1Dbora sang und Barak Sohn Abinoams an jenem Tage im Spruch: 2Da Kriegslocken sich lockten in Jissrael, da ein Volk sich willig hergab, segnet IHN! 3Höret, Könige, lauschet, Erlauchte, ich, IHM will ich singen, saitenspielen IHM, Jissraels Gott. 4DU, als du ausfuhrst von Sseďr, schrittest von Edoms Gefild, bebte die Erde, zugleich troffen die Himmel, zugleich zertroffen die Wolken zu Wasser, 5die Berge wankten vor IHM, - ein Ssinai dieser vor IHM, Jissraels Gott. 6In den Tagen Schamgars Sohns Anats, in den Tagen Jaels stockten die Wanderzüge, die Straßengänger gingen krumme Wanderpfade, 7das Bauerntum, es stockte in Jissrael, stockte, bis du aufstandst, Dbora, aufstandst, eine Mutter in Jissrael! 8Hat Gott sich Neue erwählt, dann streitet er um die Tore. Ward etwa Schild und Lanze ersehn unter vierzig Tausenden Jissraels? 9Mein Herz den Führern Jissraels zu, den sich Willigenden im Volk! Segnet IHN! 10Die ihr lohfarbne Eselinnen reitet, die ihr auf Prunkröcken sitzet, und die ihr des Wegs euch ergeht, berichtets! 11Horch, Taktschlagende zwischen den Tränken! dort wechselsagen sie SEINE Bewährungen, Bewährungen an seiner Bauernschaft in Jissrael. Schon stiegen sie zu den Toren herab, SEIN Volk! 12Erwache, erwache, Dbora, erwache, erwache, bereds im Gesang! Auf, Barak, fang deine Fänger, Sohn Abinoams! 13Schon steigt hinab der Rest, mit den Edlen das Volk: DU, steig hinab mir unter den Helden! 14Von Efrajim her - an Amalek ihre Wurzel - , dir nach, Binjamin! hintan deinen Volksleuten! von Machir stiegen Führer hinab, von Sbulun Lenker mit des Musternden Stab, 15die Obern in Jissachar mit Dbora, wie Jissachar so der Barakstamm, in die Ebne, gestreckt ihm zu Füßen. In den Aufspaltungen Rubens gab es Herzensführungen groß. 16Warum saßest du zwischen den Pferchen? um die Herdenschalmeien zu hören? Bei den Aufspaltungen Rubens gab es Herzensspürungen groß. 17Gilad, gut wohnt er über dem Jordan, und Dan, warum gastet auf Schiffen er? Ascher blieb sitzen am Meergestad, gut wohnt er bei seinen Buchten! 18Aber Sbulun - Volk, seine Seele verschmähend zum Tod, aber Naftali - auf den Höhen des Feldes! 19Könige kamen und stritten, schon stritten Kanaans Könige, in Taanach, an den Wassern Megiddos, sie erlangten nicht Silbergewinn: 20vom Himmel her stritten die Sterne, von ihren Bahnen her stritten sie gegen Ssissra. 21Der Bach Kischon spülte sie fort, der Urzeitbach, der Bach Kischon, - Wegs voran, meine Seele, im Sieg! - 22schon entstampfen die Hufe der Roßmacht vom: Galopp Galopp! ihrer Recken. 23Fluchet Meros, spricht SEIN Bote, fluchet, Fluch seinen Sassen, denn nicht kamen sie IHM zu Hilfe, IHM zu Hilfe unter den Helden. 24Gesegnet vor Weibern Jael, Chabers Weib des Keniters, vor den Weibern im Zelt gesegnet! 25Wasser heischte er, Milch gab sie, in der Schale für Edle reichte sie Sahne. 26Ihre Hand, sie streckt sie zum Pflock, ihre Rechte zum Arbeitsstampf, sie stampft auf Ssissra, zerschmettert sein Haupt, zerspellt, durchhaut seine Schläfe. 27Zwischen ihren Füßen bäumte sich, sank er, lag, zwischen ihren Füßen bäumte er, sank, wo er sich bäumte, da sank er, vernichtet. 28Durchs Fenster lugte ächzend Ssissras Mutter, durch das Gitter: Weshalb säumt sein Gefährt zu kommen, weshalb zögert seiner Fahrzeuge Rasseln? 29Die klügsten ihrer Fürstinnen antworten ihr, auch sie selber erwidert sich ihre Sprüche: 30Müssen sie nicht Beute finden, verteilen, einen Schoß, zwei Schoße auf den Kopf des Wehrmanns, Beute bunter Tücher für Ssissra, Beute bunter gewirkter Tücher, ein buntdoppelgewirktes für meinen Hals, Beute - ? 31So müssen schwinden all deine Feinde, DU! Aber die ihn lieben sind, wie die Sonne ausfährt in ihrer Heldenwehr. Dann rastete das Land 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.