Keraia
Judges 5

Judges 5:18

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

Translations

Modern
Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.
Traditional
Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
Literal
Zebulun is a people who exposed its soul to death, and Naphtali, on the heights of the field.
Latin
Zabulon vero et Nephthali obtulerunt animas suas morti in regione Merome.

Original

Hebrew
English
Zebulun was a people who risked their lives; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the battlefield.

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

Naphtali: Son of Jacob, founder of the tribe of Naphtali Zebulun: Israelite tribe, son of Jacob and Leah

Glossary

Armageddon Book of Jashar Deborah Family Life and Relations Hazor Hebrew Language Jael Judah, Tribe of Judges, Book of Kishon Music Poetry, Biblical Simeon, Tribe of Song of Deborah Tribe of Naphtali Woman Zebulun, Tribe of

Topics

Chiding: Deborah Chides Israel in Her Epic Country: Love of Patriotism: General Scriptures Concerning Patriotism: The Tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali Servant: Bond: Degrading Influences of Bondage Exemplified by Cowardice the Tribe of Naphtali: Praised for Aiding Against Sisera the Tribe of Zebulun: Praised for Assisting Deborah and Barak in Opposing Sisera Tribe of Naphtali: Defeat Sisera Tribe of Zebulun with Barak Against Sisera