Bible Commentary

Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty. 13. Then came down a remnant ] The Massoretic scribes intended the verb to mean ‘then may the remnant (i.e. of Israel) rule over the noble ones,’ a prayer; but the noble … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:13”

Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. 12. The real subject of the Song, introduced by the previous verses, begins here. Part II, Jdg 5:12-22, describes the muster and the battle. Like Part I it consists of three stanzas; like Part III (which … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:12”

[They that are delivered] from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, [even] the righteous acts [toward the inhabitants] of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates. 11. Another most obscure verse. Far … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:11”

Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 10. In this most obscure verse the poet is generally supposed to call upon various classes of Israelites to take their share in celebrating the victory. Tell of it ] So LXX, Vulgate The verb means talk (against) … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:10”

My heart [is] toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD. 9. governors ] Apparently the same word as in Jdg 5:14, though the form is slightly different, lit. lawgivers, Isa 10:1; but in a primitive community the lawgivers would be the military leaders ( Jdg 5:14), … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:9”

They chose new gods; then [was] war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? 8. It is still the period of the oppression, though Jdg 5:7 has for a moment anticipated matters by alluding to the ‘rise’ of Deborah. The first half of the verse yields no … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:8”

[The inhabitants of] the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 7. The rulers ceased ] The Targ., Peshitto, Jewish commentators followed by AV., treat the Hebr. pr zn (sing.), found only here and Jdg 5:11, as equivalent to pr zth (plur.) = … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:7”

In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through byways. 6. Shamgar the son of Anath ] See on Jdg 3:31. It is extraordinary that the period of the oppression ( in the days of as Jdg 15:20) should be dated … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:6”

The mountains melted from before the LORD, [even] that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel. 5. flowed down ] streamed, Isa 64:1; the verb as in Isa 45:8, Job 36:28. The Hebr. form also allows the rendering quaked marg., LXX, from a different root. Even yon Sinai at the presence of the Lord, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:5”

LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 4, 5. Jehovah’s advent. These verses describe the awful coming of Jehovah to help His people in the battle: the Godhead approaches in storm and thunder, in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 5:4”