Keraia
Judges 5

Judges 5:19

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

Modern
Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.
Traditional
The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
Literal
The kings came—they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; spoils of silver they did not take.
Latin
Venerunt reges et pugnaverunt: pugnaverunt reges Chanaan in Thanach juxta aquas Mageddo, et tamen nihil tulere prædantes.

Original

Hebrew
English
Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.

Notes

Judges 5:19

Taanach was southeast of Megiddo, a major administrative center. The battle occurred in the lower Jezreel Valley. The mentions of Taanach and Megiddo are likely poetic references to famous places in the Jezreel Valley, not precise battle sites. The fighting likely happened between Mount Tabor and the lowlands near the Kishon River.

Judges 5:19–23

The battle is described. The brave warriors who followed Deborah and Barak became less important as the Lord called upon the stars of heaven and the Kishon River to destroy Sisera's army.

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

Places

Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants Megiddo: A strategic city in the Jezreel Valley Taanach: Canaanite city allotted to Manasseh, later a Levitical city

Glossary

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

Topics

Chiding: Deborah Chides Israel in Her Epic Country: Love of Megiddo: Valley of, Deborah Defeats Sisera In Money: Silver Used As Patriotism: General Scriptures Concerning Patriotism: The Tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali Taanach: The Scene of Barak's Victory