Judges 5:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 5:1-5

The former chapter let us know what great things God had done for Israel; in this we have the thankful returns they made to God, that all ages of the church might learn that work of heaven to praise God. I. God is praised by a song, which is, 1. A very natural expression of rejoicing. Isa. any merry? Let him sing; and holy joy is the very soul and root of praise and thanksgiving. God is pleased to reckon himself glorified by our joy in him, and in his wondrous works. His servants? joy is his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 5:1

Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam ,.... Deborah is first mentioned, because she was, as Kimchi says, the root or foundation of the work, the chief person in it, both in the direction of the war, and in the composition of this song; and indeed, as Ben Gersom observes, she alone composed it, see Judges 5:7 ; and the verb is singular: "then sang Deborah"; and after her, and in her words, sung also Barak; he joined with her, not in making the song, but in singing it; and so... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 5:1

Then sang Deborah , and Barak - There are many difficulties in this very sublime song; and learned men have toiled much to remove them. That there are several gross mistakes in our version will be instantly acknowledged by all who can critically examine the original. Dr. Kennicott has distributed it into parts, assigned to Deborah and Barak alternately. But his division is by far too artificial. Dr. Hales has also given a version of it which, perhaps, comes nearer to the simplicity... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 5:1

Deborah, as “a prophetess,” both composed and sang this noble ode, which, for poetic spirit and lyric fire, is not surpassed by any of the sacred songs in the Bible. And, as Miriam took up the first verse of the song of Moses Exodus 15:21, and sang it as an antiphony, so Barak, with the chorus of men, answered the song of Deborah by singing Judges 5:2, which is also exactly suited for an antiphon, summing up as it does the subject matter of the whole ode. Compare David’s example 2 Samuel 6:15. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 5:1

Judges 5:1. Then sang Deborah The composer of this song, one of whose special gifts, as a prophetess, it was to sing God’s praises, 1 Chronicles 25:1-3. And Barak Who was now probably become a judge, in consequence of this great deliverance which God had wrought by him. On that day In which they had completed their victory, by the destruction of Jabin’s kingdom. Whether they two only sang this song, or the elders of the people, called together into one assembly, sang it with them, is... 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 5:1

Then sang. No singing till after victory. Compare Exodus 15:1 . Only weeping before. Compare Judges 2:4 with Exodus 2:23 , Exodus 2:24 . See note on Exodus 15:1 for the ten songs. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 5:1

THE SONG OF DEBORAHJames Strahan called this, "The greatest war song of any age or nation."[1] The language used in this poem is identifiable with, "The Canaanite poetry of the second millennium B.C.",[2] and the "presence of Aramaisms here"[3] in this chapter, unanimously held by the critics as dated in the 12th century B. C., confirms the fact that Aramaisms are NOT a sign of a late date, but appear in the oldest Biblical books."The historical significance of this chapter consists in its... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 5:1

CHAP. V. The song of Deborah and Barak. Before Christ 1294. Judges 5:1. Then sang Deborah, &c.— According to the usual custom of those times, a triumphant song or ode was composed by the prophetess Deborah, and sung by her and Barak, the people, most probably, bearing their part with them. Dr. Lowth produces this as an example of the most sublime ode; and as such it has always been admired. Like the other pieces of sacred poetry which we have heretofore reviewed, it is composed in metre, to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 5:1

1. Then sang Deborah and Barak . . . on that day—This noble triumphal ode was evidently the composition of Deborah herself. read more

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