Her wisest ladies answer; indeed she keeps telling herself, Her wise ladiesThis phrase refers to the attendants or counselors of Sisera's mother, who are depicted in the Song of Deborah. The Hebrew word for "wise" here is "חֲכָמוֹת" (chakhamot), which implies not only intelligence but also cunning or shrewdness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, women of the court often held significant influence and were expected to provide counsel. These women are portrayed as attempting to comfort Sisera's mother with their wisdom, though their counsel is ultimately misguided. This reflects the broader biblical theme that human wisdom is often flawed when it stands in opposition to God's plans. answer
The Hebrew root for "answer" is "עָנָה" (anah), which means to respond or reply. This suggests a dialogue or conversation, indicating that Sisera's mother is not alone in her thoughts but is engaging with her attendants. The act of answering implies a level of interaction and community, which is a recurring theme in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of seeking counsel and the dangers of echo chambers where only desired answers are heard. indeed she keeps telling herself
This phrase highlights the internal dialogue of Sisera's mother. The Hebrew word "אַף" (af) can be translated as "indeed" or "also," suggesting an emphasis or reinforcement of her thoughts. The repetition in "keeps telling" indicates a persistent self-reassurance, a common human behavior when faced with anxiety or uncertainty. This reflects the psychological state of denial or false hope, as she tries to convince herself of her son's victorious return. In a broader scriptural context, this can be seen as a caution against self-deception and the importance of aligning one's hopes with God's truth rather than personal desires. Persons / Places / Events 1. SiseraA Canaanite commander defeated by the Israelites under Deborah and Barak's leadership. His death is a central event in Judges 4 and 5. 2. Sisera's MotherShe is depicted in Judges 5:28-30 as anxiously awaiting her son's return, unaware of his defeat and death. 3. The Wisest of Her LadiesThese are the attendants or noblewomen who attempt to comfort Sisera's mother with their words. 4. DeborahA prophetess and judge of Israel who, along with Barak, led the Israelites to victory over Sisera. 5. BarakThe military leader who, under Deborah's guidance, led the Israelite army against Sisera. Teaching Points The Futility of False HopesSisera's mother and her attendants represent misplaced trust in human strength and victory. Believers are reminded to place their hope in God, not in worldly powers. The Role of Women in God's PlanThe passage highlights the influence and roles of women, both in leadership (Deborah) and in familial settings (Sisera's mother). It encourages recognizing and valuing the contributions of women in the faith community. The Consequences of WickednessSisera's defeat serves as a reminder of the ultimate justice of God. It encourages believers to live righteously, knowing that God sees and judges all actions. The Power of Godly LeadershipDeborah's role as a leader and prophetess demonstrates the impact of godly leadership. It challenges believers to seek and support leaders who follow God's guidance. The Importance of Community SupportThe interaction between Sisera's mother and her attendants shows the human need for support and encouragement, even when misguided. Believers are encouraged to provide godly counsel and support to one another. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the response of Sisera's mother and her attendants reflect the dangers of placing hope in worldly achievements? Can you think of modern examples where this might apply? 2. In what ways does the role of Deborah in this account challenge or affirm your understanding of leadership within the church? How can you apply this understanding in your community? 3. Compare the wisdom of Sisera's mother's attendants with the wisdom described in Proverbs 31. How can you cultivate godly wisdom in your daily life? 4. Reflect on a time when you experienced or witnessed the consequences of wickedness. How does this passage encourage you to pursue righteousness? 5. How can the community of believers provide support and encouragement in times of uncertainty, as seen in the interaction between Sisera's mother and her attendants? What practical steps can you take to be a source of godly counsel in your community? Connections to Other Scriptures Proverbs 31The depiction of wise women in Judges 5:29 can be contrasted with the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31, highlighting the different roles and wisdom attributed to women in the Bible. 1 Samuel 2Hannah's prayer can be compared to Deborah's song, both celebrating God's deliverance and justice. Psalm 37This Psalm speaks of the eventual downfall of the wicked, which parallels the fate of Sisera and the false hopes of his mother and her attendants. 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 Gives, Herself, Indeed, Keeps, Ladies, Nay, Ones, Princesses, Repeats, Returned, Returneth, Saying, Sayings, Wise, Wisest, Women, Yea, YesDictionary of Bible Themes 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 5:29 NIVJudges 5:29 NLTJudges 5:29 ESVJudges 5:29 NASBJudges 5:29 KJV
Judges 5:29 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
