Translations
Original
Notes
the voices of the singers at the watering places: The picture shows divine stories being told where people gathered. Much of the Old Testament stories and psalms likely formed this way. Remembering through song and poetry is essential to both Jewish and Christian worship.
This song, a victory hymn usually credited to Deborah, offers a poetic version of the battle, adding details to the prose account. It is one of the oldest Hebrew poems. It praises the Lord, the tribes who joined the fight, and Jael. It curses those who stayed home, Sisera, and his mother's followers. It contrasts life before Barak's victory, when the Lord's curse was on the land, with the blessings after the warriors' righteous acts. It ends with a prayer that the Lord's enemies will perish like Sisera (Judges 5:31).
The story of Deborah and Barak, found in both prose (Judges 4) and poetry (Judges 5), describes a major military operation against a significant Canaanite enemy after the initial conquest. Another king named Jabin, who also ruled in Hazor, was defeated earlier by Joshua along with a large northern alliance, and Hazor was burned (see Joshua 11:1–15). Although Joshua 11 and Judges 4–5 are often compared, they have too many differences to be considered accounts of the same battle. Instead, Jabin is likely a dynastic name; it appears in the Mari texts for an even earlier king of Hazor, around 1800 BC.
Events
Parallels
People
Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes
Glossary
Abinoam Armageddon Book of Jashar Deborah Family Life and Relations Hazor Hebrew Language Jael Judah, Tribe of Judges, Book of Kishon Music Poetry, Biblical Righteousness Simeon, Tribe of Song of Deborah Tribe of Naphtali Woman
Topics
Archery in War Country: Love of God: Righteousness of Patriotism: General Scriptures Concerning Thankfulness: Enjoined The Righteousness of God: Exhibited in His Acts