The Song of Deborah and Barak

Judges 5

1 v Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:

2 "That the leaders took the lead in Israel,
that w the people offered themselves willingly,
bless the Lord!

3 "Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes;
to the Lord I will sing;
I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.

4 "Lord, x when you went out from Seir,
when you marched from the region of Edom,
y the earth trembled
and the heavens dropped,
yes, the clouds dropped water.
 5 The mountains z quaked before the Lord,
a even Sinai before the Lord, the God of Israel.

6 "In the days of b Shamgar, son of Anath,
in the days of c Jael, d the highways were abandoned,
and travelers kept to the byways.
 7 The villagers ceased in Israel;
they ceased to be until I arose;
I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.
 8 e When new gods were chosen,
then war was in the gates.
f Was shield or spear to be seen
among forty thousand in Israel?
 9 My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel
who g offered themselves willingly among the people.
Bless the Lord.

10 "Tell of it, h you who ride on white donkeys,
you who sit on rich carpets 1
and you who walk by the way.

11 To the sound of musicians 2 at the watering places,
there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the Lord,
the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel.
"Then down to the gates marched the people of the Lord.

12 i "Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, break out in a song!
Arise, Barak, j lead away your captives,
O son of Abinoam.
 13 Then down marched the remnant of the noble;
the people of the Lord marched down for me against the mighty.
 14 From k Ephraim their root l they marched down into the valley, 3
following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen;
from m Machir marched down the commanders,
and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant's 4 staff;
 15 the princes of Issachar came with Deborah,
and Issachar faithful to n Barak;
into the valley they rushed at his heels.
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
 16 Why did you sit still o among the sheepfolds,
to hear the whistling for the flocks?
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
 17 p Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan;
q and Dan, why did he stay with the ships?
r Asher sat still s at the coast of the sea,
staying by his landings.
 18 t Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death;
t Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.

19 "The kings came, they fought;
then fought the kings of Canaan,
at u Taanach, by the waters of v Megiddo;
w they got no spoils of silver.
 20 x From heaven the stars fought,
from their courses they fought against Sisera.
 21 y The torrent Kishon swept them away,
the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon.
March on, my soul, with might!

22 "Then loud beat the horses' hoofs
with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.

23 "Curse Meroz, says the angel of the Lord,
curse its inhabitants thoroughly,
z because they did not come to the help of the Lord,
to the help of the Lord against the mighty.

24 "Most blessed of women be a Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
of tent-dwelling women most blessed.
 25 b He asked water and she gave him milk;
she brought him curds in a noble's bowl.
 26 c She sent her hand to the tent peg
and her right hand to the workmen's mallet;
she struck Sisera;
she crushed his head;
she shattered and pierced his temple.
 27 Between her feet
he sank, he fell, he lay still;
between her feet
he sank, he fell;
where he sank,
there he fell - dead.

28 d "Out of the window she peered,
the mother of Sisera wailed through e the lattice:
'Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?'
 29 Her wisest princesses answer,
indeed, she answers herself,
 30 'Have they not found and f divided the spoil? -
A womb or two for every man;
spoil of dyed materials for Sisera,
spoil of dyed materials embroidered,
two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?'

31 g "So may all your enemies perish, O Lord!
But your friends be h like the sun i as he rises in his might."
j And the land had rest for forty years.

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 15:1
    Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, "I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
  2. Cross References
    Judges 5:9
    My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord.
    2 Chronicles 17:16
    And next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the Lord, with 200,000 mighty men of valor.
  3. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:2
    He said, "The Lord came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand.
    Psalms 68:7
    O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
  4. Cross References
    2 Samuel 22:8
    Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundatio...
    Psalms 18:7
    Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundatio...
    Psalms 68:8
    The earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,...
    Psalms 77:18
    The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;...
    Nahum 1:5
    The mountains quake before him; the hills melt;...
    Habakkuk 3:10
    The mountains saw you and writhed; the raging w...
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 64:1
    Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence -
    Isaiah 64:3
    When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 19:18
    Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.
    Deuteronomy 4:11
    And you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, wrapped in darkness, cloud, and gloom.
  7. Cross References
    Judges 3:31
    After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.
  8. Cross References
    Judges 4:17
    But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
  9. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:22
    And I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you few in number, so that your roads shall be deserted.
    Isaiah 33:8
    The highways lie waste; the traveler ceases. Covenants are broken; cities are despised; there is no regard for man.
    Lamentations 1:4
    The roads to Zion mourn, for none come to the festival; all her gates are desolate; her priests groan; her virgins have been afflicted, and she herself suffers bitterly.
  10. Cross References
    Judges 2:12
    And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.
    Judges 2:17
    Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so.
    Deuteronomy 32:16
    They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 13:19
    Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.
    1 Samuel 13:22
    So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them.
  12. Cross References
    Judges 5:2
    That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord!
  13. Cross References
    Judges 10:4
    And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
    Judges 12:14
    He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years.
    Zechariah 9:9
    Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 57:8
    Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 68:18
    You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
    Ephesians 4:8
    Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.
  16. Cross References
    Judges 3:27
    When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was their leader.
    Judges 12:15
    Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
  17. Cross References
    Judges 12:15
    Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
  18. Cross References
    Numbers 32:39 - 40
    And the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead and captured it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it.
  19. Cross References
    Judges 4:14
    And Deborah said to Barak, "Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 49:14
    Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds.
    Psalms 68:13
    Though you men lie among the sheepfolds - the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold.
    Numbers 32:1
    Now the people of Reuben and the people of Gad had a very great number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for livestock.
  21. Cross References
    Joshua 13:24 - 28
    Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of Gad, to the people of Gad, according to their clans.
  22. Cross References
    Joshua 19:46
    And Me-jarkon and Rakkon with the territory over against Joppa.
  23. Cross References
    Joshua 19:29
    Then the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre. Then the boundary turns to Hosah, and it ends at the sea; Mahalab, Achzib.
    Joshua 19:31
    This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Asher according to their clans - these cities with their villages.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 49:13
    Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.
  25. Cross References
    Judges 4:10
    And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.
  26. Cross References
    Judges 4:10
    And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.
  27. Cross References
    Judges 1:27
    Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, for the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land.
    Joshua 17:11
    Also in Issachar and in Asher Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages, and Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; the third is Naphath.
    1 Kings 4:12
    Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam.
  28. Cross References
    2 Kings 9:27
    When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him and said, "Shoot him also." And they shot him in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there.
    2 Kings 23:29 - 30
    In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him, and Pharaoh Neco killed him at Megiddo, as soon as he saw him.
    2 Chronicles 35:22
    Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo.
  29. Cross References
    Judges 5:30
    'Have they not found and divided the spoil? - A womb or two for every man; spoil of dyed materials for Sisera, spoil of dyed materials embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?'
  30. Cross References
    Joshua 10:11
    And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
  31. Cross References
    Judges 4:7
    And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand'?
  32. Cross References
    Judges 21:9 - 10
    For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.
  33. Cross References
    Judges 4:17
    But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
  34. Cross References
    Judges 4:19
    And he said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.
  35. Cross References
    Judges 4:21
    But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died.
  36. Cross References
    2 Samuel 6:16
    As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.
  37. Cross References
    Proverbs 7:6
    For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice.
  38. Cross References
    Exodus 15:9
    The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.
  39. Cross References
    Psalms 83:9 - 10
    Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon.
  40. Cross References
    2 Samuel 23:4
    He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
    Daniel 12:3
    And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
    Matthew 13:43
    Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
  41. Cross References
    Psalms 19:5
    Which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
    Psalms 37:6
    He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
  42. Cross References
    Judges 3:11
    So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Next Book Next Book