“Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.”
To wit, the two tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.
“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.”
Deut. 2:1 Cross references: : Deut. 4:11
“In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways . travellers: Heb. walkers of paths byways: Heb. crooked ways”
Judg. 4:18 For fear of the enemies. Judg. 3:31
“The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.”
Miraculously stirred up of God to pity them and deliver them.
“They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?”
They had no heart to resist their enemies.
“Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. Speak: or, Meditate”
Ye governors. As in danger of your enemies.
“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. righteous: Heb. righteousnesses”
For now you may draw water without fear of your enemies.
“Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.”
To wit, them that kept thy people in captivity.
“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. handle: Heb. draw with”
Joshua first fought against Amalek, and Saul destroyed him. Even the learned did help to fight.
“And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart. foot: Heb. his feet thoughts: Heb. impressions For: or, In”
They marveled, that they came not over Jordan to help them. Even the whole tribe.
“Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches. shore: or, port breaches: or, creeks”
Either by beating of the sea, or by mining. She reproveth all them that came not to help their brethren in their necessity.
“The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.”
They won nothing, but lost all.
“The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.”
As a besom doeth the filth of the house.
“Curse ye 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.”
It was a city near to Tabor, where they fought.
“He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.”
Some read churned milk in a great cup.
“Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself, answer: Heb. her words”
That is, she comforted herself.
“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? every: Heb. the head of a man”
Because he was chief of the army.
“So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.”
Shall grow daily more and more in God’s favor.