Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:14
Out of Ephraim [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.
14. Out of Ephraim came down they whose root is in Amalek ] i.e. those Ephraimites whose settled home was ‘in the hill country of the Amalekites,’ the latter term being used in Jdg 12:15 to describe the situation of Pirathon in the land of Ephraim. But the poet can hardly mean that only the Ephraimites of Pirathon came to the war, and there is no evidence that this district was the chief stronghold of Ephraim (Moore); moreover the Amalekites, though Jdg 12:15 implies a settlement of them in the north, belong properly to the deserts far S. of Judah (see on Jdg 1:16). Lit. the words mean ‘From E. their root (is) in Amalek,’ a singularly harsh expression. No doubt for Amalek we should read in the valley, with LXX. A, Luc., and other Verss.; for their root a verb is wanted, as in the third line of this verse; ‘they went’ shru (cf. Isa 57:9, and the use of shru = to pass along in Assyrian), suggested by Winckler, Altor. Forsch. i. 193, suits the context, but is no more than a guess.
After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples ] The pronoun thy evidently refers to Ephraim; but if the Benjamites came ‘after,’ they could not be ‘among’ the people of Ephraim; so correct after thee to thy brother (LXX. A). Thy brother Benjamin was among thy people seems to mean that, Benjamin, being too small to provide a contingent under its own chiefs, marched in the ranks of Ephraim.
Machir ] probably stands here for Manasseh, of which it formed the chief clan; according to Jos 17:1 Machir was the eldest, according to Gen 50:23, Num 26:29 the only, son of Manasseh. The settlement of Machir in Gilead E. of Jordan (Num 32:39 ff., Deu 3:15) probably did not take place till later times. The context shews that governors denote military leaders, see on Jdg 5:9, and cf. Deu 33:21; in Gen 49:10, Num 21:18, Psa 60:7 the word is used of the staff or wand of a commander (translated sceptre in A. and RV.).
they that handle the marshal’s staff ] or, that march with the marshal’s staff. Another designation of a chief, more exactly one who writes, enrols the muster of troops, cf. 2Ki 25:19, Jer 52:25, 2Ch 26:11 referring to the later organization of the army: he carried a baton as a badge of office.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Render Of Ephraim (Deborahs own tribe) came down those whose root is in Mount Amalek Jdg 12:15; after thee (O Ephraim) came Benjamin among thy people; of Machir (the west-Jordanic milies of Manasseh. See Jos 17:1-6) there came down the chiefs, and of Zebulon they that handle the staff of the officer the military scribe, whose duty it was, like that of the Roman tribunes, to keep the muster roll, and superintend the recruiting of the army. (See 2Ki 25:19.)
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. Out of Ephraim – a root of them] Deborah probably means that out of Ephraim and Benjamin came eminent warriors. Joshua, who was of the tribe of Ephraim, routed the Amalekites a short time after the Israelites came out of Egypt, Ex 17:10. Ehud, who was of the tribe of Benjamin, slew Eglon, and defeated the Moabites, the friends and allies of the Ammonites and Amalekites. Machir, in the land of Gilead, produced eminent warriors; and Zebulun produced eminent statesmen, and men of literature. Probably Deborah speaks here of the past wars, and not of any thing that was done on this occasion; for we know that no persons from Gilead were present in the war between Jabin and Israel. See Jdg 5:17. Gilead abode beyond Jordan.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Now she relates the carriage and miscarriage of the several tribes in this expedition; and she begins with
Ephraim.
Was there a root of them; either, first, Of the Ephraimites; or, secondly, Of them that came forth to this expedition. By
root she seems to mean a
branch, as that word is sometimes used, as Isa 11:10; 53:2; by which also she may note the fewness of those that came out of Ephraim, that
fruitful bough consisting of many branches, Gen 49:22, yielding but one branch or a handful of men to this service.
Against Amalek, the constant and sworn enemy of the Israelites, who were confederate with their last oppressors the Moabites, Jdg 3:13, and in all probability took their advantage now against the Israelites in the southern or middle parts of Canaan, whilst their main force was drawn northward against Jabin and Sisera. Against these therefore Ephraim sent forth a party; and so did Benjamin, as it here follows; and these hindered their conjunction with Jabins forces, and gave their brethren the advantage of fighting with Sisera alone.
After thee, Benjamin: Benjamin followed Ephraims example. Or, after thee, O Benjamin; and thus the pre-eminence is here given to Benjamin in two respects: First, That he was first in this expedition, as indeed he lay near the Amalekites, and by his example encouraged the Ephraimites. Secondly, That the whole tribe of Benjamin, though now but small, came forth to this war, when the numerous tribe of Ephraim sent only a handful to it.
Among the people; either, first, Among the people of Benjamin, with whom those few Ephraimites united themselves in this expedition. Or, secondly, Among the people or tribes of Israel, to wit, those who engaged themselves in this war.
Out of Machir, i.e. out of the tribe of Manasseh, which are elsewhere called by the name of Machir, as Jos 13:31, to wit, out of the half tribe which was within Jordan; for of the other she speaks Jdg 5:17.
Governors; either civil governors, the princes and great persons, who were as ready to hazard themselves and their ample estates as the meanest; or military officers, valiant and expert commanders, such as some of Machirs posterity are noted to have been.
They that handle the pen of the writer, i.e. even the scribes, who gave themselves to study and writing, whereby they were exempted from military service, did voluntarily enter into this service. Or, they that drew, to wit, the people after them, as that verb is used, Jdg 4:6. With the pen of the scribe or writer, i.e. who did not only go themselves, but by their letters invited and engaged others to go with them to the battle.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek,…. In this and some following verses, Deborah makes mention of the tribes that were siding and assisting in this war, and of those that were not; and begins with Ephraim, where she herself dwelt, Jud 4:5 who was the root, foundation, and source of this expedition, that under a divine influence directed, animated, and encouraged to it; and by whom, and from whence, a detachment was sent against the Amalekites, who upon all occasions were ready to assist the Canaanites, and now were about to do it; and to prevent their junction, a party was sent from Ephraim, and by the Ehpraimites; though the Targum, and the Jewish commentators in general, refer this to a past action, which Deborah here commemorates and celebrates; and understand by “root”, Joshua, who was of that tribe, and who discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword, Ex 17:13
after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; which the same Targum and the same writers interpret of a future fact, and as spoken of by way of prophecy; and suppose that Saul of the tribe of Benjamin is meant, and the people of Benjamin, the two hundred thousand footmen he took with him, and fought against Amalek, and destroyed them, 1Sa 15:1 but it is rather to be understood of the tribe of Benjamin in general, which at this time went out against Amalek, to prevent their giving any assistance to Jabin king of Canaan, and who were followed in it by a party of the Ephraimites; so that Benjamin has the greatest honour given it, partly as it was first in this affair, and partly as it was general, the whole tribe engaged, whereas only a few in Ephraim, and those stimulated by the example of Benjamin:
out of Machir came down governors; Machir was the only son of Manasseh, and therefore this must respect that tribe, half of which was settled on the other side Jordan, and to which Jarchi and other Jewish writers ascribe this, and suppose it refers to the princes and great men of it, who subdued the Amorites, and took the sixty cities of Argob in the time of Moses; though Kimchi and Ben Gersom understand it of some of them that came from thence to assist in this war; but it is clearly suggested in Jud 5:17 that they abode beyond Jordan, and gave no assistance at all; it therefore must be understood of the half tribe of Manasseh, within Jordan, from whence came great personages, with a number of men no doubt along with them, to lend an helping hand against the Canaanites, or to be employed as assistants under Barak in this expedition:
and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer; which being a maritime tribe, and employed in trade and navigation, had many clerks famous for their readiness in handling the pen; but these through a zeal for the common cause dropped their pens, and took to the sword, in vindication of the rights and liberties of themselves and their brethren; for which they are justly commended.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“ From ( , poetical for ) Ephraim,” sc., there came fighting men; not the whole tribe, but only nobles or brave men, and indeed those whose roots were in Amalek, i.e., those who were rooted or had taken root, i.e., had settled and spread themselves out upon the tribe-territory of Ephraim, which had formerly been inhabited by Amalekites, the mount of the Amalekites, mentioned in Jdg 12:15 (for the figure itself, see Isa 27:6; Psa 80:10, and Job 5:3). “ Behind thee,” i.e., behind Ephraim, there followed Benjamin among thy (Ephraim’s) people ( , a poetical form for , in the sense of hosts). Benjamin lived farther south than Ephraim, and therefore, when looked at from the stand-point of the plain of Jezreel, behind Ephraim; “but he came upon the scene of battle, either in subordination to the more powerful Ephraimites, or rushing on with the Ephraimitish hosts” ( Bertheau). “ From Machir,” i.e., from western Manasseh, there came down leaders (see at Jdg 5:9), sc., with warriors in their train. Machir cannot refer to the Manassite family of Machir, to which Moses gave the northern part of Gilead, and Bashan, for an inheritance (comp. Jos 17:1 with Jos 13:29-31), but it stands poetically for Manasseh generally, as Machir was the only son of Manasseh, from whom all the Manassites were descended (Gen 50:23; Num 26:29., Num 27:1). The reference here, however, is simply to that portion of the tribe of Manasseh which had received its inheritance by the side of Ephraim, in the land to the west of the Jordan. This explanation of the word is required, not only by the fact that Machir is mentioned after Ephraim and Benjamin, and before Zebulun and Issachar, but still more decidedly by the introduction of Gilead beyond Jordan in connection with Reuben, in Jdg 5:17, which can only signify Gad and eastern Manasseh. Hence the two names Machir and Gilead, the names of Manasseh’s son and grandson, are poetically employed to denote the two halves of the tribe of Manasseh; Machir signifying the western Manassites, and Gilead the eastern. “ From Zebulun marchers ( , to approach in long processions, as in Jdg 4:6) with the staff of the conductor.” , writer or numberer, was the technical name given to the musterer-general, whose duty it was to levy and muster the troops (2Ki 25:19; cf. 2Ch 26:11); here it denotes the military leader generally.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(14) Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek.The LXX. and Vulgate render it, Ephraim uprooted them in Amalek. But the meaning seems to be, Out of Ephraim (came down to the battle) those whose root is in Amalek, or, among the Amalekites. Ephraim had firmly rooted himself (comp. Isa. 27:6; Psa. 80:10) in the country which had been the stronghold of the Amalekites. (See Jdg. 12:15.)
After thee, Benjamin, among thy people.Ephraim is here addressed by a sudden change of person (comp. Isa. 1:29; Isa. 42:20. &c). After thee, O Ephraim, came down Benjamin, mingled with thy people. The forces of little Benjamin are overshadowed by, and almost lost in, the crowded ranks of its powerful neighbour-tribe. In after days Benjamin clung to the skirts of Judah, but at this period his fortunes were more allied with those of Ephraim. After thee, Benjamin, seems to have become (perhaps from this allusion) a war-cry of the tribe (Hos. 5:8).
Out of Machir came down governors.Machir was the only son of Manasseh (Gen. 1:23; Num. 27:1), and is here used for the Western Manassites (Jos. 17:5). The Eastern half-tribe, no doubt, held aloof with Gad and Reuben. The silence respecting Judah is remarkable. We may conjecture that Judah and Simeon were sufficiently occupied in keeping off the Philistines, or that, having secured their own territory, they remained in selfish isolation. The word rendered governors (LXX., searchers out; Vulgate, princes ) is more strictly law-givers (Sym-machus, entassontes).
They that handle the pen of the writer.Literally, they who draw with the staff (shbet) of the scribe (sophr). Sophr may mean scribe (literally, one who counts ), and the verb rendered handle is, literally, draw; but shbet can hardly mean pen; nor is it easy to say of what special use the pen of the writer would be in the gathering of clans to battle; nor have we the faintest indication that Zebulon had any literary pre-eminence. There can be little doubt that the meaning is, They who lead (so in Latin, traho sometimes has the meaning of duco) with the staff of the marshal. The sophr is the officer (2Ki. 25:19) who musters, and therefore naturally counts and enrols, the host ( Jer. 52:25), and the staff: is his natural rod of power, or ensign of office; just as it-was (vitis, Plin., H. N. xiv. 1, 3) of Roman centurions (Vulgate, De Zebulon qui exercitum ducerent ad bel-landum).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Out of Ephraim We are here to supply in thought, they came down, from the preceding verse. That is, the heroes came out of Ephraim. The poetess goes on until Jdg 5:19 in specifying the action of the different tribes.
Whose root Or, their root, that is, their fixed abode, their established dwelling or lot.
In Amalek In Jdg 12:15, mention is made of “the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites;” whence it appears that a colony of this people had migrated from the south of Palestine, and settled among the Canaanites, and given their name to the territory which afterwards became the possession of Ephraim.
After thee After Ephraim.
Among thy people Among Ephraim’s people. In approaching the Plain of Jezreel from the south, Benjamin, from his more southern location, would naturally follow after Ephraim; but as both advanced it would seem that the Benjamites became mixed with the more powerful Ephraimites.
Out of Machir Machir was the only son of Manasseh, and through him were all the Manassites descended. Genesis 1, 23; Num 27:1. The name is here used poetically for that part of the tribe of Manasseh which was located on the west of the Jordan; just as Gilead, Manasseh’s grandson, is used, Jdg 5:17, for the eastern Manassites.
Those that draw the pencil of the writer As the word here rendered pencil ( ) generally means rod, or sceptre, most modern scholars translate, the staff of the commander. But there seems no need of departing from the ordinary meaning of the words. The word here represents the writer as drawing the letters with his pencil, and the pencil or style is metaphorically called the writer’s sceptre, as being the emblem of his power and worth. Zebulun’s location on the Phenician coast led his people to commercial enterprise, and to the cultivation of the art of writing. Clerks and accountants would therefore become numerous in that tribe. Deborah’s oracle and Ba-rak’s trumpet aroused even the literati to join the army. This was specially worthy of notice, since the quiet life and peaceful calling of the writer make him naturally averse to war.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
If the Reader, after reading all these verses as they stand in their proper places, will attend to the several things contained in them, he wilt find that Deborah takes a view of the whole army both for and against Israel. Praise is given expressly, and with particular mention, to such of the tribes of Israel as were foremost in the battle. Just reproof to the tribes which remained at home. The defection of Reuben is very pathetically lamented; and Dan and Asher are noticed with suitable regret for their indifferency. But while those who ought to have been alive to the service of God’s cause are thus reproved for not doing it, how delightfully doth Deborah dwell upon the Lord’s interposition. The very stars fought from heaven on the side of God! I would desire the Reader to remark the confederacy of the kings. So earnest were they for the ruin of Israel, that contrary to their usage, in hiring out themselves and soldiers for gain, they were volunteers in the cause. Yes! to crush the Lord Jesus in his person, or in his people, the rulers of this world are confederate. Psa 2:1-2 . Observe how this person looks with a twofold aspect; curses to God’s enemies: blessings to his friends. Is not this angel here spoken of as commending the execution of Meros the Lord Jesus? Jos 5:13-14 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 5:14 Out of Ephraim [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.
Ver. 14. Out of Ephraim was there a root a of them.] Deborah, an Ephraimite, was the root and rise of this expedition against the Canaanites, and the Amalakites their auxiliaries.
After thee, Benjamin,
Out of Maehir,
That handle the pen of the writer.
a By “root” some understand Joshua, and others the tribes of Judah and Simeon.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
was there. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis thus: “came down”, from Jdg 5:13 and Jdg 5:15.
a root, &c. = whose root was in Amalek. Compare Jdg 12:15. Or, according to Septuagint, “they who rooted them out in Amalek. “
handle = draw, in the sense of numbering, enrolling, or mustering, as in Jdg 4:6.
pen = rod (used in numbering). Lev 27:32. Eze 20:37. Nowhere else rendered pen.
writer = numberer. Hebrew. saphar, translated scribe. Compare 2Ki 25:19. 2Ch 26:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
of Ephraim: Jdg 3:27, Jdg 4:5, Jdg 4:6
Amalek: Jdg 3:13, Exo 17:8-16
after: Jdg 4:10, Jdg 4:14
Machir: Num 32:39, Num 32:40
handle the pen: Heb. draw with the pen
Reciprocal: Gen 30:20 – and she Num 26:29 – Machir Deu 33:18 – General Jos 17:1 – Machir Jdg 12:15 – in the mount 1Ch 7:14 – Machir Hos 5:8 – after
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 5:14. Out of Ephraim, &c. The prophetess, having directed their praises to the Author of their deliverance, proceeds to speak with commendation of the instruments of it, and gives us the muster of those tribes which freely offered themselves to battle. She assigns the first place to the tribe of Benjamin; the second to those of her own tribe who were settled in Amalek; the third to the Manassites beyond Jordan; the fourth to the tribe of Zebulun; and the last to the tribe of Issachar. There was a root of them against Amalek This translation is very obscure, and therefore it might be better rendered, and more agreeably to the Hebrew, Out of Ephraim came down those who were planted, or whose rest was in Amalek; meaning some of the tribe of Ephraim, who were settled in or about the mount of Amalek. See Jdg 12:15. And out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer Mr. Green has observed, and with great reason, that there is a manifest impropriety in penmen coming down to a battle; and that the word , shebet, which is here translated a pen, never signifies so throughout the Scriptures, but always a sceptre, or staff of command; and therefore he thinks our translation has mistaken the meaning here, and that it ought to be translated, And out of Zebulun those that rule or lead with the sceptre. The word , soper, rendered writer, he thinks belongs to the next verse, and should be translated numbered. This certainly would make that verse more plain and significant. It would then be, And the princes of Issachar were numbered with Deborah; that is, these princes, together with Barak the general, were mustered along with Deborah herself.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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.