges 4:19 .

Verse 27

At her feet. Note the Figure of speech Asyndeton. App-6 .

he bowed, he fell. Figure of speech Epibole.

dead = destroyed.

Verse 28

The mother. A woman active on each side, with other women involved (Judges 5:30 ).

a = the.

Verse 30

Have . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

sped = found; i.e. the damsels they were fighting for: and while doing so they were defeated by a woman.

To every man = to every head of a man; "head" put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for the whole person.

man. Hebrew. geber ( App-14 . IV) = a strong man.

damsel. Hebrew womb. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part) for the whole person, to emphasize the motive underneath. This was the one object of Jabin's oppression. See notes on Judges 4:4 , Judges 4:17 ; Judges 5:7 , Judges 5:11 , Judges 5:24 .

spoil. Figure of speech Aposiopesis. App-6 .

Verse 31

So. Figure of speech Epiphonema.

had rest. See note on Judges 3:11 .