Keraia
Judges 5

Judges 5:6

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

Modern
In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways.
Traditional
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
Literal
In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted, and the travelers walked the crooked ways.
Latin
In diebus Samgar filii Anath, in diebus Jahel quieverunt semitæ: et qui ingrediebantur per eas, ambulaverunt per calles devios.

Original

Hebrew
English
In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were deserted and the travelers took the byways.

Notes

Judges 5:6

During this chaotic and uncertain time, people outside the main walled cities had little security. Even Shamgar (see Judges 3:31) did not ease the suffering of common people. They endured hardships under the Canaanites and their cruel commander, Sisera.

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

Anath: Father of Shamgar, a judge of Israel Jael: Wife of Heber; killed Sisera, the Canaanite commander Shamgar: Judge of Israel who killed 600 Philistines

Glossary

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

Topics

Country: Love of Highways: By-Paths More Secure in Times of Danger Jael: Wife of Heber, and the One Who Killed Sisera Patriotism: General Scriptures Concerning Shamgar: A Deliverer (Judge, Hero) of Israel Travellers for Security often Left the Highways