Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 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 colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of needlework on both sides, [meet] for the necks of [them that take] the spoil?
30. The verse has suffered from corrupt repetitions: spoil four times, divers colours three times. Omitting the superfluous words we may restore the text as follows:
Are they not finding, dividing the spoil?
a wench or two for each man
a spoil of dyed garments for Sisera;
a broidered cloth or two for my neck ( ?).
A wench or two: the word (only here in this sense in the O.T.) is used by Mesha in his inscription of the women captured from the Israelites (Moab. St. l. 17). Spoil of dyed garments lit. ‘booty of dyes,’ i.e. dyed stuffs. A broidered cloth or two, the construction is the same as in line 2; for the word cf. Eze 16:10; Eze 16:13; Eze 16:18; Psa 45:14; strictly it means variegated work, either woven or embroidered, see Exo 38:23; spoils of this kind were much valued, cf. 2Sa 1:24. The end of the last line is obscure: the text runs for the necks of the spoil, as though these rich stuffs would be used to caparison the animals led in the triumph of the captors! The parallelism suggests a personal reference corresponding to Sisera; so LXX ‘for his neck as a spoil.’ Ewald ingeniously proposed for the last word queen (Psa 44:9; Neh 2:6), changing only one letter. On the whole it seems preferable to omit the word, and read for my neck or for his neck; but there can be no certainty about the restoration.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Render the latter part of the verse a booty of dyed garments for Sisera, a booty of dyed garments and of party-colored cloth, a dyed garment and two party-colored clothes for the necks of the booty, the spoil or booty being either captive damsels, or captive cattle on whose necks these clothes are to be placed (either as ornament or as a burden; compare Jdg 8:21, Jdg 8:26). But possibly the necks of the booty may mean the backs or shoulders (of men or beasts) laden with booty.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Have they not divided the prey? i.e. it is certain they have got the prey, only they tarry to view it and distribute it, according to every mans quality and merit.
Of them that take the spoil, Heb. of the prey; the prey put for the men of prey, those, or who take the prey; as kindred is put for a man of kindred, or a kinsman, Rth 3:2; and Belial, for a man of Belial, 2Sa 16:7; and days, for a man of days, or an old man, Job 32:7.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
30. to every man a damsel ortwoYoung maidens formed always a valued part of Orientalconquerors’ war-spoils. But Sisera’s mother wished other booty forhim; namely, the gold-threaded, richly embroidered, andscarlet-colored cloaks which were held in such high esteem. The odeconcludes with a wish in keeping with the pious and patrioticcharacter of the prophetess.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Have they not sped?…. Or “found” u the enemy, Barak and his army, or the spoil of them? no doubt they have:
have they not divided the prey? doubtless they have, which being large, and the captives many, has taken up much of their time to look over, and make an equal and proper division of, and that most certainly is the cause of the delay:
to every man a damsel or two? or “a womb or two w”, using both unchaste and contemptuous language x, and pleasing themselves with the virgins of Israel being abused by the common soldiers, which was too frequently the case with the Heathens at gaining a victory:
to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides; suits of clothes of different colours, such as were the works of the women of Sidon y, and those curiously interwoven or wrought with a needle, and that on both sides of the silk or material of which they were made; and so such as were of great worth and esteem, and such it was expected, and with confidence and assurance of it, Sisera would bring with him, and make presents of to his mother and her ladies, or which he would have for his own wear and use, or both:
meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? the general of the army, and the chief men to whom the spoil was brought, and then divided suitably to the rank and quality of every soldier. Pliny z says, the Phrygians first invented the art of needlework; hence the garments wrought, and those that made them, were called after their name; but it is certain it was known by the ancient Hebrews and Canaanites, see
Ex 26:36.
u “nonne invenient”, Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Vatablus w “vulvam vulvas duas”, Piscator. x Vid. R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 59. 1. y Julian. Opera, par. 1. crat. 2. p. 94. Vid. Homer. Iliad. 6. ver. 289, 290. z Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 48.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(30) Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey?Literally, Are they not finding? are they not dividing the spoil? Is not the wealth of their booty the cause of their delay? (Comp. Exo. 15:9 : The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil.)
To every man.Literally, as in the margin, to the head of a man. (Comp. Exo. 16:16; Num. 1:2; 1Ch. 12:23.)
A damsel or two.Literally, a maiden, two maidens; only that the word used is strongly contemptuous, as though a captive Hebrew girl could only be described by a term of scorn. In these internecine wars the men were killed and the women reserved as slaves (Num. 31:17-18). Commentators quote a remarkable parallel from Gibbon (2, ch. 11), where he says that two or three Gothic female captives fell to the share of each of the soldiers of Claudius II. (Tantum mulierum cepimus,ut binas et ternasmulieres victor sibi miles possit adjungere.Trebellius Pollio, 8) The reading of the Peshito is, a heap, two heaps, as in Jdg. 15:16.
Of divers colours.Literally, of dyed robes.
Of divers colours of needlework.Of dyed robes of embroidered webs.
Of divers colours of needlework on both sides.A dyed robe, two embroidered webs.
Meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?Literally, as in the margin, for the necks of the spoil. As this gives no good sense, our version follows those which here understand spoil as equivalent to spoiler. The old versions take spoil in apposition to the rest of the sentence: e.g., the LXX. have, dyed robes of embroidered webs for his neck, as spoils, and a similar meaning is involved in the loose paraphrase of the Vulgate. Others explain it to mean that the dyed robes are to be carried on the necks of the female slaves and the captive cattle. Ewald reads shegal (queen ) for shellal (prey )a brilliant and probable conjecture; for if the booty of the soldiers and the general is mentioned, the royal ladies would be hardly likely to forget themselves. In any case, the mother of Sisera is characteristically described (as Bishop Lowth has pointed out) as talking neither of the slaughter of the enemy nor the prowess of the warriors, but only of the gay and feminine booty. (Comp. Faemineo praedae et spoliorum arderet amore, n. xi. 728.) Nothing can exceed the power and skill with which in a few words the vanity, levity, and arrogance of these wise princesses are described, as they idly talk of colours and embroidery, and, as it were, gloat over the description; while, at the same time, an unwomanly coarseness (racham, for maiden) mingles with their womanly frivolity. Only we must bear in mind that they too, like Deborah and Jael, though in an ignobler way, are the creatures of their age and circumstances.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
30. The spoil The spoil, or booty, as the context shows, was supposed to consist of captive girls and rich garments. None but oriental females would speculate in the manner here portrayed. Their joy would be, not that the enemy was defeated, and great deeds of arms had brought glory to their country, and to their fathers, husbands, and sons, but that much spoil had been taken, and especially of that kind in which females delighted.
Two maidens, to the head of a hero That is, one or two captive females assigned to each warrior, a common custom of the ancient times.
Dyed garments for Sisera “The wise lady of the harem was not desirous that Sisera himself should acquire any damsels. She wished only for variegated garments and showy trappings for the triumphal procession of her lord.” Herder.
Of double embroidery Embroidered on both sides.
At the necks of the spoil To be hung and carried in the triumphal procession, on the necks of the captive maidens, who were so important a part of the spoil. These ladies of the harem doubtless expected to share largely in these rich garments, but they looked to see them brought on the necks of the captive damsels. Others explain, for the neck of the spoiler, that is, Sisera; or, as English version, for the necks of them that take the spoil. Bertheau and Keil read , queen, instead of , spoil. But for this latter there is no authority, and the former is unnecessary, and far less simple and natural than the explanation we have given.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 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] for the necks of [them that take] the spoil?
Ver. 30. Have they not sped? ] Yes, they are sped, they have their passport, and your hopes hop headless.
To every man a damsel or two.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Have . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
sped = found; i.e. the damsels they were fighting for: and while doing so they were defeated by a woman.
To every man = to every head of a man; “head” put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for the whole person.
man. Hebrew. geber (App-14. IV) = a strong man.
damsel. Hebrew womb. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part) for the whole person, to emphasize the motive underneath. This was the one object of Jabin’s oppression. See notes on Jdg 4:4, Jdg 4:17; Jdg 5:7, Jdg 5:11, Jdg 5:24.
spoil. Figure of speech Aposiopesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Have they not sped: Exo 15:9, Job 20:5
every man: Heb. the head of a man
of divers: Gen 37:3, 2Sa 13:18, Psa 45:14
Reciprocal: Exo 27:16 – needlework Jdg 5:19 – they took Jdg 15:14 – the Philistines 2Sa 1:24 – General 1Ki 2:9 – hold him 2Ki 3:23 – now therefore Psa 124:6 – who hath not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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.