Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Judges Chapter 5
Overview
Jdg 5:1, The Song of Deborah and Barak.
Sang Deborah: This verse briefly recites the subject of this inspired song, which consists of eight stanzas: The first opens with a devout thanksgiving. The second describes the magnificent scenes at Mount Sinai, etc. The third states the apostasy and consequent punishment of the Israelites. The fourth contrasts their present happy state. The fifth censures the recreant tribes of Reuben, Gad, etc. The sixth records the defeat of the confederate kings of Canaan. The seventh contains a panegyric on Jael. And the eight describes the fond anticipations and disappointment of the mother of Sisera. Exo 15:1, Exo 15:21; Num 21:17; Sa1 2:1; Ch2 20:21, Ch2 20:27; Job 38:7; Psa 18:1 *title Isa 12:1-6, Isa 25:1, Isa 26:1; Luk 1:46, Luk 1:67, Luk 1:68; Rev 15:3, Rev 15:4, Rev 19:1-3
for the avenging: Deu 32:43; Sa2 22:47, Sa2 22:48; Psa 18:47, Psa 48:11, Psa 94:1, Psa 97:8, Psa 136:15, Psa 136:19, Psa 136:20; Psa 149:6-9; Rev 16:5, Rev 16:6, Rev 18:20, Rev 19:2
when: Jdg 5:9; Ch2 17:16; Neh 11:2; Psa 110:3; Co1 9:17; Co2 8:12, Co2 9:7; Phi 2:13; Plm 1:14
O ye kings: Deu 32:1, Deu 32:3; Psa 2:10-12, Psa 49:1, Psa 49:2, Psa 119:46, Psa 138:4, Psa 138:5
even I: Jdg 5:7; Gen 6:17, Gen 9:9; Exo 31:6; Lev 26:28; Kg1 18:22, Kg1 19:10, Kg1 19:14; Ezr 7:21
Lord: Deu 33:2; Psa 68:7, Psa 68:8; Hab 3:3-6
the earth: Sa2 22:8; Job 9:6; Psa 18:7-15
dropped: Psa 77:17
mountains: Deu 4:11; Psa 97:5, Psa 114:4; Isa 64:1-3; Nah 1:5; Hab 3:10
melted: Heb. flowed
that Sinai: Exo 19:18, Exo 20:18; Deu 4:11, Deu 4:12, Deu 5:22-25; Heb 12:18
Shamgar: Jdg 3:31
the highways: Lev 26:22; Ch2 15:5; Isa 33:8; Lam 1:4, Lam 4:18; Mic 3:12
travellers: Heb. walkers of paths
byways: Heb. crooked ways, Psa 125:5
the villages: Est 9:19
a mother: Jdg 4:4-6; Sa2 20:19; Isa 49:23; Rom 16:13
new gods: Jdg 2:12, Jdg 2:17; Deu 32:16, Deu 32:17
was there: Jdg 4:3; Sa1 13:19-22
offered: Jdg 5:2; Ch1 29:9; Co2 8:3, Co2 8:4, Co2 8:12, Co2 8:17, Co2 9:5
Speak: or, Meditate, Psa 105:2, Psa 145:5, Psa 145:11
ye that sit: Psa 107:32; Isa 28:6; Joe 3:12
in the places: Dr. Shaw mentions a beautiful rill of water in Barbary, which runs into a large bason, called shrub we krub, "drink and be off," because of the danger of meeting with robbers and assassins in this place, who fall upon those who come to drink. Gen 26:20-22; Exo 2:17-19; Isa 12:3
righteous acts: Heb. righteousnesses, Sa1 12:7; Psa 145:7; Mic 6:5
villages: Jdg 5:7
go down: Deu 22:24; Job 29:7; Isa 28:6; Jer 7:2
Deborah: Psa 57:8, Psa 103:1, Psa 103:2, Psa 108:2; Isa 51:9, Isa 51:17, Isa 52:1, Isa 52:2, Isa 60:1; Jer 31:26; Co1 15:34; Eph 5:14
lead: Psa 68:18; Isa 14:2, Isa 33:1, Isa 49:24-26; Eph 4:8; Ti2 2:26
he made: Psa 49:14; Isa 41:15, Isa 41:16; Eze 17:24; Dan 7:18-27; Rom 8:37; Rev 2:26, Rev 2:27; Rev 3:9
the Lord: Psa 75:7
of Ephraim: Jdg 3:27, Jdg 4:5, Jdg 4:6
Amalek: Jdg 3:13; Exo 17:8-16
handle the pen: Heb. draw with the pen
the princes: Ch1 12:32
foot: Heb. his feet, Beraglaiv, rather, "with his footmen," so LXX Alex. πεζους αυτου, and Luther, mit feinem Fubvolt. Act 20:13
For the: or, In the divisions, etc. Act 15:39
thoughts: Heb. impressions, Pro 22:13; Co2 11:2
sheepfolds: Num 32:1-5, Num 32:24; Phi 2:21, Phi 3:19
For: or, In, Jdg 5:15 *marg.
great: Psa 4:4, Psa 77:6; Lam 3:40, Lam 3:41
Asher: Jos 19:24-31
sea shore: or, sea-port
breaches: or, creeks
Zebulun: Jdg 4:10
jeoparded: Heb. exposed to reproach.
their lives: Est 4:16; Act 20:24; Jo1 3:16; Rev 12:11
in the high: Jdg 4:6, Jdg 4:10, Jdg 4:14
kings: Jos 10:22-27, Jos 11:1-15; Psa 48:4-6, Psa 68:12-14, Psa 118:8-12; Rev 17:12-14; Rev 19:19
they took: Jdg 5:30; Gen 14:22, Gen 4:16; Psa 44:12
fought: Jos 10:11; Sa1 7:10; Psa 77:17, Psa 77:18
the stars: Jdg 4:15
courses: Heb. paths
Kishon: Jdg 4:7, Jdg 4:13; Kg1 18:40; Psa 83:9, Psa 83:10
O my soul: Gen 49:18; Psa 44:5; Isa 25:10; Mic 7:10
horsehoofs: Anciently, horses were not shod; nor are they at the present day in some parts of the East. The flight was so rapid that the hoofs of their horses were splintered and broken by the roughness of the roads; in consequence of which they became lame, and could not carry off their riders. Psa 20:7, Psa 33:17, Psa 147:10, Psa 147:11; Isa 5:28; Jer 47:4; Mic 4:13
prancings: or, tramplings, or, plungings
mighty ones: Or, as Dr. Waterland renders, "mighty horses," or "strong steeds," as Dr. Kennicott, i.e., their war-horses, which gives great energy to the text, and renders it perfectly intelligible.
Curse ye: Sa1 26:19; Jer 48:10; Co1 16:22
Meroz: This city of Meroz seems to have been, at this time, a place of considerable importance, since something great was expected from it; but probably, after the angel of the Lord had pronounced this curse, it dwindled and like the fig-tree which Christ cursed, withered away; so that we never read of it after this in Scripture.
the angel: Jdg 2:1, Jdg 4:6, Jdg 6:11, Jdg 13:3; Mat 25:41
they came: Jdg 21:9, Jdg 21:10; Neh 3:5
to the help: Sa1 17:47, Sa1 18:17, Sa1 25:28; Rom 15:18; Co1 3:9; Co2 6:1
Jdg 4:17; Gen 14:19; Pro 31:31; Luk 1:28, Luk 1:42
asked: Jdg 4:19-21
butter: Chemah, may signify buttermilk, which is made by the Arabs by agitating the milk in a leathern bag; and is highly esteemed because of its refreshing and cooling qualities.
with the: Heb. She hammered
she smote off: Or rather, "she smote his head, then she struck through and pierced his temples:" which is more consonant to the original, and to fact, as it does not appear that she smote off his head. Sa1 17:49-51; Sa2 20:22
At: Heb. Between
where: Psa 52:7; Mat 7:2; Jam 2:13
dead: Heb. destroyed
Why is: Jdg 4:15; Sol 8:14; Jam 5:7
answer: Heb. her words, Jdg 5:29
Have they not sped: Exo 15:9; Job 20:5
every man: Heb. the head of a man
of divers: Gen 37:3; Sa2 13:18; Psa 45:14
So let: Psa 48:4, Psa 48:5, Psa 58:10, Psa 58:11, Psa 68:1-3, Psa 83:9-18, Psa 92:9, Psa 97:8; Rev 6:10, Rev 18:20; Rev 19:2, Rev 19:3
them that: Exo 20:6; Deu 6:5; Psa 91:14, Psa 97:10; Rom 8:28; Co1 8:3; Eph 6:24; Jam 1:12, Jam 2:5; Pe1 1:8; Jo1 4:19-21, Jo1 5:2, Jo1 5:3
the sun: Sa2 23:4; Psa 19:4, Psa 19:5, Psa 37:6; Pro 4:18; Dan 12:3; Hos 6:3; Mat 13:43
And the land: The victory here celebrated in this song, was of such happy consequence to Israel, that for the principal part of one age, they enjoyed the peace to which it had been the means of opening the way. The land had rest forty years, that is, so long it was from this victory to the raising up of Gideon. And well would it have been for the Israelites, if while the tribes had rest, they had taken advantage of the cessation from war, and had walked in the fear of the Lord. Jdg 3:11, Jdg 3:30