2 Because of the flowing hair of the fighters in Israel, because the people gave themselves freely, give praise to the Lord.
Come, you rulers of Israel, you who gave yourselves freely among the people: give praise to the Lord.
Your people give themselves gladly in the day of your power; like the dew of the morning on the holy mountains is the army of your young men.
But if I do it gladly, I have a reward; and if not, I am under orders to do it.
For true and upright are his decisions; for by him has the evil woman been judged, who made the earth unclean with the sins of her body; and he has given her punishment for the blood of his servants.
And the voice of the angel of the waters came to my ears, saying, True and upright is your judging, O Holy One, who is and was from all time: For they made the blood of saints and prophets come out like a stream, and blood have you given them for drink; which is their right reward.
But without your approval I would do nothing; so that your good works might not be forced, but done freely from your heart.
Let every man do after the purpose of his heart; not giving with grief, or by force: for God takes pleasure in a ready giver.
For if there is a ready mind, a man will have God's approval in the measure of what he has, and not of what he has not.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands; To give the nations the reward of their sins, and the peoples their punishment; To put their kings in chains, and their rulers in bands of iron; To give them the punishment which is in the holy writings: this honour is given to all his saints. Praise be to the Lord.
Sihon, king of the Amorites: for his mercy is unchanging for ever: And Og, king of Bashan: for his mercy is unchanging for ever:
Zion gave ear and was glad; and the daughters of Judah were full of joy, because of your decisions, O Lord.
O God, in whose hands is punishment, O God of punishment, let your shining face be seen.
It is God who sends punishment on my haters, and puts peoples under my rule.
And the people gave a blessing to all the men who were freely offering to take up their places in Jerusalem.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Judges 5
Commentary on Judges 5 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 5
This chapter contains the triumphal song which was composed and sung upon occasion of that glorious victory which Israel obtained over the forces of Jabin king of Canaan and the happy consequences of that victory. Probably it was usual then to publish poems upon such occasions, as now; but this only is preserved of all the poems of that age of the judges, because dictated by Deborah a prophetess, designed for a psalm of praise then, and a pattern of praise to after-ages, and it gives a great deal of light to the history of these times.
Jdg 5:1-5
The former chapter let us know what great things God had done for Israel; in this we have the thankful returns they made to God, that all ages of the church might learn that work of heaven to praise God.
Jdg 5:6-11
Here,
Jdg 5:12-23
Here,
Jdg 5:24-31
Deborah here concludes this triumphant song,
The victory here celebrated with this song was of such happy consequence to Israel that for the best part of one age they enjoyed the peace which it opened the way to: The land had rest forty years, that is, so long it was from this victory to the raising up of Gideon. And well would it have been if, when the churches and the tribes had rest, they had been edified, and had walked in the fear of the Lord.