Chapter 5

1
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. Exod 15:1, Exod 15:21; Num 21:17; 1Sam 2:1; 2Chr 20:21, 2Chr 20:27; Job 38:7; Ps 18:1 *title Isa 12:1-6, Isa 25:1, Isa 26:1; Luke 1:46, Luke 1:67-68; Rev 15:3-4, Rev 19:1-3


2
for the avenging Deut 32:43; 2Sam 22:47-48; Ps 18:47, Ps 48:11, Ps 94:1, Ps 97:8, Ps 136:15, Ps 136:19-20; Ps 149:6-9; Rev 16:5-6, Rev 18:20, Rev 19:2

when Judg 5:9; 2Chr 17:16; Neh 11:2; Ps 110:3; 1Cor 9:17; 2Cor 8:12, 2Cor 9:7; Phil 2:13; Phlm 1:14


3
O ye kings Deut 32:1, Deut 32:3; Ps 2:10-12, Ps 49:1-2, Ps 119:46, Ps 138:4-5

even I Judg 5:7; Gen 6:17, Gen 9:9; Exod 31:6; Lev 26:28; 1Kgs 18:22, 1Kgs 19:10, 1Kgs 19:14; Ezra 7:21


4
Lord Deut 33:2; Ps 68:7-8; Hab 3:3-6

the earth 2Sam 22:8; Job 9:6; Ps 18:7-15

dropped Ps 77:17


5
mountains Deut 4:11; Ps 97:5, Ps 114:4; Isa 64:1-3; Nah 1:5; Hab 3:10

melted Heb. flowed

that Sinai Exod 19:18, Exod 20:18; Deut 4:11-12, Deut 5:22-25; Heb 12:18


6
Shamgar Judg 3:31

Jael Judg 4:17-18

the highways Lev 26:22; 2Chr 15:5; Isa 33:8; Lam 1:4, Lam 4:18; Mic 3:12

travellers Heb. walkers of paths

byways Heb. crooked ways, Ps 125:5


7
the villages Esth 9:19

a mother Judg 4:4-6; 2Sam 20:19; Isa 49:23; Rom 16:13


8
new gods Judg 2:12, Judg 2:17; Deut 32:16-17

was there Judg 4:3; 1Sam 13:19-22


9
offered Judg 5:2; 1Chr 29:9; 2Cor 8:3-4, 2Cor 8:12, 2Cor 8:17, 2Cor 9:5


10
Speak or, Meditate, Ps 105:2, Ps 145:5, Ps 145:11

ride Judg 10:4, Judg 12:14

ye that sit Ps 107:32; Isa 28:6; Joel 3:12


11
the noise Lam 5:4, Lam 5:9

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. Gen 26:20-22; Exod 2:17-19; Isa 12:3

righteous acts Heb. righteousnesses, 1Sam 12:7; Ps 145:7; Mic 6:5

villages Judg 5:7

go down Deut 22:24; Job 29:7; Isa 28:6; Jer 7:2


12
Deborah Ps 57:8, Ps 103:1-2, Ps 108:2; Isa 51:9, Isa 51:17, Isa 52:1-2, Isa 60:1; Jer 31:26; 1Cor 15:34; Eph 5:14

lead Ps 68:18; Isa 14:2, Isa 33:1, Isa 49:24-26; Eph 4:8; 2Tim 2:26


13
he made Ps 49:14; Isa 41:15-16; Ezek 17:24; Dan 7:18-27; Rom 8:37; Rev 2:26-27; Rev 3:9

the Lord Ps 75:7


14
of Ephraim Judg 3:27, Judg 4:5-6

Amalek Judg 3:13; Exod 17:8-16

after Judg 4:10, Judg 4:14

Machir Num 32:39-40

handle the pen Heb. draw with the pen


15
the princes 1Chr 12:32

Barak Judg 4:6, Judg 4:14

foot Heb. his feet, Beraglaiv, rather, "with his footmen," so LXX Alex. πεζους αυτου, and Luther, mit feinem Fubvolt. Acts 20:13

For the or, In the divisions, etc. Acts 15:39

thoughts Heb. impressions, Prov 22:13; 2Cor 11:2


16
sheepfolds Num 32:1-5, Num 32:24; Phil 2:21, Phil 3:19

For or, In, Judg 5:15 *marg.

great Ps 4:4, Ps 77:6; Lam 3:40-41


17
Gilead Josh 13:25, Josh 13:31

Asher Josh 19:24-31

sea shore or, sea-port

breaches or, creeks


18
Zebulun Judg 4:10

jeoparded Heb. exposed to reproach.

their lives Esth 4:16; Acts 20:24; 1John 3:16; Rev 12:11

in the high Judg 4:6, Judg 4:10, Judg 4:14


19
kings Josh 10:22-27, Josh 11:1-15; Ps 48:4-6, Ps 68:12-14, Ps 118:8-12; Rev 17:12-14; Rev 19:19

Taanach Judg 1:27; 1Kgs 4:12

they took Judg 5:30; Gen 14:22, Gen 4:16; Ps 44:12


20
fought Josh 10:11; 1Sam 7:10; Ps 77:17-18

the stars Judg 4:15

courses Heb. paths


21
Kishon Judg 4:7, Judg 4:13; 1Kgs 18:40; Ps 83:9-10

O my soul Gen 49:18; Ps 44:5; Isa 25:10; Mic 7:10


22
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. Ps 20:7, Ps 33:17, Ps 147:10-11; Isa 5:28; Jer 47:4; Mic 4:13

prancings 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.


23
Curse ye 1Sam 26:19; Jer 48:10; 1Cor 16:22

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.

the angel Judg 2:1, Judg 4:6, Judg 6:11, Judg 13:3; Matt 25:41

they came Judg 21:9-10; Neh 3:5

to the help 1Sam 17:47, 1Sam 18:17, 1Sam 25:28; Rom 15:18; 1Cor 3:9; 2Cor 6:1


24
Judg 4:17; Gen 14:19; Prov 31:31; Luke 1:28, Luke 1:42


25
asked Judg 4:19-21

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.


26
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. 1Sam 17:49-51; 2Sam 20:22


27
At Heb. Between

where Ps 52:7; Matt 7:2; Jas 2:13

dead Heb. destroyed


28
through 2Kgs 1:2; Song 2:9

Why is Judg 4:15; Song 8:14; Jas 5:7


29
answer Heb. her words, Judg 5:29


30
Have they not sped Exod 15:9; Job 20:5

every man Heb. the head of a man

of divers Gen 37:3; 2Sam 13:18; Ps 45:14


31
So let Ps 48:4-5, Ps 58:10-11, Ps 68:1-3, Ps 83:9-18, Ps 92:9, Ps 97:8; Rev 6:10, Rev 18:20; Rev 19:2-3

them that Exod 20:6; Deut 6:5; Ps 91:14, Ps 97:10; Rom 8:28; 1Cor 8:3; Eph 6:24; Jas 1:12, Jas 2:5; 1Pet 1:8; 1John 4:19-21, 1John 5:2-3

the sun 2Sam 23:4; Ps 19:4-5, Ps 37:6; Prov 4:18; Dan 12:3; Hos 6:3; Matt 13:43

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. Judg 3:11, Judg 3:30


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