Verse 2

Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the a people willingly offered themselves.

(a) That is, the two tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Verse 6

In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were b unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.

(b) For fear of the enemies.

Verse 7

[The inhabitants of] the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a c mother in Israel.

(c) Miraculously stirred up by God to pity them and deliver them.

Verse 8

They chose new gods; then [was] war in the gates: was there a d shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

(d) They had no heart to resist their enemies.

Verse 10

Speak, ye that ride on e white asses, ye that sit f in judgment, and walk by the way.

(e) You governors.

(f) Or by Middin, as in danger of your enemies.

Verse 12

Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead h thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.

(h) That is, they who kept your people in captivity.

Verse 14

Out of Ephraim i [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.

(i) Joshua first fought against Amalek, and Saul destroyed him.

Verse 15

And the princes of Issachar [were] with Deborah; even l Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben [there were] great m thoughts of heart.

(l) Even the whole tribe.

(m) They marvelled that they did not cross the Jordan to help them.

Verse 17

n Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his o breaches.

(n) She reproves all those who did not come to help their brethren in their time of need.

(o) Either by hearing of the sea, or by mining,

Verse 19

The kings came [and] fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of p money.

(p) They won nothing, but lost all.

Verse 21

The river of Kishon q swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.

(q) As a broom does to the filth of the house.

Verse 23

Curse ye r Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

(r) It was a city near Tabor, where they fought.

Verse 25

He asked water, [and] she gave [him] milk; she brought forth s butter in a lordly dish.

(s) Some read churned milk in a great cup.

Verse 29

Her wise ladies answered her, yea, t she returned answer to herself,

(t) That is, she comforted herself.

Verse 30

Have they not sped? have they [not] divided the prey; to every man a damsel [or] two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, [meet] u for the necks of [them that take] the spoil?

(u) Because he was chief of the army.

Verse 31

So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but [let] them that love him [be] as the x sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

(x) Shall grow daily more and more in God's favour.