1[1] Aquel día, Débora y Barac hijo de Abinoam cantaron así: 2"Por haberse puesto al frentelos caudillos en Israel,[2] por haberse ofrecido voluntariamenteel pueblo, load a Jehová. 3¡Oíd, reyes! ¡Escuchad, príncipes! Yo cantaré a Jehová, cantaré salmos a Jehová, el Dios de Israel. 4"Cuando saliste de Seir,[3] Jehová, cuando te marchastede los campos de Edom, la tierra tembló,se estremecieron[4] los cielos y las nubes gotearon aguas. 5Los montes temblaron delante de Jehová, tembló el Sinaí[5] delante de Jehová,Dios de Israel. 6En los días de Samgar hijo de Anat,[6] en los días de Jael,[7] quedaron abandonados los caminos, y los que andaban por las sendasse apartaron por senderos torcidos. 7Las aldeas quedaron abandonadasen Israel, habían decaído, hasta que yo, Débora, me levanté, me levanté como madre en Israel. 8"Cuando escogían nuevos dioses, la guerra estaba a las puertas; ¿se veía escudo o lanza entre cuarenta mil en Israel? 9"Mi corazón es para vosotros,jefes de Israel, para los que voluntariamenteos ofrecisteis entre el pueblo. ¡Load a Jehová! 10"Vosotros, los que cabalgáisen asnas blancas,[8] los que presidís en juicio, y vosotros, los que viajáis, hablad. 11Lejos del ruido de los arqueros,en los abrevaderos, allí se contarán los triunfos de Jehová, los triunfos de sus aldeas en Israel; entonces marchará hacia las puertas el pueblo de Jehová. 12"Despierta, despierta, Débora. Despierta, despierta, entona un cántico. Levántate, Barac, y lleva tus cautivos, hijo de Abinoam. 13"Entonces marchó el resto de los nobles; el pueblo de Jehová marchó por él en contra de los poderosos. 14De Efraín[9] vinieronlos que habitaban en Amalec,[10] en pos de ti, Benjamín, entre tus pueblos. De Maquir[11] descendieron príncipes, y de Zabulónlos que tenían vara de mando.[12] 15También los caudillos de Isacarfueron con Débora; sí, como Barac, también Isacar se precipitó a pie en el valle. Entre las familias de Rubén se tomaron grandes decisiones. 16¿Por qué se quedaron entre los rediles, oyendo los balidos de los rebaños? ¡Entre las familias de Rubén se hicieron grandes propósitos! 17"Galaad se quedó al otro lado del Jordán, y Dan, ¿por qué se detuvojunto a las naves? Se quedó Aser a la ribera del mar y permaneció en sus puertos.[13] 18El pueblo de Zabulónexpuso su vida a la muerte, como Neftalí en las alturas de los montes. 19"Vinieron reyes y pelearon; los reyes de Canaán pelearon entonces en Taanac, junto a las aguas de Meguido,[14] mas no obtuvieronganancia alguna de dinero. 20Desde los cielos pelearon las estrellas, desde sus órbitas pelearon contra Sísara. 21Los barrió el torrente Cisón, el antiguo torrente, el torrente Cisón. ¡Marcha, alma mía, con poder![15] 22"Entonces resonaronlos cascos de los caballos por el galopar,por el galopar de sus valientes. 23"¡Maldecid a Meroz!",dijo el ángel de Jehová, "maldecid severamente a sus moradores", porque no vinieron en ayuda de Jehová, en ayuda de Jehová contra los fuertes. 24"Bendita sea entre las mujeres Jael, mujer de Heber, el ceneo; entre las mujeres,bendita sea en la tienda. 25Él pidió agua y ella le dio leche; en tazón de nobles le presentó crema. 26Tendió su mano a la estaca, su diestra al mazo de los trabajadores, y golpeó a Sísara: Hirió su cabeza, le horadó y atravesó sus sienes. 27Cayó encorvado a sus pies,quedó tendido; a sus pies cayó encorvado; donde se encorvó, allí cayó muerto.[16] 28"La madre de Sísarase asoma a la ventana, y por entre las celosías dice a voces: "¿Por qué tarda su carro en venir? ¿Por qué las ruedas de sus carrosse detienen?" 29Las más avisadas de sus damasle respondían, y aun ella se respondía a sí misma: 30"¿No será que han hallado botíny lo están repartiendo? A cada uno, una doncella o dos; las vestiduras de colores para Sísara, las vestiduras bordadas de colores; la ropa de color bordadapor ambos lados, para los jefes de los que tomaronel botín". 31Así perezcan todos tus enemigos, Jehová; mas brillen los que te aman, como el sol cuando sale en su esplendor". Y hubo paz en la tierra durante cuarenta años.
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.