1Und es sangen Debora und Barak, der Sohn Abinoams, an jenem Tag und sprachen: 2Mit Zahlung von Gelübden in Jisraël, Mit Volkes Edelgaben preist יהוה! 3Hört, Könige, vernehmt es, Fürsten! Ich will יהוה, ich will ihm singen, Besingen ich יהוה, Gott Jisraëls. 4Als, יהוה, du auszogst von Seďr, Herschrittest aus Edoms Gefild, Da bebt' die Erde, ja, die Himmel troffen, Und auch die Wolken troffen Wasser. 5Die Berge flossen nieder vor יהוה, Der Sinai vor יהוה, Gott Jisraëls. 6In Schamgars Tagen, Sohns Anats, In Jaëls Tagen gabs mehr keine Straßen, Und die der Wege zogen, gingen krumme Pfade. 7Freisiedlung wagt man nicht in Jisraël, wagts nimmer, Bis daß ich aufgestanden, Debora, Aufstand als Mutter in Jisraël. 8Es hatte neue Götter sich erwählt! Gabs damals Kampf an den Toren, - Ob Schild und Lanze ward gesehn Bei vierzigtausenden in Jisraël! 9Mein Herz den Schreibekundigen in Jisraël, Den edel Schenkenden im Volk! Preist ihr יהוה! 10Die auf Zehorots Eselstuten reiten, Auf Middins (Tieren) sitzen Und die des Weges ziehen, (Denen) sagts, 11Sie sollen bei Trompeterschall am Schöpfbrunn Dort laut des Ewgen Gnadentaten künden, Heilstat an seiner Freisiedlung in Jisraël, Als zu den Toren niederschritt des Ewgen Volk: 12,Auf, auf, Debora! Auf, auf, sag Sang! Steh auf, Barak, Raub dir Gefangene, Sohn Abinoams!' 13Der Hirten Restling zwang damals ein Volk, יהוה bezwang für mich die Helden. 14Von Efraim die, deren Wurzel in Amalek, Dir nach dann Binjamin mit deinen Stämmen. Von Machir kamen sie herab, die Schreibekundigen, Von Sebulun, Amtsschreibers Stab umfassend. 15Die Fürsten in Jissachar mit Debora, - Und treuen Lohn bringt (Jis-sachar) Barak! Ins Tal entsandt, ihm nach! In Rëubens Abteilungen gab's Große, Gabs kluge Schreiber; 16Warum denn bliebst du bei der Anrichte, Zu lauschen auf der Herden Blöken? Gabs Große doch bei Rëubens Abteilungen, Gabs kluge Räte! 17Gil'ad, der überm Jarden wohnt, und Dan - Warum weilt bei den Schiffen Ascher, des Sitz an Meeres Küste, An seinen Buchten wohnt er? 18Sebulun, Volk, dem Tode schändet es sein Leben, Und Naftali, auf Höhen des Gefilds. 19Da kamen Könige und kämpften, Da kämpften Könige Kenaans Bei Ta'nach, an Megiddos Wassern. Gewinn an Silber holten sie sich nicht. 20Vom Himmel her sie stritten, Die Sterne her von ihren Bahnen Mit Sisera sie stritten. 21Der Fluß Kischon, er rafft sie, Der Fluß von Kedumim, der Fluß Kischon. Mit Macht trittst, meine Seele, du einher! 22Da hämmerten der Rosse Hufe Im Traben, Trappen ihrer Helden. 23,Verflucht Meros', so spricht des Ewgen Bote, ,Flucht, fluchet seinen Wohnern, Weil sie nicht kamen zu des Ewgen Hilfe, Des Ewgen Hilfe bei den Helden!' 24Gesegnet vor den Frauen sei Jaël, Das Weib des Heber, des Keniters, Vor Fraun im Zelt gesegnet! 25Um Wasser bat er, Milch gab sie, In der Hirten Schüssel reicht' sie Rahm. 26Die Hand streckt nach dem Pflock sie aus, Die Rechte nach dem Arbeitshammer. Haut' ein auf Sisera, schlug ihm den Kopf, Zerschmettert' und durchbohrte seine Schläfe. 27Zu ihren Füßen brach er nieder, sank, lag da, Zu ihren Füßen brach er nieder, fiel. Da wo er niederbrach, da lag er, totgeschlagen. 28Durchs Fenster schaut und jammert Die Mutter Siseras, durchs Gitter: ,Warum doch zögert sein Gefährt zu kommen? Warum doch säumen seiner Wagen Tritte?' 29Die Weisen ihrer Edelfrauen tun ihr Antwort, Auch selbst gibt sie mit Worten sich Bescheid: 30,Gewiß, sie finden, teilen Beute, Geschenk, Geschenke für der Männer Kopf, Der Beute Schatz für Sisera, Der Beute Schatz, geplündert, Geplünderte Schätze, In Haufen Beute!' 31So gehen unter alle deine Feinde, יהוה, Doch die ihn lieben - Wie Sonne strahlt in ihrer Macht!» Dann hatte das Land Ruhe vierzig Jahre.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 DEBORAH AND BARAK'S SONG OF THANKSGIVING. (Jdg. 5:1-31)
Then sang Deborah and Barak . . . on that day--This noble triumphal ode was evidently the composition of Deborah herself.
2 The meaning is obscurely seen in our version; it has been better rendered thus, "Praise ye Jehovah; for the free are freed in Israel--the people have willingly offered themselves" [ROBINSON].
4 Allusion is here made, in general terms, to God's interposition on behalf of His people.
Seir . . . the field of Edom--represent the mountain range and plain extending along the south from the Dead Sea to the Elanitic Gulf.
thou wentest out--indicates the storm to have proceeded from the south or southeast.
6 The song proceeds in these verses to describe the sad condition of the country, the oppression of the people, and the origin of all the national distress in the people's apostasy from God. Idolatry was the cause of foreign invasion and internal inability to resist it.
9 expresses gratitude to the respective leaders of the tribes which participated in the contest; but, above all, to God, who inspired both the patriotic disposition and the strength.
10 Speak--that is, join in this song of praise.
white asses--Those which are purely white are highly prized, and being costly, are possessed only by the wealthy and great.
Ye that sit in judgment--has been rendered, "ye that repose on tapestries."
11 The wells which are at a little distance from towns in the East, are, in unsettled times, places of danger. But in peace they are scenes of pleasant and joyous resort. The poetess anticipates that this song may be sung, and the righteous acts of the Lord rehearsed at these now tranquil "places of drawing water." Deborah now rouses herself to describe, in terms suitable to the occasion, the preparation and the contest, and calls in a flight of poetic enthusiasm on Barak to parade his prisoners in triumphal procession. Then follows a eulogistic enumeration of the tribes which raised the commanded levy, or volunteered their services--the soldiers of Ephraim who dwelt near the mount of the Amalekites, the small quota of Benjamin; "the governors," valiant leaders "out of Machir," the western Manasseh; out of Zebulun.
15 Then comes a reproachful notice of the tribes which did not obey the summons to take the field against the common enemy of Israel. By the
divisions--that is, the watercourses which descend from the eastern hills unto the Jordan and Dead Sea.
For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart--They felt the patriotic impulse and determined, at first, to join the ranks of their western brethren, but resiled from the purpose, preferring their peaceful shepherd songs to the trumpet sound of war.
17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan--that is, Both Gad and the eastern half to Manasseh chose to dwell at ease in their Havoth-jair, or "villages of tents," while Dan and Asher, both maritime tribes, continued with their ships and in their "breaches" ("havens"). The mention of these craven tribes (
Judg 5:18) is concluded with a fresh burst of commendation on Zebulun and Naphtali.
19 describes the scene of battle and the issue. It would seem (
Judg 5:19) that Jabin was reinforced by the troops of other Canaanite princes. The battlefield was near Taanach (now Ta'annuk), on a tell or mound in the level plain of Megiddo (now Leijun), on its southwestern extremity, by the left bank of the Kishon.
they took no gain of money--They obtained no plunder.
20 the stars in their courses fought--A fearful tempest burst upon them and threw them into disorder.
21 the river of Kishon swept them away--The enemy was defeated near "the waters of Megiddo"--the sources and side streams of the Kishon: they that fled had to cross the deep and marshy bed of the torrent, but the Lord had sent a heavy rain--the waters suddenly rose--the warriors fell into the quicksands, and sinking deep into them, were drowned or washed into the sea [VAN DE VELDE].
22 Then were the horse hoofs broken by the means of the prancings--Anciently, as in many parts of the East still, horses were not shod. The breaking of the hoofs denotes the hot haste and heavy irregular tramp of the routed foe.
23 Curse ye Meroz--a village on the confines of Issachar and Naphtali, which lay in the course of the fugitives, but the inhabitants declined to aid in their destruction.
24 is a most graphic picture of the treatment of Sisera in the tent of Jael.
25 butter--curdled milk; a favorite beverage in the East.
28 In these verses a sudden transition is made to the mother of the Canaanite general, and a striking picture is drawn of a mind agitated between hope and fear--impatient of delay, yet anticipating the news of victory and the rewards of rich booty.
the lattice--a lattice window, common to the houses in warm countries for the circulation of air.
29 her wise ladies--maids of honor.
30 to every man a damsel or two--Young maidens formed always a valued part of Oriental conquerors' war-spoils. But Sisera's mother wished other booty for him; namely, the gold-threaded, richly embroidered, and scarlet-colored cloaks which were held in such high esteem. The ode concludes with a wish in keeping with the pious and patriotic character of the prophetess.