1Und es sangen Debora und Barak, der Sohn Abinoams, an diesem Tage, und sprachen: 2Daß führten die Führer in Israel, daß willig folgte das Volk, preiset Jehova! 3Höret, ihr Könige! horchet auf, ihr Fürsten! Ich will Jehova, ich will singen, ich will spielen Jehova, dem Gott Israels. 4Jehova! als du aus Seir zogest, als du einherschrittest von Edoms Gefilde, da bebte die Erde, und die Himmel troffen, und die Wolken troffen Wasser. 5Berge zerflossen vor Jehova, dieser Sinai vor Jehova, dem Gott Israels. 6In den Tagen Samgars, des Sohnes Anaths, in den Tagen Jaels feierten die Straßen. Und wer auf Straßen wandern sollte, ging auf krummen Wegen. 7Nicht gab's Führer mehr in Israel, sie fehlten, bis ich, Debora, mich erhob, bis ich aufstand als Mutter Israels. 8Es wählte neue Götter, da war Belagerung der Thore. Sah man wohl Schild und Lanze unter Vierzigtausenden in Israel? 9Mein Herz gehört den Führern Israels, denen, die willig folgten in dem Volke; preiset Jehova! 10Die ihr reitet auf scheckigen Eselinnen, die ihr sitzet auf Teppichen, die ihr wandelt auf dem Wege, singet! 11Bei dem Jubel derer, die die Beute theilen zwischen den Schöpfrinnen, da mögen sie Jehova's Siege preisen, die Siege seines Führers in Israel; dann mag Jehova's Volk herunterkommen zu den Thoren. 12Auf, auf, Debora! auf, auf, stimme an ein Lied! Auf, Barak! und mache dir Gefangene, Sohn Abinoams! 13Dann zieh' hinab, Rest! gegen des Volkes Starken; zieh' hinab mit mir, Jehova! gegen die Helden. 14Es zog hinab von Ephraim dessen Wurzel in Amalek, hinter dir Benjamin mit deinen Völkern; von Machir zogen Heerführer hinab, und von Sebulon, die hielten des Führers Stab. 15Und Issaschars Fürsten waren bei Debora, und Issaschar war, wo Barak stand, in's Thal ward er ihm nachgesandt. An Rubens Bächen war große Herzensberathung. 16Zu was saßest du zwischen den Tränkrinnen? Zu hören das Blöcken der Herden? An Rubens Bächen war große Muthesbefragung. 17Gilead blieb ruhig über dem Jordan; und Dan - was weilt' er bei den Schiffen? Asser blieb ruhig an des Meeres Gestade, und weilt' an seinen Buchten. 18Doch Sebulon, ein Volk, wie Naphtali, warf hin dem Tod sein Leben, auf des Feldes Höhen. 19Es kamen Könige, sie stritten; da stritten die Könige Kanaans zu Thaanach an Megiddo's Wassern; nicht ein Stückchen Silbers bekamen sie. 20Vom Himmel stritten sie, die Sterne stritten von ihren Bahnen wider Sisera. 21Der Bach Kischon schwemmte sie hinweg, der uralte Bach, der Bach Kischon. Tritt auf, meine Seele, mit Kraft. 22Da stampften die Hufe der Rosse vor dem Jagen, dem Jagen ihrer Starken. 23Fluchet Meros, spricht Jehova's Bote; fluchet seinen Bürgern! weil sie Jehova nicht zu Hülfe kamen, Jehova zur Hülfe gegen die Helden. 24Gepriesen unter den Weibern sey Jael, die Gattin Hebers, des Keniters, unter den Weibern in Zelten sey sie gepriesen! 25Um Wasser bat er, Milch gab sie: in kostbarster Schale brachte sie ihm Rahm. 26Ihre Hand streckte sie aus nach dem Pflock, und ihr Rechte nach dem Arbeitshammer; und sie schlug Sisera, zerschmetterte sein Haupt, zerschlug und durchbohrte seine Schläfe. 27Zwischen ihren Füßen krümmte er sich, stürzte hin, lag da! zwischen ihren Füßen krümmte er sich, und stürzte hin. Wo er sich krümmte, stürzt' er hin erwürgt. 28Durch's Fenster schaute, und rief laut die Mutter Sisera's durchs Gitter: Warum säumet sein Wagen, zu kommen? Warum zögern die Räder seiner Wagen? 29Die Weisen unter ihren Frauen antworten ihr, und sie wiederholte es selbst: 30Sollten sie nicht finden, theilen die Beute? Ein, zwei Mädchen für jeden Helden? Bunte Kleider zur Beute für Sisera? bunte, gestickte Kleider zur Beute? Bunte, doppeltgestickte Decken um den Hals der Erbeuteten? 31So müssen umkommen alle deine Feinde, Jehova! Aber die ihn lieben, müssen seyn wie die Sonne, wann sie aufgeht in ihrer Kraft! Und das Land hatte Ruhe vierzig Jahre.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 DEBORAH AND BARAK'S SONG OF THANKSGIVING. (Jdg. 5:1-31)
Then sang Deborah and Barak . . . on that day--This noble triumphal ode was evidently the composition of Deborah herself.
2 The meaning is obscurely seen in our version; it has been better rendered thus, "Praise ye Jehovah; for the free are freed in Israel--the people have willingly offered themselves" [ROBINSON].
4 Allusion is here made, in general terms, to God's interposition on behalf of His people.
Seir . . . the field of Edom--represent the mountain range and plain extending along the south from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf.
thou wentest out--indicates the storm to have proceeded from the south or southeast.
6 The song proceeds in these verses to describe the sad condition of the country, the oppression of the people, and the origin of all the national distress in the people's apostasy from God. Idolatry was the cause of foreign invasion and internal inability to resist it.
9 expresses gratitude to the respective leaders of the tribes which participated in the contest; but, above all, to God, who inspired both the patriotic disposition and the strength.
10 Speak--that is, join in this song of praise.
white asses--Those which are purely white are highly prized, and being costly, are possessed only by the wealthy and great.
Ye that sit in judgment--has been rendered, "ye that repose on tapestries."
11 The wells which are at a little distance from towns in the East, are, in unsettled times, places of danger. But in peace they are scenes of pleasant and joyous resort. The poetess anticipates that this song may be sung, and the righteous acts of the Lord rehearsed at these now tranquil "places of drawing water." Deborah now rouses herself to describe, in terms suitable to the occasion, the preparation and the contest, and calls in a flight of poetic enthusiasm on Barak to parade his prisoners in triumphal procession. Then follows a eulogistic enumeration of the tribes which raised the commanded levy, or volunteered their services--the soldiers of Ephraim who dwelt near the mount of the Amalekites, the small quota of Benjamin; "the governors," valiant leaders "out of Machir," the western Manasseh; out of Zebulun.
15 Then comes a reproachful notice of the tribes which did not obey the summons to take the field against the common enemy of Israel. By the
divisions--that is, the watercourses which descend from the eastern hills unto the Jordan and Dead Sea.
For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart--They felt the patriotic impulse and determined, at first, to join the ranks of their western brethren, but resiled from the purpose, preferring their peaceful shepherd songs to the trumpet sound of war.
17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan--that is, Both Gad and the eastern half to Manasseh chose to dwell at ease in their Havoth-jair, or "villages of tents," while Dan and Asher, both maritime tribes, continued with their ships and in their "breaches" ("havens"). The mention of these craven tribes (
Judg 5:18) is concluded with a fresh burst of commendation on Zebulun and Naphtali.
19 describes the scene of battle and the issue. It would seem (
Judg 5:19) that Jabin was reinforced by the troops of other Canaanite princes. The battlefield was near Taanach (now Ta'annuk), on a tell or mound in the level plain of Megiddo (now Leijun), on its southwestern extremity, by the left bank of the Kishon.
they took no gain of money--They obtained no plunder.
20 the stars in their courses fought--A fearful tempest burst upon them and threw them into disorder.
21 the river of Kishon swept them away--The enemy was defeated near "the waters of Megiddo"--the sources and side streams of the Kishon: they that fled had to cross the deep and marshy bed of the torrent, but the Lord had sent a heavy rain--the waters suddenly rose--the warriors fell into the quicksands, and sinking deep into them, were drowned or washed into the sea [VAN DE VELDE].
22 Then were the horse hoofs broken by the means of the prancings--Anciently, as in many parts of the East still, horses were not shod. The breaking of the hoofs denotes the hot haste and heavy irregular tramp of the routed foe.
23 Curse ye Meroz--a village on the confines of Issachar and Naphtali, which lay in the course of the fugitives, but the inhabitants declined to aid in their destruction.
24 is a most graphic picture of the treatment of Sisera in the tent of Jael.
25 butter--curdled milk; a favorite beverage in the East.
28 In these verses a sudden transition is made to the mother of the Canaanite general, and a striking picture is drawn of a mind agitated between hope and fear--impatient of delay, yet anticipating the news of victory and the rewards of rich booty.
the lattice--a lattice window, common to the houses in warm countries for the circulation of air.
29 her wise ladies--maids of honor.
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.