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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 5:12-23

Here, I. Deborah stirs up herself and Barak to celebrate this victory in the most solemn manner, to the glory of God and the honour of Israel, for the encouragement of their friends and the greater confusion of their enemies, Jdg. 5:12. 1. Deborah, as a prophetess, must do it by a song, to compose and sing which she excites herself: Awake, awake, and again, awake, awake, which intimates the sense she had of the excellency and difficulty of the work; it needed and well deserved the utmost... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:18

Zebulun and Naphtali were a people ,.... These two tribes were chiefly concerned in this war; out of them were the 10,000 men that followed Barak, who willingly offered themselves, and were the most active and vigorous: that jeoparded themselves unto the death ; exposed them to the utmost danger, fearless of death itself: or reproached F11 חרף "probris affecit", Pagninus; so the Targum. their lives; were careless of them, valued them not; they were not dear to them, but were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 5:13

Make him that remaineth - This appears to be spoken of Barak, who is represented as being only a remnant of the people. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 5:14

Out of Ephraim - a root of them - Deborah probably means that out of Ephraim and Benjamin came eminent warriors. Joshua, who was of the tribe of Ephraim, routed the Amalekites a short time after the Israelites came out of Egypt, Exodus 17:10 . Ehud, who was of the tribe of Benjamin, slew Eglon, and defeated the Moabites, the friends and allies of the Ammonites and Amalekites. Machir, in the land of Gilead, produced eminent warriors; and Zebulun produced eminent statesmen, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 5:15

The princes of Issachar - They were at hand and came willingly forth, at the call of Deborah, to this important war. Barak - was sent on foot - I have no doubt that ברגלין , without regarding the points, should be translated with his footmen or infantry. Thus the Alexandrian Septuagint understood it, rendering the clause thus: Οὑτω Βαρακ εξαπεστειλεν πεζους αυτου εις την κοιλαδα , "Barak also sent forth his footmen into the valley." Luther has perfectly hit the meaning, Barak mit... read more

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