Judges 5:1-21 ▼

1 On that day Deborah (bee) and Barak (lightning) son of Abinoam (my father is delight) sang this song:

2 “When the princes take the lead in Israel (he wrestles with God), when the people volunteer, bless the LORD {YHWH}.

3 Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD {YHWH}; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God).

4 O LORD {YHWH}, when You went out from Seir (shaggy), when You marched from the land of Edom (red), the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain, and the clouds poured down water.

5 The mountains quaked before the LORD {YHWH}, the One of Sinai (thorny), before the LORD, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God).

6 In the days of Shamgar (sword) son of Anath (answer), in the days of Jael (mountain goat), the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways.

7 Life in the villages ceased; it ended in Israel (he wrestles with God), until I, Deborah (bee), arose, a mother in Israel.

8 When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates. Not a shield or spear was found among forty thousand in Israel (he wrestles with God).

9 My heart is with the princes of Israel (he wrestles with God), with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD {YHWH}!

10 You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder

11 the voices of the singers (archers) at the watering places. There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD {YHWH}, the righteous deeds of His villagers (warriors) in Israel (he wrestles with God). Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates:

12 ‘Awake, awake, O Deborah (bee)! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, O Barak (lightning), and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam (my father is delight)!’

13 Then the survivors came down to the nobles; the people of the LORD {YHWH} came down to me against the mighty.

14 Some came from Ephraim (doubly fruitful), with their roots in Amalek (dweller in a valley); Benjamin (son of the right hand) came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir (sold), the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun (exalted).

15 The princes of Issachar (there is recompense) were with Deborah (bee), and Issachar was with Barak (lightning), rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben (behold a son) there was great indecision (much searching of heart).

16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben (behold a son) there was great indecision.

17 Gilead (rocky region) remained beyond the Jordan (flowing down). Dan (He has judged), why did you linger by the ships? Asher (happy) stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors.

18 Zebulun (exalted) was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too (wrestling), on the heights of the battlefield.

19 Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan (lowland) fought at Taanach (sandy) by the waters of Megiddo (place of crowds), but they took no plunder of silver.

20 From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera (battle array).

21 The River Kishon (winding) swept them away, the ancient river, the River Kishon. March on, O my soul, in strength!