1 Then sang Deborah and Barak, the son of Abinoam, on that day, saying, 2 For that leaders led in Israel, For that the people willingly offered themselves, Bless Jehovah! 3 Hear, ye kings; give ear, ye princes, I, even I, will sing to Jehovah; I will hymn to Jehovah the God of Israel. 4 Jehovah, when thou wentest forth from Seir, When thou marchedst out of the fields of Edom, The earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water. v.4 Recalling the first blessings of God.

 

5 The mountains quaked before the face of Jehovah, That Sinai, from before Jehovah the God of Israel. 6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, The roads were unused, and the travellers on highways went by crooked paths. v.6 A lack of hospitality is a sure sign of a day of weakness (Hebrews 10:25).

 

7 The villages ceased in Israel, Ceased until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel. 8 They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless Jehovah! v.9 She identifies herself with the oversight in Israel. See Abishag in I Kings 1. 

 

10 Ye that ride on white she-asses, ye that sit on carpets, and ye that walk by the way, consider. 11 Because of the voice of those who divide the spoil in the midst of the places of drawing water; There they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, His righteous acts toward his villages in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates. 12 Awake, awake, Deborah! awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, and lead captive thy captives, thou son of Abinoam! v.12 Victory by resurrection – setting the captives free – leading us into the liberty of Christ.

 

13 Then come down, thou, the remnant of nobles, as his people; Jehovah! come down with me in the midst of the mighty ones. 14 Out of Ephraim came those whose root was in Amalek; After thee was Benjamin among thy peoples. Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handled the staff of the ruler. v.14 This shows that Ephraim was never able to drive out the Amalekites. It can be inferred that they intermarried, etc. Now a root of Amalekites was growing out of Ephraim, and it was demonstrated in the pride of Ephraim. However, they are commended here for coming down to help the battle.

 

15 And the princes in Issachar were with Deborah; And Issachar, like Barak; They were sent into the valley at his feet. In the divisions of Reuben there were great resolves of heart! v.15 A good desire without spiritual energy is not enough. 

 

16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the bleating of the flocks? In the divisions of Reuben there were great deliberations of heart! 17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan; And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat on the sea-shore, And abode in his creeks. 18 Zebulun is a people that jeoparded their lives unto death, Naphtali also, on the high places of the field. 19 Kings came, — they fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan; At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoil of silver. 20 From heaven was the fight; The stars from their courses fought with Sisera. 21 The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. My soul, thou hast trodden down strength! 22 Then did the horse-hoofs clatter with the coursings, The coursings of their steeds. 23 Curse Meroz, saith the Angel of Jehovah; Curse, curse the inhabitants thereof; For they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah among the mighty. 24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, Blessed above women in the tent! 25 He asked water, she gave milk; In the nobles’ bowl she brought forth cream. v.25 Jael give him the best that she had – no contempt in her attitude. She complied with Jude 9.