Bible Commentaries
Judges 5

Verse 2

5:2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the {a} people willingly offered themselves.

(a) That is, the two tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Verse 6

5:6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were {b} unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.

(b) For fear of the enemies.

Verse 7

5:7 [The inhabitants of] the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a {c} mother in Israel.

(c) Miraculously stirred up by God to pity them and deliver them.

Verse 8

5:8 They chose new gods; then [was] war in the gates: was there a {d} shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

(d) They had no heart to resist their enemies.

Verse 10

5:10 Speak, ye that ride on {e} white asses, ye that sit {f} in judgment, and walk by the way.

(e) You governors.

(f) Or by Middin, as in danger of your enemies.

Verse 12

5:12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead {h} thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

(h) That is, they who kept your people in captivity.

Verse 14

5:14 Out of Ephraim {i} [was there] a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

(i) Joshua first fought against Amalek, and Saul destroyed him.

Verse 15

5:15 And the princes of Issachar [were] with Deborah; even {l} Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great {m} thoughts of heart.

(l) Even the whole tribe.

(m) They marvelled that they did not cross the Jordan to help them.

Verse 17

5:17 {n} Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his {o} breaches.

(n) She reproves all those who did not come to help their brethren in their time of need.

(o) Either by hearing of the sea, or by mining,

Verse 19

5:19 The kings came [and] fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of {p} money.

(p) They won nothing, but lost all.

Verse 21

5:21 The river of Kishon {q} swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

(q) As a broom does to the filth of the house.

Verse 23

5:23 Curse ye {r} Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

(r) It was a city near Tabor, where they fought.

Verse 25

5:25 He asked water, [and] she gave [him] milk; she brought forth {s} butter in a lordly dish.

(s) Some read churned milk in a great cup.

Verse 29

5:29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, {t} she returned answer to herself,

(t) That is, she comforted herself.

Verse 30

5:30 Have they not sped? have they [not] divided the prey; to every man a damsel [or] two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, [meet] {u} for the necks of [them that take] the spoil?

(u) Because he was chief of the army.

Verse 31

5:31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but [let] them that love him [be] as the {x} sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

(x) Shall grow daily more and more in God’s favour.