2, 3. The meaning is obscurely seen in our version; it has been better rendered thus, "Praise ye Jehovah; for the free are freed in Israel—the people have willingly offered themselves" [ROBINSON]. read more
4, 5. Allusion is here made, in general terms, to God's interposition on behalf of His people. Seir . . . the field of Edom—represent the mountain range and plain extending along the south from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf. thou wentest out—indicates the storm to have proceeded from the south or southeast. read more
6-8. The song proceeds in these verses to describe the sad condition of the country, the oppression of the people, and the origin of all the national distress in the people's apostasy from God. Idolatry was the cause of foreign invasion and internal inability to resist it. read more
2. Deborah’s song of victory ch. 5One writer called this song "the finest masterpiece of Hebrew poetry" that "deserves a place among the best songs of victory ever written." [Note: Robert H. Pfeiffer, Introduction to the Old Testament, p. 326.] It is the equivalent of a victory celebration when the troops come home (cf. Exodus 15; Psalms 68)."Observe that each of the three major sections centers around a basic contrast: in Judges 5:2-11 c, the explosive God and humiliated people; in Judges 5:11... read more
Call to praise 5:2This opening verse gives the reason, as well as the call, to bless the Lord. The leaders of the Israelites led, and the people followed their leadership voluntarily. This was a major reason for the Israelites’ success in this battle. When God’s people carry out their assigned responsibilities and cooperate, God grants success. Unfortunately, many good works flounder because the saints refuse to work together as God has gifted them. Cooperation is one of the major themes in... read more
God’s former salvation 5:3-5Deborah called all people of consequence to pay attention to the record of God’s sovereignty that follows (cf. Exodus 15:18). "Kings" may refer to pagan kings and "rulers" to Israel’s leaders. She compared God’s revelation at Sinai, when He gave the Israelites His covenant, to His intervention for His people in their most recent battle. She pictured God going from Mt. Seir in Edom to Mt. Sinai, where He appeared to the Israelites in great power in a storm and... read more
Background of God’s recent deliverance 5:6-8During the days of Shamgar and Jael the Canaanites were so strong that the people with the birthright to the land feared to go out on the main highways. Instead they traveled the back roads to avoid molestation. Peasant farmers could not raise or sell crops because of the Canaanite threat. They stopped working because of the Canaanite oppression. The Israelites chose new gods in the sense that they turned to idols as a result of God not delivering... read more
Deborah’s Triumph SongThis song celebrates the victory of Judges 4 but from the point of view, not of a later annalist, but of a contemporary poet—very possibly (though see Judges 5:12) the prophetess herself. The lyric outburst is one of the finest in any language; its style (though many of the words are now very obscure) is typical of the best Hebrew poetry. Its independence of Judges 4 may be inferred from the variations it exhibits. Sisera is represented as king: the majority of the tribes,... read more
(2) For the avenging of Israel.—The Hebrew word peraoth cannot have this meaning, though it is found in the Syriac and implied by the Chaldee. The word only occurs in Deuteronomy 32:42, and there, as here, implies the notion of leading; so that the LXX. are doubtless right in rendering it, “In the leading of the leaders of Israel.” God is praised because both leaders and people (Judges 5:9; Judges 5:13) did their duty. Peraoth is derived from perang, “hair”; and whether the notion which it... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 5:6-7
Judges 5:6-7. In the days of Shamgar— The prophetess in these verses gives us a description of the wretched state of Israel during the time of that captivity, from which she, by the assistance of God, delivered them. It is very easy, says the author of the Observations, (p. 216.) to turn out of the roads in the east, and go to a place by winding about over the lands, when that is thought safer. Dr. Shaw takes notice of this circumstance, observing, that in Barbary they found no hedges, mounds,... read more