Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the Lord.
Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.
Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.
Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?
So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.
Judges 5 follows the dramatic account of the battle between Sisera and Barak in Judges 4, shifting from narrative to poetry. This chapter immortalizes the events as a song of victory, attributed to the prophetess Deborah, adding layers of detail, emotion, and spiritual insight to the preceding narrative. It recounts Sisera's defeat, Jael's courageous act, and even offers a glimpse into the anxious anticipation of Sisera's mother. Judges 5 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and Israel's deliverance, while also foreshadowing the cyclical pattern of sin and redemption that defines the book of Judges (Judges 6:1).
Praising God for Willing Hearts (Judges 5:1-2)
The song begins with a heartfelt blessing for the Lord, recognizing Him as the source of Israel's triumph. Deborah praises God for inspiring willing leaders and courageous warriors who volunteered to fight alongside Barak against the Canaanites. The victory wasn't merely a result of military prowess, but a testament to God's power working through those who were willing to answer His call (Judges 5:1-2). This highlights a key principle: God often works through ordinary people who are willing to step up and be used by Him.
A Taunt to the Defeated (Judges 5:3)
Deborah directly addresses the defeated kings and princes of Canaan, not to reason with them, but to proclaim God's victory over them. This isn't a song to them, but rather for them to hear. It is a bold declaration of God's sovereignty and a public shaming of the enemy. The song is a taunt, a deliberate mocking and dismissal of the enemy, ensuring everyone understands that God, not human strength, brought about this liberation and freed Israel from Canaanite oppression (Judges 5:3).
The Lord's Active Presence (Judges 5:4-5)
Deborah's song describes the Lord as actively intervening in Israel's history. He guided them as they moved from outside the Promised Land to take possession of it. This entry into Canaan was accompanied by miracles, signs, and wonders (Deuteronomy 6:22-23). The references to natural phenomena like earthquakes and storms are significant. They likely serve as a direct challenge to Canaanite religion, which revered Baal as the god of storms (Judges 5:4-5). Deborah asserts that the God of Israel is the true power behind these forces of nature.
Remembering the Oppression (Judges 5:6-8)
Deborah vividly portrays the oppressive conditions Israel endured under Sisera's rule (Judges 4:1-3). The main roads were deserted, likely due to the Canaanites' iron chariots, and Israel was left vulnerable and defenseless. In this desperate situation, Deborah was raised up as a prophetess and judge (Judges 4:4-5). She identifies herself as a "mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7), reflecting her leadership and nurturing role within the nation, a role through which God works to undermine Satan’s work.
A Call to Remember and Proclaim (Judges 5:9-11)
Despite the dangers and lack of resources, the commanders of Israel willingly volunteered to join Barak in battle. Deborah calls upon everyone who hears her song to spread the story of this triumph. She encourages them to share it in communal places, such as wells and springs, where people gather. They must repeat the triumphs of the Lord and His villagers in Israel. This call extends to all, rich and poor, including the tradesmen and merchants whose businesses were heavily impacted by the oppression (Judges 5:9-11).
The Tribes Respond (and Some Don't) (Judges 5:12-18)
Israel's victory began when the Lord "woke up" Deborah to deliver a message to Barak, commanding him to raise an army. Willing leaders and fighters came from the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (part of Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali, all willingly risking their lives (Judges 5:12-15).
However, Deborah also questions why other tribes refused to participate. She specifically calls out Reuben, Gilead (part of Dan), and Asher. Reuben's portrayal as indecisive echoes Jacob's prophecy on his deathbed (Genesis 49:3-4). These rebukes are posed as rhetorical questions (Judges 5:16-18), highlighting the importance of unity and commitment in serving the Lord.
Nature Joins the Battle (Judges 5:19-22)
Despite the lack of support from some, the battle was decisively won. Deborah poetically describes how nature itself fought against Sisera. The River Kishon overflowed, sweeping away the enemy and turning the fields below Mount Tabor into a muddy trap for the Canaanite chariots. Deborah's command to attack as Sisera's men approached suggests God orchestrated a perfect combination of strategy and natural disaster to overwhelm the Canaanite forces (Judges 5:19-22).
Cursing Indifference, Blessing Courage (Judges 5:23-27)
In stark contrast to the lukewarm response of some Israelite tribes, Deborah curses the town of Meroz for failing to assist the Lord against the mighty Canaanites. This town may have been along Sisera's escape route (Judges 4:15, 17), and its inhabitants failed to stop or challenge him (Judges 5:23).
Conversely, Deborah boldly blesses Jael for her clever and courageous act of killing Sisera after he fled the battle and sought refuge in her tent. The song vividly depicts this moment, using repetition and echoing phrases to create a "slow-motion replay" effect. The details linger on Sisera's demise and his humiliating defeat at the hands of a woman (Judges 5:24-27).
Sisera's Mother's Anticipation (Judges 5:28-30)
The song then shifts to imagine the thoughts of Sisera's mother as she anxiously awaits his return. This section provides insight into Sisera's character and reputation. His mother and her noble women assume he is delayed because he is busy dividing the spoils of war, including captured women. This reveals Sisera's cruelty and the expectations of violence associated with his leadership. The unspoken implication is that Sisera's family will soon face the unthinkable reality: he has been defeated and killed (Judges 5:28-30).
A Prayer for God's Kingdom (Judges 5:31)
Finally, Deborah prays for God to bring similar defeat to all His enemies. She pleads for those who honor God to be strengthened and become like the sun: bright, invincible, and powerful. The chapter concludes with a return to the narrative style of the book of Judges, noting that Deborah and Barak secured forty years of peace for Israel (Judges 5:31). This period of peace, however, is only temporary. As the start of the next chapter reveals (Judges 6:1), Israel will once again fall into the familiar cycle of sin and oppression.
Judges 5 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness, the importance of obedience, and the consequences of indifference. It is a song of victory, but also a call to remember God's grace and to remain steadfast in serving Him.
Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.
Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
The mountains melted from before the Lord, even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Israel.
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the Lord.
Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.
They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.
Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty.
Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?
So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.
Judges 5 follows the dramatic account of the battle between Sisera and Barak in Judges 4, shifting from narrative to poetry. This chapter immortalizes the events as a song of victory, attributed to the prophetess Deborah, adding layers of detail, emotion, and spiritual insight to the preceding narrative. It recounts Sisera's defeat, Jael's courageous act, and even offers a glimpse into the anxious anticipation of Sisera's mother. Judges 5 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and Israel's deliverance, while also foreshadowing the cyclical pattern of sin and redemption that defines the book of Judges (Judges 6:1).
Praising God for Willing Hearts (Judges 5:1-2)
The song begins with a heartfelt blessing for the Lord, recognizing Him as the source of Israel's triumph. Deborah praises God for inspiring willing leaders and courageous warriors who volunteered to fight alongside Barak against the Canaanites. The victory wasn't merely a result of military prowess, but a testament to God's power working through those who were willing to answer His call (Judges 5:1-2). This highlights a key principle: God often works through ordinary people who are willing to step up and be used by Him.
A Taunt to the Defeated (Judges 5:3)
Deborah directly addresses the defeated kings and princes of Canaan, not to reason with them, but to proclaim God's victory over them. This isn't a song to them, but rather for them to hear. It is a bold declaration of God's sovereignty and a public shaming of the enemy. The song is a taunt, a deliberate mocking and dismissal of the enemy, ensuring everyone understands that God, not human strength, brought about this liberation and freed Israel from Canaanite oppression (Judges 5:3).
The Lord's Active Presence (Judges 5:4-5)
Deborah's song describes the Lord as actively intervening in Israel's history. He guided them as they moved from outside the Promised Land to take possession of it. This entry into Canaan was accompanied by miracles, signs, and wonders (Deuteronomy 6:22-23). The references to natural phenomena like earthquakes and storms are significant. They likely serve as a direct challenge to Canaanite religion, which revered Baal as the god of storms (Judges 5:4-5). Deborah asserts that the God of Israel is the true power behind these forces of nature.
Remembering the Oppression (Judges 5:6-8)
Deborah vividly portrays the oppressive conditions Israel endured under Sisera's rule (Judges 4:1-3). The main roads were deserted, likely due to the Canaanites' iron chariots, and Israel was left vulnerable and defenseless. In this desperate situation, Deborah was raised up as a prophetess and judge (Judges 4:4-5). She identifies herself as a "mother in Israel" (Judges 5:7), reflecting her leadership and nurturing role within the nation, a role through which God works to undermine Satan’s work.
A Call to Remember and Proclaim (Judges 5:9-11)
Despite the dangers and lack of resources, the commanders of Israel willingly volunteered to join Barak in battle. Deborah calls upon everyone who hears her song to spread the story of this triumph. She encourages them to share it in communal places, such as wells and springs, where people gather. They must repeat the triumphs of the Lord and His villagers in Israel. This call extends to all, rich and poor, including the tradesmen and merchants whose businesses were heavily impacted by the oppression (Judges 5:9-11).
The Tribes Respond (and Some Don't) (Judges 5:12-18)
Israel's victory began when the Lord "woke up" Deborah to deliver a message to Barak, commanding him to raise an army. Willing leaders and fighters came from the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (part of Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali, all willingly risking their lives (Judges 5:12-15).
However, Deborah also questions why other tribes refused to participate. She specifically calls out Reuben, Gilead (part of Dan), and Asher. Reuben's portrayal as indecisive echoes Jacob's prophecy on his deathbed (Genesis 49:3-4). These rebukes are posed as rhetorical questions (Judges 5:16-18), highlighting the importance of unity and commitment in serving the Lord.
Nature Joins the Battle (Judges 5:19-22)
Despite the lack of support from some, the battle was decisively won. Deborah poetically describes how nature itself fought against Sisera. The River Kishon overflowed, sweeping away the enemy and turning the fields below Mount Tabor into a muddy trap for the Canaanite chariots. Deborah's command to attack as Sisera's men approached suggests God orchestrated a perfect combination of strategy and natural disaster to overwhelm the Canaanite forces (Judges 5:19-22).
Cursing Indifference, Blessing Courage (Judges 5:23-27)
In stark contrast to the lukewarm response of some Israelite tribes, Deborah curses the town of Meroz for failing to assist the Lord against the mighty Canaanites. This town may have been along Sisera's escape route (Judges 4:15, 17), and its inhabitants failed to stop or challenge him (Judges 5:23).
Conversely, Deborah boldly blesses Jael for her clever and courageous act of killing Sisera after he fled the battle and sought refuge in her tent. The song vividly depicts this moment, using repetition and echoing phrases to create a "slow-motion replay" effect. The details linger on Sisera's demise and his humiliating defeat at the hands of a woman (Judges 5:24-27).
Sisera's Mother's Anticipation (Judges 5:28-30)
The song then shifts to imagine the thoughts of Sisera's mother as she anxiously awaits his return. This section provides insight into Sisera's character and reputation. His mother and her noble women assume he is delayed because he is busy dividing the spoils of war, including captured women. This reveals Sisera's cruelty and the expectations of violence associated with his leadership. The unspoken implication is that Sisera's family will soon face the unthinkable reality: he has been defeated and killed (Judges 5:28-30).
A Prayer for God's Kingdom (Judges 5:31)
Finally, Deborah prays for God to bring similar defeat to all His enemies. She pleads for those who honor God to be strengthened and become like the sun: bright, invincible, and powerful. The chapter concludes with a return to the narrative style of the book of Judges, noting that Deborah and Barak secured forty years of peace for Israel (Judges 5:31). This period of peace, however, is only temporary. As the start of the next chapter reveals (Judges 6:1), Israel will once again fall into the familiar cycle of sin and oppression.
Judges 5 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness, the importance of obedience, and the consequences of indifference. It is a song of victory, but also a call to remember God's grace and to remain steadfast in serving Him.