Judges 5:1-31
Deborah ....... sang <01683 07891> [Sang Deborah.]
This verse briefly recites the subject of this inspired song, which consists of eight stanzas: The first opens with a devout thanksgiving. The second describes the magnificent scenes at Mount Sinai, etc. The third states the apostasy and consequent punishment of the Israelites. The fourth contrasts their present happy state. The fifth censures the recreant tribes of Reuben, Gad, etc. The sixth records the defeat of the confederate kings of Canaan. The seventh contains a panegyric on Jael. And the eight describes the fond anticipations and disappointment of the mother of Sisera.
<06544> [for the avenging.]
people <05971> [when.]
kings <04428> [O ye kings.]
[I, even I.]
Lord <03068> [Lord.]
earth <0776> [the earth.]
poured ..... poured <05197> [dropped.]
mountains <02022> [mountains.]
trembled <05140> [melted. Heb. flowed. that Sinai.]
Shamgar <08044> [Shamgar.]
Jael <03278> [Jael.]
caravans .......... roads <0734> [the highways.]
travelers .... go <01980> [travellers. Heb. walkers of paths. by-ways. Heb. crooked ways.]
Warriors <06520> [the villages.]
motherly <0517> [a mother.]
God ... new <02319 0430> [new gods.]
shield <04043> [was there.]
leaders <05068> [offered.]
pay attention <07878> [Speak. or, Meditate.]
ride on <07392> [ride.]
sit <03427> [ye that sit.]
sound <06963> [the noise.]
watering places <04857> [in the places.]
Dr. Shaw mentions a beautiful rill of water in Barbary, which runs into a large bason, called {shrub we krub,} "drink and be off," because of the danger of meeting with robbers and assassins in this place, who fall upon those who come to drink.
victorious deeds ... victorious deeds <06666> [righteous acts. Heb. righteousnesses.]
warriors <06520> [villages.]
went down <03381> [go down.]
Wake up wake up Deborah Wake up wake up <05782 01683> [awake, Deborah.]
prisoners <07628> [lead.]
survivors <08300> [he made.]
Lord's <03068> [the Lord.]
Ephraim <0669> [of Ephraim.]
Amalek <06002> [Amalek.]
follow <0310> [after.]
Makir <04353> [Machir.]
march carrying .... staff <07626 04900> [handle the pen. Heb. draw with the pen.]
leaders <08269> [the princes.]
Barak <01301> [Barak.]
command <07272> [foot. Heb. his feet.]
{Beraglaiv,} rather, "with his footmen:" so LXX. Alex. [pkzous autou,] and Luther, {mit feinem Fubvolt.}
<06390> [For the. or, In the divisions, etc.]
searching <02711> [thoughts. Heb. impressions.]
sheepfolds <04942> [sheepfolds.]
<06390> [For. or, In.]
intense <01419> [great.]
Gilead <01568> [Gilead.]
Asher <0836> [Asher.]
seacoast <02348 03220> [sea shore. or, sea-port. breaches. or, creeks.]
Zebulun <02074> [Zebulun.]
concerned <02778> [jeoparded. Heb. exposed to reproach. their lives.]
battlefields <04791> [in the high.]
Kings ...... kings <04428> [kings.]
Taanach <08590> [Taanach.]
took <03947> [they took.]
fought ......... fought <03898> [fought.]
stars <03556> [the stars.]
paths <04546> [courses. Heb. paths.]
Kishon ........... Kishon <07028> [Kishon.]
necks <05315> [O my soul.]
hooves <06119> [horsehoofs.]
Anciently, horses were not shod; nor are they at the present day in some parts of the East. The flight was so rapid that the hoofs of their horses were splintered and broken by the roughness of the roads; in consequence of which they became lame, and could not carry off their riders.
galloped madly <01726> [pransings. or, tramplings, or, plungings. mighty ones.]
Or, as Dr. Waterland renders, "mighty horses," or "strong steeds," as Dr. Kennicott, i.e., their war-horses, which gives great energy to the text, and renders it perfectly intelligible.
Call judgment down on Meroz ........ sure ... call judgment down on <0779 04789> [Curse ye.]
Meroz <04789> [Meroz.]
This city of Meroz seems to have been, at this time, a place of considerable importance, since something great was expected from it; but probably, after the angel of the Lord had pronounced this curse, it dwindled and like the fig-tree which Christ cursed, withered away; so that we never read of it after this in Scripture.
messenger <04397> [the angel.]
come <0935> [they came.]
help ....... help <05833> [to the help.]
asked <07592> [asked.]
curds <02529> [butter.]
{Chemah,} may signify buttermilk, which is made by the Arabs by agitating the milk in a leathern bag; and is highly esteemed because of its refreshing and cooling qualities.
hammered <01986> [with the. Heb. She hammered. she smote off.]
Or rather, "she smote his head, then she struck through and pierced his temples:" which is more consonant to the original, and to fact, as it does not appear that she smote off his head.
feet ............ feet <07272> [At. Heb. Between. where.]
violently murdered <07703> [dead. Heb. destroyed.]
lattice <0822> [through.]
chariot <07393> [Why is.]
<0561> [answer. Heb. her words.]
gathering <04672> [Have they not sped.]
each man <01397 07218> [every man. Heb. the head of a man. of divers.]
enemies <0341> [So let.]
love <0157> [them that.]
rising sun <08121> [the sun.]
land <0776> [And the land.]
The victory here celebrated in this song, was of such happy consequence to Israel, that for the principal part of one age, they enjoyed the peace to which it had been the means of opening the way. 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 for the Israelites, if while the tribes had rest, they had taken advantage of the cessation from war, and had walked in the fear of the Lord.
