Chapter 5
5:2 Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the a people willingly offered themselves.

(a) That is, the two tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.
5:6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were b unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
(b) For fear of the enemies.
5:7 [The inhabitants of] the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a c mother in Israel.
(c) Miraculously stirred up by God to pity them and deliver them.
5:8 They chose new gods; then [was] war in the gates: was there a d shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?
(d) They had no heart to resist their enemies.
5:10 Speak, ye that ride on e white asses, ye that sit f in judgment, and walk by the way.
(e) You governors.
(f) Or by Middin, as in danger of your enemies.
5:12 Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead h thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.
(h) That is, they who kept your people in captivity.
5:14 Out of Ephraim i [was there] a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.
(i) Joshua first fought against Amalek, and Saul destroyed him.
5:15 And the princes of Issachar [were] with Deborah; even l Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great m thoughts of heart.
(l) Even the whole tribe.
(m) They marvelled that they did not cross the Jordan to help them.
5:17 n Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his o breaches.
(n) She reproves all those who did not come to help their brethren in their time of need.
(o) Either by hearing of the sea, or by mining,
5:19 The kings came [and] fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of p money.
(p) They won nothing, but lost all.
5:21 The river of Kishon q swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
(q) As a broom does to the filth of the house.
5:23 Curse ye r Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
(r) It was a city near Tabor, where they fought.
5:25 He asked water, [and] she gave [him] milk; she brought forth s butter in a lordly dish.
(s) Some read churned milk in a great cup.
5:29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, t she returned answer to herself,
(t) That is, she comforted herself.
5:30 Have they not sped? have they [not] divided the prey; to every man a damsel [or] two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, [meet] u for the necks of [them that take] the spoil?
(u) Because he was chief of the army.
5:31 So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but [let] them that love him [be] as the x sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.
(x) Shall grow daily more and more in Gods favour.