Judges 5
Chapter 5 of Judges consists of "The Song of Deborah," in which Deborah and Barak defeat Sisera, the commander of the army of Jabin king of Canaan, and sing about the joy of victory and God’s guidance. Written in the form of a poem and song, this chapter sheds light on Israel’s situation at the time, the participation of various tribes, and the ways God worked throughout from multiple perspectives.
1verseThen Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,
2verse“Because the leaders took the lead in Israel, because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, LORD!
3verse“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.
4verse“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.
5verseThe mountains quaked at the LORD’s presence, even Sinai at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.
6verse“In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.
7verseThe rulers ceased in Israel. They ceased until I, Deborah, arose; Until I arose a mother in Israel.
8verseThey chose new gods. Then war was in the gates. Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
9verseMy heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD!
10verse“Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way.
11verseFar 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.
12verse‘Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.’
13verse“Then a remnant of the nobles and the people came down. The LORD came down for me against the mighty.
14verseThose 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.
15verseThe 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.
16verseWhy did you sit among the sheepfolds? To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben, there were great searchings of heart.
17verseGilead lived beyond the Jordan. Why did Dan remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, and lived by his creeks.
18verseZebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death; Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.
19verse“The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo. They took no plunder of silver.
20verseFrom the sky the stars fought. From their courses, they fought against Sisera.
21verseThe river Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.
22verseThen the horse hoofs stamped because of the prancing, the prancing of their strong ones.
23verse‘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.’
24verse“Jael shall be blessed above women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
25verseHe asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish.
26verseShe 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.
27verseAt her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay. At her feet he bowed, he fell. Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
28verse“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?’
29verseHer wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself,
30verse‘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?’
31verse“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.
Structure and Flow
- Verses 1-3: The Beginning of the Song — Deborah and Barak begin the song, praising Israel’s voluntary devotion and God’s greatness.
- Verses 4-5: God’s Presence — Recalling the time when God came down on Mount Sinai long ago, it describes God’s holy appearance.
- Verses 6-11: An Age of Confusion — Portrays how Israel suffered amid war and oppression, and emphasizes that God raised up a new deliverer.
- Verses 12-22: Battles and the Role of Each Tribe — Mentions Deborah and Barak’s devotion, and among the tribes of Israel, those who actively joined the fighting and those who did not.
- Verses 23-27: Jael’s Courage — Describes the incident in which Jael killed Sisera, Israel’s enemy, and praises her actions.
- Verses 28-30: Sisera’s Mother — Expresses the sorrow of Sisera’s mother and his officials as they wait for him to return.
- Verse 31: Conclusion and Blessing — Declares the downfall of those who oppose God, and the blessing and peace that come to those who love Him as it ends the song.
Overall Meaning
Judges 5 contains a message that goes beyond a mere song of victory; it shows that the unity and courage of those who obey and dedicate themselves to God bring deliverance to Israel. In that process, it demonstrates how much impact the obedience and roles of one person (Deborah, Barak, Jael) can have, and that God’s sovereignty is revealed in everything. This song invites reflection not only on God’s grace and the cooperation of His people, but also on the outcomes of disobedience.
Meditation Point
- As you reflect on how different figures—such as Deborah, Barak, and Jael—being faithful to the roles assigned to them in their respective places can lead to the community’s victory,
- the ways in which tribes actively participated in the war and those that did not can be an opportunity to look back on my own attitude toward life today.
- You can also think again about a mindset of giving thanks and praise to God, the ultimate authority over all things.
Try It on Yourself
- Take a moment to ask yourself what roles you play in the community, family, and society you belong to.
- Check whether your life reflects an attitude of willing obedience and devotion to God’s work, and believe that small acts of obedience can be powerfully used.
- As with “The Song of Deborah,” pray that this will be a week in which you can express the grace you received through praise and thanksgiving.
