The Book of Judges

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 5 -

(Exodus 15:1–21)

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

“When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD.

Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

O LORD, when You went out from Seir, when You marched from the land of Edom, the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.

The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.

In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways.

Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel.

When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates. Not a shield or spear was found among forty thousand in Israel.

My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!

You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder

the voices of the singers (a) at the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, the righteous deeds of His villagers (b) in Israel. Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates:

‘Awake, awake, O Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak, and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam!’

Then the survivors came down to the nobles; the people of the LORD came down to me against the mighty.

Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.

The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.(c)

Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.

Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors.

Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.

Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.

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

The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!

Then the hooves of horses thundered— the mad galloping of his stallions.

‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’

Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

He asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.

She reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera and crushed his skull; she shattered and pierced his temple.

At her feet he collapsed, he fell, there he lay still; at her feet he collapsed, he fell; where he collapsed, there he fell dead.

Sisera’s mother looked through the window; she peered through the lattice and lamented: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?’

Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself,

‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil— a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’

So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.

Footnotes

(a)5:11 Or archers or those who divide the sheep

(b)5:11 Or warriors

(Exodus 15:1–21)

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

“Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, LORD!

“Hear, you kings! Give ear, you princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD. I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

“LORD, when you went out of Seir, when you marched out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, the sky also dropped. Yes, the clouds dropped water.

The mountains quaked at the LORD’s presence, even Sinai at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.

“In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.

The rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.

They chose new gods. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD!

“Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way.

Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, there they will rehearse the LORD’s righteous acts, the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. “Then the LORD’s people went down to the gates.

‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’

“Then a remnant of the nobles and the people came down. The LORD came down for me against the mighty.

Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun.

The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. As was Issachar, so was Barak. They rushed into the valley at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben, there were great resolves of heart.

Why did you sit among the sheepfolds? To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart.

Gilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks.

Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

“The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver.

From the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.

The river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.

Then the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones.

‘Curse Meroz,’ said the LORD’s angel. ‘Curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they didn’t come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’

“Jael shall be blessed above women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish.

She put her hand to the tent peg, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer. With the hammer she struck Sisera. She struck through his head. Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.

At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.

“Through the window she looked out, and cried: Sisera’s mother looked through the lattice. ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?’

Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself,

‘Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a plunder of dyed garments, a plunder of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the plunder?’

“So let all your enemies perish, LORD, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had rest forty years.