1 THEN sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
2 Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
4 Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
5 The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.
6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the Lord.
10 Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
11 They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.
12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
13 Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.
14 Out of Ephraim 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.
15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
19 The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
23 Curse ye 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.
24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
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 for the necks of them that take the spoil?
31 So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years

1Then sang Deborah, and Barak the son of Abinoam, on that day, saying,

2Praise ye the Lord, for the auenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselues.

3Heare, O ye kings, giue eare, O ye Princes: I, euen I will sing vnto the Lord, I wil sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

4Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heauens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

5The mountaines melted from before the Lord, euen that Sinai, from before the Lord God of Israel.

6In the dayes of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the dayes of Iael, the high wayes were vnoccupied, and the traueilers walked thorow by-wayes.

7The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, vntill that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

8They chose new gods; then was warre in the gates: was there a shield or speare seene among fourtie thousand in Israel?

9My heart is toward the gouernours of Israel, that offered themselues willingly among the people: Blesse ye the Lord.

10Speake yee that ride on white asses, yee that sit in Iudgement, and walke by the way.

11They that are deliuered from the noise of Archers in the places of drawing water; there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, euen the righteous acts towards the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord goe downe to the gates.

12Awake, awake Deborah: awake, awake, vtter a song: arise Barak, and leade thy captiuitie captiue, thou sonne of Abinoam.

13Then hee made him that remaineth, haue dominion ouer the Nobles among the people: the Lord made me haue dominion ouer the mightie.

14Out of Ephraim was there a roote of them against Amalek, after thee Beniamin, among thy people: Out of Machir came downe gouernours, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

15And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah: euen Issachar, and also Barak, he was sent on foot into the valley: for the diuisions of Reuben, there were great thoughts of heart.

16Why abodest thou among the sheepefolds, to heare the bleatings of the flocks? for the diuisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

17Gilead abode beyond Iordan: and why did Dan remaine in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.

18Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that ieoparded their liues vnto the death, in the high places of the field.

19The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, they tooke no gaine of money.

20They fought from heauen, the starres in their courses fought against Sisera.

21The riuer of Kishon swept them away, that ancient riuer, the riuer Kishon: O my soule, thou hast troden downe strength.

22Then were the horse hoofes broken, by the meanes of the pransings, the pransings of their mightie ones.

23Curse ye Meroz (said the Angel of the Lord ) curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof: because they came not to the helpe of the Lord, to the helpe of the Lord against the mighty.

24Blessed aboue women shal Iael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be aboue women in the tent.

25He asked water, and she gaue him milke, shee brought foorth butter in a lordly dish.

26Shee put her hand to the naile, and her right hand to the workemens hammer: and with the hammer shee smote Sisera, shee smote off his head, when she had pearsed & striken through his temples.

27At her feete he bowed, he fell, he lay downe: at her feet he bowed, he fell; where he bowed, there he fel down dead.

28The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattesse, Why is his charet so long in comming? Why tarie the wheeles of his charets?

29Her wise ladies answered her, yea she returned answere to her selfe,

30Haue they not sped? haue they not diuided the pray to euery man a damosell or two? To Sisera a pray of diuers colours, a pray of diuers colours, of needle worke, of diuers colours of needle worke on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoile?

31So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that loue him, be as the Sunne when he goeth foorth in his might. And the land had rest fourtie yeeres.

I == Ex 105:1

 

II == 2nd Chr 17:16 ; Ps 18:47

III == Deut 32:1 , 3 ; Ps 2:10

 

IV == Deut 33:2 ; 2nd Sam 22:8 ; Ps 68:7-8 ; Isa 64:3 ; Hab 3:3 , 10 ; Heb 12:26

 

V == Ex 19:18 ; Deut 4:11 ; Ps 97:5

VI == 2nd chr 15:5

 

 

VII == Isa 49:23

 

 

VIII == Deut 32:16 ; Judg 2:12 , 17 ; 4:3 ; 1st Sam 13:19 , 22

 

IX == Judg 5:2

 

X == Judg 10:4 ; 12:14 ; Ps 105:2 ; 107:32 ; 145:5

 

XI == 1st Sam 12:7 ; Ps 145:7

 

 

 

 

XII == Ps 57:8 ; 68:18

 

XIII == Num 32:39-40 ; Judg 3:13 , 27 ; Ps 49:14

 

 

 

 

 

XV == Judg 4:14

 

 

 

 

XVI == Num 32:1

 

 

XVII == Josh 13:25 , 31 ; 19:29 , 31

 

 

XVIII == Judg 4:10

 

XIX == Judg 4:16 ; 5:30 ; Ps 44:12 ; Rev 16:16

 

 

XX == Josh 10:11 ; Judg 4:15 ; Ps 77:17-18

 

XXI == Judg 4:7

 

 

 

 

 

XXIII == Judg 21:9-10 ; 1st Sam 17:47 ; 18:17 ; 25:28 ; Neh 3:5

 

XXIV ;; Judg 4:17 ; Luke 1:28 , 42

 

 

XXV == Judg 4:19

 

XXVI == Judg 4:21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXX == Ex 15:9

 

 

 

XXXI == 2nd Sam 23:4 ; Ps 19:5 ; 83:9-10

 

 

1 On that day Deborah (and Barak, son of Abinoam,) sang this song:

2 Of chiefs who took the lead in Israel, of noble deeds by the people who bless the LORD,

3 Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes!
I to the LORD will sing my song,
my hymn to the LORD, the God of Israel.

4 O LORD, when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from the land of Edom,
The earth quaked and the heavens were shaken,
while the clouds sent down showers.

5 Mountains trembled
in the presence of the LORD, the One of Sinai,
in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.

6 In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
in the days of slavery caravans ceased:
Those who traveled the roads
went by roundabout paths.

7 Gone was freedom beyond the walls,
gone indeed from Israel.
When I, Deborah, rose,
when I rose, a mother in Israel,

8 New gods were their choice; then the war was at their gates. Not a shield could be seen, nor a lance, among forty thousand in Israel!

9 My heart is with the leaders of Israel,
nobles of the people who bless the LORD;

10 They who ride on white asses,
seated on saddlecloths as they go their way;

11 Sing of them to the strains of the harpers at the wells,
where men recount the just deeds of the LORD,
his just deeds that brought freedom to Israel.

12 Awake, awake, Deborah!
awake, awake, strike up a song.
Strength! arise, Barak,
make despoilers your spoil, son of Abinoam.

13 Then down came the fugitives with the mighty,
the people of the LORD came down for me as warriors.

14 From Ephraim, princes were in the valley;
behind you was Benjamin, among your troops.
From Machir came down commanders,
from Zebulun wielders of the marshal's staff.

15 With Deborah were the princes of Issachar;
Barak, too, was in the valley, his course unchecked.
Among the clans of Reuben
great were the searchings of heart.

16 Why do you stay beside your hearths
listening to the lowing of the herds?
Among the clans of Reuben
great were the searchings of heart!

17 Gilead, beyond the Jordan, rests;
why does Dan spend his time in ships?
Asher, who dwells along the shore,
is resting in his coves.

18 Zebulun is the people defying death;
Naphtali, too, on the open heights!

19 The kings came and fought;
then they fought, those kings of Canaan,
At Taanach by the waters of Megiddo;
no silver booty did they take.

20 From the heavens the stars, too, fought;
from their courses they fought against Sisera.

21 The Wadi Kishon swept them away;
a wadi. . . , the Kishon.

22 Then the hoofs of the horses pounded,
with the dashing, dashing of his steeds.

23 "Curse Meroz," says the LORD,
"hurl a curse at its inhabitants!
For they came not to my help,
as warriors to the help of the LORD."

24 Blessed among women be Jael,
blessed among tent-dwelling women.

25 He asked for water, she gave him milk;
in a princely bowl she offered curds.

26 With her left hand she reached for the peg,
with her right, for the workman's mallet.
She hammered Sisera, crushed his head;
she smashed, stove in his temple.

27 At her feet he sank down, fell, lay still;
down at her feet he sank and fell;
where he sank down, there he fell, slain.

28 From the window peered down and wailed
the mother of Sisera, from the lattice:
"Why is his chariot so long in coming?
why are the hoofbeats of his chariots delayed?"

29 The wisest of her princesses answers her,
and she, too, keeps answering herself:

30 "They must be dividing the spoil they took:
there must be a damsel or two for each man,
Spoils of dyed cloth as Sisera's spoil,
an ornate shawl or two for me in the spoil."

31 May all your enemies perish thus, O LORD!
but your friends be as the sun rising in its might!
And the land was at rest for forty years.

v 1. This is the same story as chapter four, but with more details and told in poetic language as a hymn. Barak joined in, but it was actually written by Deborah, v 7-9.

v 2-5. This begins with appreciation for volunteers and previous victories of the Lord before the crossing of Jordan.

 

 

 

 

 

v 6-8. Shamgar is the judge of 3:31, at a time when highway robbery was so rampant that the roads were unsafe to travel and people took quiet paths. Cities were also at great risk and their weapons had been confiscated because the people had followed false gods. Then Deborah came on the scene.

 

 

 

 

v 9-11. Some of the governors had set a good example for the people to follow.

 

 

 

 

v 12.13. Deborah was called as prophetess and Barak as a warrior.

 

 

 

 

v 14-16. Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulun, Issachar and some of Reuben are commended for coming to battle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 17. Gad (the area of Gilead) Dan and Asher are rebuked for not coming.

 

 

v 18. Zebulun and Naphtali are given a double commendation.

 

v 19. Meggido commanded the pass between plains of Jezreel and Sharon and between Samaria and Galilee. Thus, many important battles were waged there. The last will be Armageddon, Rev. 16:12-16: 17:14.

v 20. Stars fighting is figurative speech for rain and hail sent by God.

 

 

v 21,22. The result was flooding in which chariots mired down and drivers slain.

v 23. Meroz, probably on the route of Sisera’s flight, is cursed for not helping.

 

 

v 24. Jael is blessed above women, KJ,  but most blessed RSV. Mary is blessed among women, Lk. 1:28, KJV, but many versions omit this statement about Mary.

v 25. This was probably sort of a buttermilk of goat cheese curds.

v 26,27. It was women’s job to drive the tent pegs and set up the tent, so it was simple for Jael to knock him unconscious with the hammer, pin his head to the ground with the tent peg, then cut off his head.
Some believe she was beginning to suspect the worst, and they are trying to cheer her up.

 

 

v 28-30. Sisera’s mother and others couldn’t believe but that the failure to return was due to lust over the spoils and captured women.

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 31. The victory is summarized and the cycle of rest begins, this one 40 years.