Keraia
Judges 5

Judges 5:14

The Song of Deborah and Barak · Judges 5:1–31
Read Judges 5

Translations

Modern
Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.
Traditional
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.
Literal
From Ephraim their root is in Amalek, after you Benjamin, with your peoples. From Machir came down commanders, and from Zebulun those drawing with the staff of a scribe.
Latin
Ex Ephraim delevit eos in Amalec, et post eum ex Benjamin in populos tuos, o Amalec: de Machir principes descenderunt, et de Zabulon qui exercitum ducerent ad bellandum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.

Notes

Judges 5:14–18

  • These verses honor those who volunteered and shame those who did not.

  • Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh (represented by Makir) came from the south. Issachar, where the battle took place, was joined by Zebulun and Naphtali, the two tribes closest to Barak’s home base.

  • The tribes that were too hesitant and fearful to join the fight included Reuben, Gad (represented by Gilead), Dan, and Asher.

Judges 5:1–31

This song, a victory hymn usually credited to Deborah, offers a poetic version of the battle, adding details to the prose account. It is one of the oldest Hebrew poems. It praises the Lord, the tribes who joined the fight, and Jael. It curses those who stayed home, Sisera, and his mother's followers. It contrasts life before Barak's victory, when the Lord's curse was on the land, with the blessings after the warriors' righteous acts. It ends with a prayer that the Lord's enemies will perish like Sisera (Judges 5:31).

Judges 4:1–5:31

The story of Deborah and Barak, found in both prose (Judges 4) and poetry (Judges 5), describes a major military operation against a significant Canaanite enemy after the initial conquest. Another king named Jabin, who also ruled in Hazor, was defeated earlier by Joshua along with a large northern alliance, and Hazor was burned (see Joshua 11:1–15). Although Joshua 11 and Judges 4–5 are often compared, they have too many differences to be considered accounts of the same battle. Instead, Jabin is likely a dynastic name; it appears in the Mari texts for an even earlier king of Hazor, around 1800 BC.

Events

Parallels

Exodus 15:1–21

People

Benjamin: Youngest son of Jacob and Rachel Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel Machir: Son of Manasseh; father (ie re-founder) of Gilead Zebulun: Israelite tribe, son of Jacob and Leah

Places

Amalek: A nomadic people, descendants of Esau, enemies of Israel

Glossary

Amalek, Amalekites Armageddon Benjamin, Tribe of Book of Jashar Deborah Ephraim, Tribe of Family Life and Relations Hazor Hebrew Language Hill Country of the Amalekites Jael Judah, Tribe of Judges, Book of Kishon Machir Music Poetry, Biblical Simeon, Tribe of Song of Deborah Tribe of Naphtali Woman

Topics

Art: Primitive of the Writer Arts of The: Writer Country: Love of Patriotism: General Scriptures Concerning Pen: General Scriptures Concerning Scribes: Antiquity of Scribes: Families Celebrated for Furnishing: Zebulun The Amalekites: Part of Their Possessions Taken by Ephraim the Tribe of Zebulun: Furnished Scribes or Writers to Israel the Tribe of Zebulun: Praised for Assisting Deborah and Barak in Opposing Sisera Tribe of Benjamin: Assisted Against Sisera Tribe of Benjamin: Census of Join Deborah in the war against Sisera Tribe of Ephraim: Assisted: Deborah and Barak Against Sisera Tribe of Zebulun with Barak Against Sisera