5:1ffMusic and singing were a cherished part of Israel's culture. Chapter 5 is a song, sung and possibly composed by Deborah and Barak. It sets to music the story of Israel’s great victory recounted in chapter 4. This victory song was accompanied by joyous celebration. It proclaimed God’s greatness by giving him credit for the victory. It was an excellent way to preserve and retell this wonderful story from generation to generation. (Other songs in the Bible are fisted in the chart in Exodus 15.)
Life Application Study BibleJudgesChapter 5
Judges 5
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 362, 363, 364, 365
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
5Judges 5
The Song of Deborah
1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:
2“Israel's leaders took charge,and the people gladly followed.Praise the LORD!
3“Listen, you kings!Pay attention, you mighty rulers!For I will sing to the LORD.I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.
4“LORD, when you set out from Seirand marched across the fields of Edom,the earth trembled,and the cloudy skies poured down rain.
5The mountains quaked in the presence of the LORD,the God of Mount Sinai—in the presence of the LORD,the God of Israel.
6“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,and in the days of Jael,people avoided the main roads,and travelers stayed on winding pathways.
7There were few people left in the villages of Israel*—until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.
8When Israel chose new gods,war erupted at the city gates.
Yet not a shield or spear could be seenamong forty thousand warriors in Israel!
9My heart is with the commanders of Israel,with those who volunteered for war.Praise the LORD!
10“Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys,you who sit on fancy saddle blankets,and you who walk along the road.
11Listen to the village musicians*gathered at the watering holes.They recount the righteous victories of the LORDand the victories of his villagers in Israel.Then the people of the LORDmarched down to the city gates.
12“Wake up, Deborah, wake up!Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!Arise, Barak!Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!
13“Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles.The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors.
14They came down from Ephraim—a land that once belonged to the Amalekites;they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops.From Makir the commanders marched down,from Zebulun came those who carry a commander's staff.
15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak.They followed Barak, rushing into the valley.But in the tribe of Reubenthere was great indecision.
16Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks?Yes, in the tribe of Reubenthere was great indecision.
17Gilead remained east of the Jordan.And why did Dan stay home?Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,remaining in his harbors.
18But Zebulun risked his life,as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
19“The kings of Canaan came and fought,at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs,but they carried off no silver treasures.
20The stars fought from heaven.The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.
21The Kishon River swept them away—that ancient torrent, the Kishon.March on with courage, my soul!
22Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground,the galloping, galloping of Sisera’s mighty steeds.
23‘Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the LORD.‘Let them be utterly cursed,because they did not come to help the LORD—to help the LORD against the mighty warriors.’
24“Most blessed among women is Jael,the wife of Heber the Kenite.May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.
25Sisera asked for water,and she gave him milk.Ina bowl fit for nobles,she brought him yogurt.
26Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg,and with her right hand for the workman’s hammer.She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head.With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.
27He sank, he fell,he lay still at her feet.And where he sank,there he died.
28“From the window Sisera’s mother looked out.Through the window she watched for his return, saying,‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?Why don’t we hear the sound of chariot wheels?”
29“Her wise women answer,and she repeats these words to herself:
30‘They must be dividing the captured plunder—with a woman or two for every man.There will be colorful robes for Sisera,and colorful, embroidered robes for me.Yes, the plunder will includecolorful robes embroidered on both sides.’
31“LORD, may all your enemies die like Sisera!But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!”Then there was peace in the land for forty years.4. Fourth period: Gideon, Tola, and Jair
Textual footnotes
- 5:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
- 5:11 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
Life Application Notes 4 notes
5:1ffIn victory, Barak and Deborah sang praises to God. Songs of praise focus our attention on God, give us an outlet for spiritual celebration, and remind us of God's faithfulness and character. Whether you are experiencing a great victory or a major dilemma, singing praises to God can have a positive effect on your attitude.
5:8War was the inevitable result when israel chose to follow false gods. Although God had given Israe! clear directions, the people tailed to put his words into practice. Without God at the center of their national life, pressure from the outside soon became greater than power from within, and they were an easy prey for their enemies. If you are letting a desire for recognition, craving for power, or love of money rule your life, you may find yourself besieged by enemies—stress, anxiety, illness, fatigue. Keep God at the center of your Jife, and you will have the power you need to fight these destroyers.
5:15-17Four tribes—Reuben, Gilead (either Gad or Manasseh), Dan, and Asher—were accused of not lending a helping hand in the battle. No reasons are given for their refusal to help their fellow Israelites, but they may be the same ones that stopped them from driving out the Canaanites in the first place: (1) lack of reliance on God for help, (2) lack of effort, (3) fear of the enemy, and (4) fear of antagonizing those with whom they did business and thus from whom they prospered. This disobedience showed both a lack of commitment to God’s plan and a weak faith in God’s power.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Personality profile · page 363
Wise leaders are rare. They accomplish great amounts of work without direct involvement because they know how to work through other people. They are able to see the big picture that often escapes those directly involved, so they make good mediators, advisers, and planners. Deborah fit this description perfectly. She had all these leadership skills, and she had a remarkable relationship with God. The insight and confidence God gave this woman placed her in a unique position in the Old Testament. Deborah is among the outstanding women of history. Her story shows that she was not power hungry. She wanted to serve God. Whenever praise came her way, she gave God the credit. She didn’t deny or resist her position in the culture as a woman and wife, but she never allowed herself to be hindered by it either. Her story shows that God can accomplish great things through people who are willing to be led by him. Deborab’s life challenges us in several ways. She reminds us of the need to be available both to God and to others. She encourages us to spend our efforts on what we can do rather than on worrying about what we can’t do. Deborah challenges us to be wise leaders. She demonstrates what a person can accomplish when God is in control.
• Fourth and only female judge of Israel!
• Special abilities as a mediator, adviser, and counselor
• When called on to lead, was able to plan, direct, and delegate
• Known for her prophetic power
• A writer of songs
Strengths and accomplishments
• God chooses leaders by his standards, not ours
• Wise leaders choose good helpers
Lessons from her life
• Where: Canaan
• Occupations: Prophet, judge
• Relative: Husband: Lappidoth
• Contemporaries: Barak, Jael, Jabin of Hazor, Sisera
Vital statistics
“Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time” (Judges 4:4).
Key verse
Her story is told in Judges 4—5.
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