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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:8

They chose new gods ,.... That is, Israel, as most of the Jewish commentators interpret it; for the verb is singular, and Israel agrees well with it: this they did after the death of Joshua; it refers to their first idolatry, begun by Micah, Judges 17:1 they chose other gods than the true God; Baalim and Ashtaroth they are said to serve, Judges 2:11 , and besides the gods of the Canaanites and Phoenicians, they sought after and introduced new ones from other places, or the same may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:9

My heart is towards the governors of Israel ,.... Most of the Jewish commentators interpret this of their wise men and Scribes, who were willing to teach the people the law and the commandments, even in times of trouble, and did not cease from doing it on that account, and therefore Deborah praises them for it; so the Targum; but Kimchi and Ben Melech understand by them the great men of the nation, their nobles and rulers, who enacted good laws and statutes; or at least took care to see that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:10

Speak, ye that ride on white asses ,.... Though in some countries, as in ours, it is reckoned disgraceful to ride on asses; so Leo Africanus F2 Descriptio Africae, l. 5. p. 574. makes mention of a preacher in Africa, who was called the ass rider; because he was continually, sitting on an ass; yet in Judea, where there were no horses, or very few, it was accounted honourable; so it was in the time of our Lord; for his riding on an ass to Jerusalem was not mean and disgraceful, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:11

They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the place of drawing water ,.... Meaning either the army of the Israelites, delivered from the archers of Sisera's host at the river Kishon; or such persons, as maidens and others, that went out of the cities to fountains and wells of water, to fetch water from thence for their necessities, but were frightened by the noise of archers that shot at them; or shepherds who led their flocks to water them there, but were repulsed or slain by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:12

Awake, awake, Deborah, awake, awake, utter a song , &c.; Either perceiving some languor and remissness in her spirits, while she was delivering this song, and therefore arouses herself to attend to this service with more ardour and zeal; or rather finding herself more impressed with a sense of the great and good things the Lord had done for Israel, calls upon her soul to exert all its powers in celebrating the praises of the Lord, and therefore repeats the word awake so often as she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:13

Then he made him that remaineth ,.... The people of Israel that remained, who had been under the yoke of Jabin king of Canaan, under which many of the Israelites very probably died; but now the few mean and miserable that remained were raised to an high estate, and made to have dominion over the nobles among the people ; that is, over the Canaanitish nobility, that were among the people under Jabin; but he being conquered by the Israelites, his people and even his nobles became subject... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:14

Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek ,.... In this and some following verses, Deborah makes mention of the tribes that were siding and assisting in this war, and of those that were not; and begins with Ephraim, where she herself dwelt, Judges 4:5 who was the root, foundation, and source of this expedition, that under a divine influence directed, animated, and encouraged to it; and by whom, and from whence, a detachment was sent against the Amalekites, who upon all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:15

And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah ,.... On Mount Tabor, whither they came to offer themselves to join in the war against Jabin; or to assist with their counsels, the men of this tribe being understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 1 Chronicles 12:32 . even Issachar : not the princes only, but the whole tribe also; so the Targum paraphrases it,"the rest of the tribe of Issachar:" and also Barak, he was sent on foot into the valley ; which was at the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:16

Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks ?.... This tribe abounded with flocks and herds, and therefore chose the country on the other side Jordan, as suitable for them; and now, at this critical juncture, they judged it wisest, and their best policy, to abide by them, and the care of them; lest by intermeddling, should Jabin prevail, he might be provoked to fall upon them, and take them from them; wherefore the bleatings of their flocks, and the whistlings... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:17

Gilead abode beyond Jordan ,.... A country which lay on the other side Jordan, and was given by Moses, half of it to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the other half to the half tribe of Manasseh, Deuteronomy 3:12 and being here distinguished from Reuben, it seems that not only that tribe, but also the tribe of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, on that side Jordan, came not to the help of Israel; but abode where they were, attending their flocks and herds, and preferring their own... read more

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