The River Kishon swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength! The River KishonThe Kishon River is a significant geographical feature in the biblical narrative, often associated with divine intervention. In Hebrew, "Kishon" may derive from a root meaning "to bend" or "to wind," reflecting the river's meandering path. Historically, the Kishon River is known for its role in the defeat of Sisera's army, as described in Judges 4 and 5. The river's swelling, possibly due to a sudden storm, is seen as an act of God, aiding Israel's victory. This event underscores the theme of God's sovereignty over nature and His ability to use creation to fulfill His purposes. swept them away
The phrase "swept them away" conveys a powerful image of overwhelming force. In Hebrew, the verb used here can imply a complete and decisive action, often associated with divine judgment. This imagery is reminiscent of other biblical accounts where God uses natural elements to execute His will, such as the parting of the Red Sea. The sweeping away of Sisera's forces by the Kishon River serves as a reminder of God's might and His ability to deliver His people from seemingly insurmountable odds. the ancient river
Referring to the Kishon as "the ancient river" emphasizes its longstanding presence and perhaps its role in God's eternal plan. The term "ancient" in Hebrew can denote something that is timeless or enduring. This description may also allude to the river's historical significance in Israel's collective memory, serving as a testament to God's past faithfulness and a source of encouragement for future generations. the River Kishon
The repetition of "the River Kishon" in this verse highlights its importance in the narrative. Repetition in Hebrew poetry often serves to emphasize a point or to draw attention to a particular element. Here, it reinforces the idea that the Kishon River was a key instrument in God's deliverance of Israel. This repetition invites readers to reflect on the ways God uses ordinary elements of creation to achieve extraordinary outcomes. March on, O my soul, in strength!
This exhortation is a call to inner fortitude and perseverance. The phrase "March on" suggests movement and progress, while "O my soul" personalizes the call, indicating an internal resolve. In Hebrew, the word for "soul" (nephesh) encompasses one's entire being, including mind, will, and emotions. "In strength" implies reliance on God's power rather than human ability. This call to march on in strength serves as an encouragement to believers to trust in God's provision and to continue steadfastly in their faith journey, drawing strength from His past acts of deliverance. Persons / Places / Events 1. DeborahA prophetess and judge of Israel who, along with Barak, led the Israelites to victory over the Canaanite army. 2. BarakThe military leader who, under Deborah's guidance, led the Israelite forces against Sisera. 3. SiseraThe commander of the Canaanite army, defeated by the Israelites. 4. River KishonA river in the Jezreel Valley, which played a crucial role in the defeat of Sisera's army as it swept them away. 5. CanaanitesThe oppressors of Israel during this period, led by King Jabin and his commander Sisera. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in NatureThe River Kishon, an ordinary part of creation, becomes an instrument of divine intervention. This reminds us that God can use any part of His creation to fulfill His purposes. Strength in the LordThe exhortation to "March on, O my soul, in strength" encourages believers to rely on God's strength rather than their own, especially in times of spiritual battle. Victory Through FaithThe victory over Sisera was not just a military triumph but a testament to faith in God's promises. Believers are called to trust in God's deliverance in their own struggles. Remembrance and PraiseJust as Deborah's song commemorates God's deliverance, believers are encouraged to remember and praise God for His past faithfulness in their lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the account of the River Kishon demonstrate God's control over nature and history? 2. In what ways can we "March on, O my soul, in strength" in our daily lives, and what does this look like practically? 3. How does the victory over Sisera encourage us to trust in God's deliverance in our own battles? 4. What are some ways we can incorporate remembrance and praise into our spiritual practices, similar to Deborah's song? 5. How do other biblical accounts of God's deliverance (e.g., Exodus, Psalms) reinforce the themes found in Judges 5:21? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 15The Song of Moses and Miriam, which celebrates God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, parallels the Song of Deborah in celebrating victory over oppressors. Psalm 83A prayer for God to defeat Israel's enemies, similar to how He intervened at the River Kishon. Isaiah 41Speaks of God strengthening His people, echoing the call to "March on, O my soul, in strength." People Abinoam, Amalek, Anath, Asher, Barak, Benjamin, Dan, Deborah, Heber, Issachar, Jael, Machir, Naphtali, Reuben, Seir, Shamgar, Sisera, ZebulunPlaces Canaan, Edom, Gilead, Jordan River, Kishon River, Megiddo, Meroz, Seir, Sinai, TaanachTopics Age-old, Ancient, Brook, Flight, Hast, Kishon, March, O, Onrushing, Praise, River, Soul, Stopping, Strength, Strong, Swept, Torrent, Tread, Trodden, ViolentlyDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 5:21 4260 rivers and streams Judges 5:1-31 5420 music Judges 5:14-31 5091 Deborah Library Recreant Reuben
Why satest then among the sheepfolds, to hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.'--JUDGES v. 16 (R.V.). I. The fight. The warfare is ever repeated, though in new forms. In the highest form it is Christ versus the World, And that conflict must be fought out in our own souls first. Our religion should lead not only to accept and rely on what Christ does for us, but to do and dare for Christ. He has given Himself for us, and has thereby …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture 'All Things are Yours'
'They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.'--JUDGES v. 20. 'For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.'--Job v. 23. These two poetical fragments present the same truth on opposite sides. The first of them comes from Deborah's triumphant chant. The singer identifies God with the cause of Israel, and declares that heaven itself fought against those who fought against God's people. There may be …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Love Makes Suns
'Let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.' JUDGES V. 51. These are the closing words of Deborah, the great warrior-prophetess of Israel. They are in singular contrast with the tone of fierce enthusiasm for battle which throbs through the rest of the chant, and with its stern approval of the deed of Jael when she slew Sisera. Here, in its last notes, we have an anticipation of the highest and best truths of the Gospel. 'Let them that love Him be as the sun when he goeth …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Songs of Deliverance
The results which accrued from the conquest achieved by Barak, are upon a small scale similar to those which come to us through the deliverance wrought out by the Lord Jesus Christ. I shall take our text and spiritualize it, viewing its joyous details as emblematic of the blessings granted to us through our Redeemer. Those who went to draw water at the wells after Barak's victory, were no longer disturbed by the robbers who lurked at the fountains for purposes of plunder; and instead of drawing the …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 13: 1867 Whether the Orders Will Outlast the Day of Judgment?
Objection 1: It would seem that the orders of angels will not outlast the Day of Judgment. For the Apostle says (1 Cor. 15:24), that Christ will "bring to naught all principality and power, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God and the Father," and this will be in the final consummation. Therefore for the same reason all others will be abolished in that state. Objection 2: Further, to the office of the angelic orders it belongs to cleanse, enlighten, and perfect. But after the Day of …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Why is it that Our Lord Has Tarried Till Now? Why Has not the Redeemer Returned Long Ere This?
At first sight perhaps this inquiry might appear almost irreverent and some may feel inclined to remind us that "secret things belong unto the Lord." In response we would say, It is not in any spirit of idle curiosity nor is it to indulge an inquisitive speculation that we take up this question, but simply because we believe that a humble examination of it will prove profitable to our souls, inasmuch as the answer to our inquiry demonstrates the wisdom and grace of Him with whom we have to do. Of …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return Hindrances to Revivals.
Text.--I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you."--Nehemiah vi. 3. THIS servant of God had come down from Babylon to rebuild the temple and re-establish the worship of God at Jerusalem, the city of his fathers' sepulchres. When it was discovered by Sanballat and certain individuals, his allies, who had long enjoyed the desolations of Zion, that now the temple, and the holy city were about to be rebuilt, they raised a great …
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion The Publication of the Gospel
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it [or of the preachers] P erhaps no one Psalm has given greater exercise to the skill and patience of commentators and critics, than the sixty-eighth. I suppose the difficulties do not properly belong to the Psalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Psalmist alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Salvation Published from the Mountains
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! I t would be improper to propose an alteration, though a slight one, in the reading of a text, without bearing my testimony to the great value of our English version, which I believe, in point of simplicity, strength, and fidelity, is not likely to be excelled by a new translation …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 The Sovereignty of God in Operation
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be the glory for ever. Amen" (Romans 11:36). Has God foreordained everything that comes to pass? Has He decreed that what is, was to have been? In the final analysis this is only another way of asking, Is God now governing the world and everyone and everything in it? If God is governing the world then is He governing it according to a definite purpose, or aimlessly and at random? If He is governing it according to some purpose, then …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied in Ancient Rabbinic Writings
THE following list contains the passages in the Old Testament applied to the Messiah or to Messianic times in the most ancient Jewish writings. They amount in all to 456, thus distributed: 75 from the Pentateuch, 243 from the Prophets, and 138 from the Hagiorgrapha, and supported by more than 558 separate quotations from Rabbinic writings. Despite all labour care, it can scarcely be hoped that the list is quite complete, although, it is hoped, no important passage has been omitted. The Rabbinic references …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 5:21 NIVJudges 5:21 NLTJudges 5:21 ESVJudges 5:21 NASBJudges 5:21 KJV
Judges 5:21 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
