Judges 5:8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 5:6-11

Here, I. Deborah describes the distressed state of Israel under the tyranny of Jabin, that the greatness of their trouble might make their salvation appear the more illustrious and the more gracious (Jdg. 5:6): From the days of Shamgar, who did some thing towards the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, to the days of Jael, the present day, in which Jael has so signalized herself, the country has been in a manner desolate. 1. No trade. For want of soldiers to protect men of business in... read more

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 5:8

They chose new gods - This was the cause of all their calamities; they forsook Jehovah, and served other gods; and then was war in their gates - they were hemmed up in every place, and besieged in all their fortified cities; and they were defenseless, they had no means of resisting their adversaries; for even among forty thousand men, there was neither spear nor shield to be seen. The Vulgate gives a strange and curious turn to this verse: Nova bella elegit Dominus, et portas hostium... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 5:8

The “war in the gates” describes the hostile attacks of the Canaanites, which were the punishment of the idolatry of the Israelites (compare the marginal references), and the reduction of Israel to an unarmed and unresisting state under the Philistine dominion. See Judges 3:31 note. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 5:8

Judges 5:8. They chose, &c. That is, the Israelites, after the death of Ehud, forsook the Lord, and served other gods. And they did not only submit to idolatry when they were forced to it by tyrants, but they freely chose it. New gods New to them, and unknown to their fathers, and new in comparison of the true and everlasting God of Israel, being but of yesterday. There was war in the gates That is, in their walled cities, which have gates and bars; gates are often put for ... 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 5:8

new gods. Compare Deuteronomy 32:16 . Was there . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 5:8

"They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or a spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? My heart is toward the governors of Israel, They offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye Jehovah.""They chose new gods" (Judges 5:8). Some scholars have labeled this verse difficult, but, as Yates said, "The most obvious meaning is that Israel turned to idolatry."[18] Davis agreed with this, writing that, "This was a time of open idolatry, for Israel chose new... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 5:8

Judges 5:8. They chose new gods— This verse is differently rendered. Some interpreters suppose that the meaning simply is, that in consequence of the Israelitish idolatry, war and destruction overtook them: forsaking God, they were forsaken of him, and given up into the hand of their enemies; who, to prevent them from regaining their liberty, disarmed them, as the Philistines did afterwards in the days of Saul; (see 1Sa 13:19 and Caesar's Comment. lib. 2: cap. 31:) or rather, that the... 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