1Toho dne Debora a Abinoamův syn Barak takto zazpívali: 2Za to, že si válečníci v Izraeli rozpustili vlasy, za to, že se dobrovolně nabídl lid, velebte Jahva! 3Slyšte, králové! Naslouchejte, knížata! Já budu zpívat Jahvovi. Oslavím Jahva, Boha Izraele. 4Jahve, když jsi vyšel ze Seiru, když jsi postupoval z edomských polí, zatřásla se země, nebesa přetekla, mraky chrlily vodu. 5Zalily se hory před Jahvem, před Jahvem ze Sinaje, před Jahvem, Bohem Izraele. 6Za dnů Anatova syna Šamgara, za dnů Jaeliných už nebyly žádné karavany; ti, kdo odcházeli po cestách, se ubírali postranními stezkami. 7Vesnice byly mrtvé v Izraeli, byly mrtvé, dokud jsi nepovstala, Deboro, dokud jsi nepovstala, matko v Izraeli! 8Vybírali si nové bohy, a tak byla válka za dveřmi; štít ani kopí nebylo vidět pro čtyřicet tisíc v Izraeli! 9Mé srdce jde vstříc náčelníkům Izraele, s dobrovolníky z lidu! Velebte Jahva! 10Vy, kteří jezdíte na bílých oslicích, sedáte na pokrývkách, i vy, kdo jdete cestou, zpívejte 11do jásotu pastýřů u napajedel. Tam se oslavují Jahvova dobrodiní, jeho dobrodiní pro jeho vesnice v Izraeli! (Tehdy Jahvův lid sešel k branám.) 12Vzbuď se, vzbuď se, Deboro! Vzbuď se, vzbuď se, hlasitě zapěj píseň! Hlavu vzhůru! Vstávej, Baraku! A zajmi ty, kteří zajali tebe, Abinoamův synu! 13A tak Izrael sešel k branám, za svou věc vyšel Jahvův lid jako hrdina. 14Efraimova knížata jsou v údolí. Za tebou je mezi tvými Benjamin. Z Makira vyšli náčelníci, ze Zabulona ti, kdo nosí velitelskou hůl. 15S Deborou jsou Izacharova knížata a Neftali s Barakem se v údolí pustil po jeho stopách. V Rubenových rodech se vedly dlouhé domluvy. 16Proč jsi zůstal v ohradách a u stád poslouchal hvízdání? (V Rubenových rodech se vedly dlouhé domluvy.) 17Galaad zůstal za Jordánem a Dan, proč ten žije na lodích? Ašer se omeškal na břehu moře, klidně bydlí ve svých přístavech. 18Zabulon je lid, jenž pohrdl smrtí, stejně tak Neftali, na výšinách země. 19Přišli králové, oni bojovali, a tak oni bojovali s kanaánskými králi v Tanaku, u vod Megida, ale stříbro neukořistili. 20Z výšin nebe bojovaly hvězdy, ze svých drah bojovaly proti Siserovi. 21Potok Kišon je smetl, potok z dávných dob, potok Kišon! Směle pochoduj, má duše! 22A tak do půdy zabušila koňská kopyta: cválají, cválají jako váleční oři! 23Proklejte Meroz, říká Jahvův anděl, proklejte, proklejte jeho obyvatele: neboť nepřišli Jahvovi na pomoc, na pomoc Jahvovi mezi hrdiny. 24Požehnaná mezi ženami buď Jael (žena Kenity Chebera), mezi ženami, jež bydlí ve stanech, buď požehnaná! 25On žádal vodu, ona dala mléko, v číši vznešených podala smetanu. 26Natáhla ruku a uchopila kolík, pravici a uchopila pořádné kladivo. Udeřila Siseru, rozbila mu hlavu, prorazila a roztříštila mu spánek. 27On se jí zhroutil mezi nohy, padl, položil se, k nohám se jí zhroutil, padl. Tam, kam se zhroutil, tam zničen padl. 28Z okna se vyklání, číhá Siserova matka, přes mřížoví: „Proč jeho vůz stále nepřijíždí? Proč jsou jeho spřežení tak pomalá?“ 29Nejchytřejší z jeho kněžen jí odpovídá a ona si sama pro sebe opakuje: 30„Určitě sbírají, dělí si kořist: jednu dívku, dvě dívky na každého válečníka! Kořist vyšívaných látek pro Siseru, jednu, dvě výšivky na krk mně!“ 31Takto zahynou všichni tví nepřátelé, Jahve! A ti, kdo tě milují, ať jsou jako slunce, když vychází ve své síle! A země měla po čtyřicet let pokoj.
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.