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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 5:24-31

Deborah here concludes this triumphant song, I. With the praises of Jael, her sister-heroine, whose valiant act had completed and crowned the victory. She had mentioned her before (Jdg. 5:6) as one that would have served her country if it had been in her power; now she applauds her as one that did serve it admirably well when it was in her power. Her poetry is finest and most florid here in the latter end of the song. How honourably does she speak of Jael (Jdg. 5:24), who preferred her peace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:30

Have they not sped ?.... Or "found" F21 הלא ימצאו "nonne invenient", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Vatablus the enemy, Barak and his army, or the spoil of them? no doubt they have: have they not divided the prey ? doubtless they have, which being large, and the captives many, has taken up much of their time to look over, and make an equal and proper division of, and that most certainly is the cause of the delay: to every man a damsel or two ? or "a womb or two F23... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 5:30

Render the latter part of the verse “a booty of dyed garments for Sisera, a booty of dyed garments and of party-colored cloth, a dyed garment and two party-colored clothes for the necks of the booty,” the spoil or booty being either captive damsels, or captive cattle on whose necks these clothes are to be placed (either as ornament or as a burden; compare Judges 8:21, Judges 8:26). But possibly “the necks of the booty” may mean the backs or shoulders (of men or beasts) laden with booty. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 5:28-30

Judges 5:28-30. The mother of Sisera looked out at a window Expecting to see him returning; for she concluded that he went forth not so much to fight as to take the spoil. Have they not divided the spoil? That is, it is certain they have got the prey, only they tarry to distribute it, according to every man’s quality and merit. It is scarcely possible to conceive any thing more beautiful or expressive than these verses. No writer, either poet or orator, ever formed a finer image upon any... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 5:1-31

Deliverance under Deborah (4:1-5:31)Hazor, chief city of the north, had been conquered and burnt by Joshua (Joshua 11:10-13). However, not all the people had been destroyed. Having rebuilt Hazor, they now took revenge on the northern tribes, especially Zebulun and Naphtali, and ruled them cruelly for twenty years (4:1-3). (To understand fully how God saved Israel at this time, we must read the historical outline in Chapter 4 together with the song of victory in Chapter 5.)Israel’s deliverer on... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 5:30

Have . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. sped = found; i.e. the damsels they were fighting for: and while doing so they were defeated by a woman. To every man = to every head of a man; "head" put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for the whole person. man. Hebrew. geber ( App-14 . IV) = a strong man. damsel. Hebrew womb. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part) for the whole person, to emphasize the motive underneath. This was the one object of Jabin's oppression.... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 5:28-30

Judges 5:28-30. The mother of Sisera looked out, &c.— Dr. Lowth produces this passage as a most beautiful example of the prosopopoeia: "We have, in the first place," says he, "the most striking image of maternal solicitude, and of a mind divided between hope and fear, both in the behaviour and words of Sisera's mother: The mother of Sisera looked out at a window; She cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots? Immediately, impatient... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 5:30

30. to every man a damsel or two—Young maidens formed always a valued part of Oriental conquerors' war-spoils. But Sisera's mother wished other booty for him; namely, the gold-threaded, richly embroidered, and scarlet-colored cloaks which were held in such high esteem. The ode concludes with a wish in keeping with the pious and patriotic character of the prophetess. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 5:1-31

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 5:28-30

A picture of frustrated hope 5:28-30Deborah put herself in the shoes of Sisera’s mother (cf. Judges 5:7) and imagined what she must have been thinking as she anticipated his victorious return. However, deep in her heart the mother of the commander wondered if he would return. Instead of wearing a beautiful garment she ended up wearing sackcloth and ashes."The word for ’girl’ [or maiden] (raham, Judges 5:30) normally means ’womb,’ brusquely suggesting the lustful treatment each one could... read more

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