Judges 5

Judges 5 is a song of victory, known as the Song of Deborah, which was sung by Deborah and Barak after the Israelite victory over the Canaanite army, led by Sisera. This chapter poetically recounts the battle and praises the Lord for His intervention. It reflects on the faithfulness of those who fought for Israel and the failure of others to participate, as well as the decisive role of Jael, who killed Sisera. The song concludes with a blessing on the victorious and a curse on the enemies of God.

Judges 5:1 (NKJV)
“Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying:”

Deborah and Barak, as leaders in the victory, celebrate the triumph through a song. This marks a customary way in Israel to remember and glorify God for His deliverance. Songs like this served as both a tribute to God and a reminder to future generations of His mighty works.

Judges 5:2 (NKJV)
“When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!”

This verse highlights the importance of leadership and voluntary service among the people. The willingness of the leaders and the people to act courageously is seen as a blessing. They recognize that it is through the unity of leadership and the people's willingness to follow that God’s victory is realized, and they praise the Lord for this.

Judges 5:3 (NKJV)
“Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.”

Deborah calls upon kings and rulers to listen as she declares her song to the Lord. This is not just a song for Israel but a declaration for the surrounding nations to hear. It emphasizes that the Lord of Israel is the true ruler who gives victory, regardless of the earthly powers.

Judges 5:4-5 (NKJV)
“Lord, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth trembled and the heavens poured, The clouds also poured water;
The mountains gushed before the Lord, This Sinai, before the Lord God of Israel.”

These verses recall past instances of God’s power and presence, possibly referencing the events at Mount Sinai when the law was given. It also refers to God’s mighty acts, using nature to show His dominion over the earth, emphasizing that God Himself led the battle against Israel’s enemies.

Judges 5:6-8 (NKJV)
“In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways.
Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel.
They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.”

These verses describe the dark days of oppression in Israel before Deborah’s rise. Under foreign oppression, the Israelites were afraid to travel, and village life was disrupted. The people turned to idolatry, which brought about conflict and vulnerability. There was a lack of military preparedness, indicating Israel's desperate state until God raised up Deborah to lead.

Judges 5:9 (NKJV)
“My heart is with the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the Lord!”

Deborah’s heart is moved by the leaders and people who rose to the challenge, willingly offering themselves to fight for Israel. Their willingness is a reason to bless the Lord, as it shows their faith in God’s deliverance and their desire to defend their land.

Judges 5:10-11 (NKJV)
“Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, Who sit in judges’ attire, And who walk along the road.
Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous acts of the Lord, The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel; Then the people of the Lord shall go down to the gates.”

Deborah calls on the nobles and judges to speak of the victory, reminding them to recount the righteous deeds of God. The reference to the watering places suggests a return to normal life, where people can gather in peace and reflect on how God delivered them. The Lord’s deliverance allowed the people to confidently return to their duties.

Judges 5:12 (NKJV)
“Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!”

This verse is a call to action, encouraging Deborah to continue in her role as a prophetess and Barak to lead the defeated enemies captive. The repetition of “awake” adds urgency and reinforces the idea of rising to the occasion and celebrating the victory.

Judges 5:13 (NKJV)
“Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; The Lord came down for me against the mighty.”

Here, the song recognizes that the victory was not just a human effort but the Lord’s intervention. The survivors, those who remained faithful, fought against the mighty Canaanite nobles, but it was the Lord who ultimately gave them victory.

Judges 5:14-15 (NKJV)
“From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek. After you, Benjamin, with your peoples, From Machir rulers came down, And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter’s staff.
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak Sent into the valley under his command; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.”

These verses highlight the tribes that responded to the call to battle. Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (part of Manasseh), Zebulun, and Issachar are praised for their contributions. However, Reuben hesitated despite having good intentions, showing that not all of Israel fully participated in the fight.

Judges 5:16-17 (NKJV)
“Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart.
Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, And why did Dan remain on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, And stayed by his inlets.”

These verses question why some tribes, such as Reuben, Gilead (part of Gad), Dan, and Asher, did not participate in the battle. They were either preoccupied with their own interests or chose to remain neutral, which contrasts with the bravery of those who fought.

Judges 5:18 (NKJV)
“Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.”

Zebulun and Naphtali are commended for their bravery in risking their lives on the battlefield. Their willingness to fight at great personal risk highlights their faith and loyalty to God and Israel’s cause.

Judges 5:19-20 (NKJV)
“The kings came and fought, Then the kings of Canaan fought In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoils of silver.
They fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera.”

The battle at Taanach near Megiddo involved the kings of Canaan, who failed to take any spoils. The poetic language suggests that even the stars, symbolic of divine forces, fought against Sisera, indicating that God’s power controlled the outcome of the battle.

Judges 5:21-23 (NKJV)
“The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. O my soul, march on in strength!
Then the horses’ hooves pounded, The galloping, galloping of his steeds.
‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.’”

The torrent of Kishon, a river, is described as sweeping away Sisera’s forces. The imagery of horses’ hooves pounding emphasizes the chaos of the fleeing Canaanite army. Meroz, a nearby town, is cursed for failing to assist in the battle, symbolizing the consequences of not supporting God’s cause.

Judges 5:24-27 (NKJV)
“Most blessed among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she among women in tents.
He asked for water, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl.
She stretched her hand to the tent peg, Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, She split and struck through his temple.
At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; At her feet he sank, he fell; Where he sank, there he fell dead.”

Jael is praised for her decisive role in killing Sisera. She used a tent peg and hammer to kill him after offering him hospitality, which makes her act both bold and unexpected. Her victory is celebrated as instrumental in delivering Israel, and the repetition of Sisera’s fall emphasizes the finality of his defeat.

Judges 5:28-30 (NKJV)
“The mother of Sisera looked through the window, And cried out through the lattice, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?’
Her wisest ladies answered her, Yes, she answered herself,
‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil: To every man a girl or two; For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments, Plunder of garments embroidered and dyed, Two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?’”

The scene shifts to Sisera’s mother, who is anxiously waiting for her son to return. She imagines him taking his time because of the spoils of war, which tragically contrasts with the reality of his death. This section emphasizes the complete defeat of Sisera and the misguided hopes of those who opposed Israel.

Judges 5:31 (NKJV)
“Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength. So the land had rest for forty years.”

The song concludes with a call for all of God’s enemies to perish in a similar way to Sisera. In contrast, those who love God are compared to the bright, powerful sun, symbolizing their success and favor with God. The land’s forty years of peace after the victory serves as a testament to God’s deliverance and blessing.