Judges 5
ืฉืืคืืื ืคืจืง ืืณ
Section: ื ืืืืื ยท ื ืืืืื ืจืืฉืื ืื | Book: Judges | Chapter: 5 of 21 | Day: 29 of 742
Date: March 12, 2026
ืงืืืื ืขื ืื ืดื
The Song of Deborah (ืฉืืจืช ืืืืจื) is one of the oldest and most celebrated pieces of poetry in the Hebrew Bible. Scholars widely consider it among the most ancient texts preserved in Tanakh, possibly composed very close to the events it describes. Its archaic Hebrew, vivid imagery, and raw emotional power set it apart from the prose account of the same battle in chapter 4.
The poem opens with a theophany โ God marching forth from Seir and Edom, the earth trembling, the heavens dripping, the mountains quaking before the God of Israel. This cosmic language frames the battle against Sisera not as a local skirmish but as divine intervention in history. The poem then describes the desperate conditions before Deborah arose: caravans ceased, travelers took roundabout paths, village life came to a standstill. Into this vacuum steps Deborah, whom the poem calls โa mother in Israelโ (ืื ืืืฉืจืื).
The poemโs most distinctive feature is its tribal roll call. Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali are praised for answering the call. But Reuben is castigated for staying among the sheepfolds; Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; Dan remained with his ships; and Asher sat at the coast. This passage reveals the fragile unity of the tribes โ without central authority, participation in the common defense was voluntary.
The climax is Siseraโs death at Jaelโs hands, rendered in slow-motion poetic repetition. The final scene is devastating in its irony: Siseraโs mother peers through the window wondering why her sonโs chariot delays, while her ladies reassure her he must be dividing the spoil. The poem ends with a prayer that Godโs enemies perish, while His friends shine โas the sun rising in might.โ Forty years of peace follow.
ืคืจืง ืืณ ยท Chapter 5
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึธึฃืฉืึทืจ ืึผึฐืืึนืจึธึื ืึผืึธืจึธึืง ืึผึถืึพืึฒืึดืื ึนึืขึทืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึทืึผึฅืึนื ืึทืึืึผื ืึตืืึนึฝืจืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang:
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 2
Hebrew:
ืึผึดืคึฐืจึนึคืขึท ืคึผึฐืจึธืขืึนืชึ ืึผึฐืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึฐืึดืชึฐื ึทืึผึตึื ืขึธึื ืึผึธึฝืจึฐืึืึผ ืึฐืึนืึธึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
aIn many parts of this poem the meaning is uncertain. When locks go untrimmedblocks go untrimmed Apparently an expression of dedication; cf. Num. 6.5. in Israel,When people dedicate themselvesโBless GOD!
The song opens by calling Israel to bless God: when enemies invaded due to Israel's sins, the people volunteered to repent, and God brought deliverance (Rashi). Metzudat David adds that God made the victory appear as Israel's own, for their honor.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดึผืคึฐืจึนืขึท ืคึฐึผืจึธืขืึนืช ืึฐึผืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึฐึผืึดืชึฐื ึทืึตึผื ืขึธื. ืึฐึผืฉึถืืึธึผืืึผ ืคึฐึผืจึธืฆืึนืช ืขึทื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืฉึถืืคึธึผืจึฐืฆืึผ ืึธึผืึถื ืืึนืึฐืึตืืึถื ืขึทื ืขึธืึฐืึธื ืึถืช ืืณ, ืึฐืึดืชึฐื ึทืึตึผื ืึธืขึธื ืึธืฉืืึผื ืึดึผืชึฐืฉืืึผืึธื, ืึตืขึทืชึธึผื ืึธึผืจึฐืืึผ ืึถืช ืืณ ืขึทื ืึทืชึฐึผืฉืืึผืขืึนืช ืฉึถืืขึธืฉึธืื:
When Yisroel was inundated with breaches. When breaches befell Yisroel; when their enemies invaded them because they deserted Adonoy, and yet the people volunteered to repentโat this point, bless Adonoy for bringing deliverance.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืคืจืข ืคืจืขืืช. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืื ืฉื ืงื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื ื ืงืืืชืื ืขื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืืช ื ืจืื ืฉืืื ืืื ื ืขืฉืชื, ืืืื ืืื ืืืืื: ืืืชื ืื ืขื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืขืืืจ ืื ืฉื ืชื ืืณ ืืื ืืขื ืืืชื ืื ืืืืช ืืืืืื, ืขื ืื ืจืื ืืืืฉืชื ืืืืืจืช ืกืืกืจื: ืืจืื ืืณ. ืืขืืืจ ืฉืชื ืืื, ืืจืื ืืณ:
When there was the takings of vengeance (this is the translation of, feroa peraot, according to Radak): That is to say, in that which the Holy One, blessed be He, took His vengeance through Israel - to make it appear as if it was through their strength that it was done, so that it would be glorious for them. When the people willingly offered themselves: That is to say, because God put it into the hearts of the people to willingly offer themselves to war, even though they saw their weakness and the strength of Sisera. Bless the Lord: Because of these two [reasons], bless the Lord.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืคืจืืข ืคืจืขืืช. ืื ืงืื ื ืงืืืช, ืชืจืืื ื ืงืื ื ืงืืช ืืืชืคืจืข ืคืืจืขื ืืชื: ืืืชื ืื ืขื. ืืฉืืฉืจืื ืืชื ืืืื ืืืชืืืจืื ืืฆืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืืจ ืขื ืืจืข ืืขื ืืืื ืืจืื ื' ืืชืืจืื ืืื ืชื ืืคืกืืง ืื ืื ืืจืื ืืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืืจืืชื ืืื': ืฉืืขื ืืืืื. ืืืื ืืืจืฅ ืื"ื ืื ืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืจ ืืขื ืื ืฉืืืจื ืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืื:
When there was feroa peraot: When there was the takings of vengeance. As the Targum of (Numbers 31:2), "Nekom nikmat (Take vengeance)," is "Itpera puranuta." When the people willingly offered themselves: When Israel volunteers and shows courage to go out to war - meaning against the bad and for the good - God blesses them. And Yonatan translated the verse like this (in the Targum), "When the House of Israel trembles [to follow] the Torah, etc." Hear O kings: The kings of the land. And some explain that it is stated about Israel, like the matter that they said, "All of Israel are children of the straight (elevated) ones."
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 3
Hebrew:
ืฉืึดืึฐืขึฃืึผ ืึฐืึธืึดึืื ืึทืึฒืึดึืื ืึผ ืจึนึฝืึฐื ึดึืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึธื ึนืึดึื ืึทึฝืืึนืึธืึ ืึธื ึนืึดึฃื ืึธืฉืึดึืืจึธืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึฒืึทืึผึตึืจ ืึทึฝืืึนืึธึื ืึฑืึนืึตึฅื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Hear, O kings! Give ear, O potentates!I will sing, will sing to GOD,Will hymn the ETERNAL, the God of Israel.
Deborah addresses the kings of the world, warning them to hear of God's power and fear to wage war against Israel (Metzudat David). Rashi notes the doubled 'I' alludes to a midrash about God rewarding Mount Tabor and Carmel for seeking to host the Torah.
โถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธื ึนืึดื ืึธื ึนืึดื. ืึธึผืคืึผื, ืฉึธืืึทืขึฐืชึดึผื ืึดืึฐืจึทืฉื ืึทืึธึผืึธื (ืืืงืื ืฉืืขืื ื ื ืื) ืึนื ืงึดืคึตึผืึท ืึทืงึธึผืืึนืฉื ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืืึผื ืฉึฐืืึทืจ ืชึธึผืืึนืจ ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึถื, ืฉึถืืึธึผืืึผ ืึฐืึทืชึทึผื ืชึผืึนืจึธื ืึธืชึตืช ืขึฒืึตืืึถื ืึถืช ืึทืชึผืึนืจึธื ืึฐืึธืึฐืจืึผ ืึฐึผืึนืฉึถืืช ืึทืคึธึผื ึดืื, ืึธืึทืจ ืึธืึถื ืึทืงึธึผืืึนืฉื ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืืึผื, ืกืึนืฃ ืฉึถืืึฒื ึดื ืคึผืึนืจึตืขึท ืึธืึถื ืึดึผืคึฐืึทืึดื, ื ึถืึฑืึทืจ ืึฐึผืกึดืื ึทื (ืฉืืืช ื:ื) ืึธื ึนืึดื ืืณ ืึฑืึนืึถืืึธ, ืึฐึผืชึธืืึนืจ ืึตืึธืึทืจ: ืึธื ึนืึดื ืึธื ึนืึดื. ื ึถืึฑืึทืจ ืึฐึผืกึดืื ึทื (ืฉื) ืึธื ึนืึดื ืืณ ืึฑืึนืึถืืึธ, ืึฐึผืึทืจึฐืึถื ืึตืึธืึทืจ, ืึธึผืคืึผื (ืืืืื ื ืื:ืื) ืืณ ืืึผื ืึธืึฑืึนืึดืื, ืืณ ืืึผื ืึธืึฑืึนืึดืื, ืึดึผืืึตื ืึตืึดืึธึผืืึผ:
IโฆI. The word is doubled. I have heard in the name of Midrash Agaddah: the Holy One blessed is He did not deny a reward for [Mount] Tovor and [Mount] Carmel, who came to the giving of Torah so that it might be given on them, and turned away in humiliation. The Holy One, blessed is He told them, "Eventually, I shall reward you doubly. At Sinai it is said, 'I am the Lord your God;'1Shemos, 20:2. at Tovor it shall be said, 'IโฆI.'2The word โIโ is doubled. At Sinai it is said, 'I am the Lord your God;' At Carmel it shall be said doubly, 'Adonoy is God,' 'Adonoy is God!'3Melachim 1, 18:39. in Eliyahu's days."4Yalkut, 47.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืฉืืขื ืืืืื. ืืช ืืฉืจ ืื ื ืืืืจ, ืืืขื ืชืืจืื ืืืืื ืขืื ืืืฉืจืื: ืื ืื ืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืขื ืืฉืจ ืื ืื ืืืณ ืืืืืงื ืืืืืื ืื, ืืื: ืื ืื ืืฉืืจื. ืขื ืืชืฉืืขื ืืืื ืื ืืื ื:
Hear O kings, what I am speaking, so that you will fear to wage war with Israel any more. I unto the Lord: That is to say, because I am for the Lord, and for His portion, to believe in Him - because of this... I will sing about the salvation which comes to me from Him.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 4
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึผึฐืฆึตืืชึฐืึธึค ืึดืฉืึผึตืขึดืืจึย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึฐืฆึทืขึฐืึผึฐืึธึ ืึดืฉืึผึฐืึตึฃื ืึฑืึืึนืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึถึฃืจึถืฅ ืจึธืขึธึืฉืึธื ืึผึทืึพืฉืึธืึทึืึดื ื ึธืึธึืคืึผย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึทืึพืขึธืึดึืื ื ึธึฅืึฐืคืึผ ืึธึฝืึดืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
O GOD, when You came forth from Seir,Advanced from the country of Edom,The earth trembled;The heavens dripped,Yea, the clouds dripped water,
This verse recalls the Sinai theophany โ God's revelation at the giving of the Torah, when He first offered it to the descendants of Esau at Seir before giving it to Israel (Rashi). Metzudat David alternatively connects it to Israel's passage by Mount Seir before fighting Sihon and Og.
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืืณ ืึฐึผืฆึตืืชึฐืึธ ืึดืฉึตึผืืขึดืืจ. ืึถื ืึทืชึทึผื ืชึผืึนืจึธื, ืึฐึผืึธื ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืึทืจ (ืืืจืื ืื:ื) ืึฐืึธืจึทื ืึดืฉึตึผืืขึดืืจ ืึธืืึน, ืึผืึทื ืขึดื ึฐืึธื ึธืึผ ืึฐืึธืื, ืึธึผืึฐ ืึธืึฐืจึธื ืึฐึผืืึนืจึธื: ืงึธืฉึธืื ืึดืื ืึทืชึผืึนืจึธื ืึดืคึฐืจึนืฉื ืึดืึถึผื ึธึผื ืึฐืืึนืึธื ืึดืื ืึดืึฐืึทึผืง ืึธึผืึผ, ืฉึถืืึฒืจึตื ืึฐึผืืึนืจึธื ืึผืึดืึฐืืึผืจึธื ื ึดืชึฐึผื ึธื, ืึผืึฐืึธืึฐ ื ึดืึฐืกึฐืจืึผ ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึฐึผืึทื ืืึนืึฐืึตืืึถื ืขึทื ืคึฐึผืจึดืืฉึธืืชึธื ืึตืืึถื ึธึผื ืึผืึฐืฉึถืืึดืชึฐื ึทืึฐึผืืึผ ืึทืขึฒืกืึนืง ืึธึผืึผ ื ืึนืฉึฐืืขืึผ, ืึธึผื ืึถื ืึตืฉื ืึดืึฐืึนื ืึดืชึทึผืจึฐืึผืึผืืึน ืฉึถืื ืืึนื ึธืชึธื: ื ึธืึฐืคืึผ. ืึตืึดืืืึผ ืึทื ืชึฐึผืึดืึธึผื:
Adonoy, when You went forth from Seir, This refers to the giving of Torah, as it is said, "โฆand shone forth from Seir to them."5Devarim, 33:2. Adonoy first offered the Torah to Eisovโs descendants at Seir. When they refused, He shone forth from there to Yisroel at Sinai. (Rashi to Devarim, there). Why is this relevant here? This is what Devorah said: "The Torah is severe when forsaken, but rewarding when adhered to, as it was given in awesomeness and power.6As indicated by the quaking of the earth and the dripping of heaven in v.4, and the dissolving of the mountain in v.5. Thus, the Yisroelites were handed over to their enemies for forsaking it; and, when they offered to engross themselves in it, they were saved." All this we learn from Targum Yonasan's rendition.7โAdonoy, the Torah which you have given to Yisroel: When they violate it, their enemies dominate them, and when they return to it, they are empowered over their antagonistsโ. (Targum Yonasan) Dripped. They dripped dew of revival.8As the Yisroelites glowed with a heavenly fire, Adonoy instructed the clouds of glory to drip dew of revival to restore them. (Yalkut, 48)
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืฆืืชื ืืฉืขืืจ. ืืฉืืฆืืช ืืคื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืฉืขืืจื ืืช ืืจ ืฉืขืืจ, ืื ืื ืืชืืืื ืืืืื ืืกืืืื ืืขืื: ืืฆืขืื ืืฉืื ืืืื. ืืคื ืืืืจ ืืืืืช ืฉืื ืืช ืืืืจื ืืฉืืจ: ืืจืฅ ืจืขืฉื. ืืืจืื ืืืจืขืืฉ ืื ืืืื ืืืืื: ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืคื. ืฉืจื ืืขืื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืจืขืื, ืืืื ืืืจื ืืืืืขื ื ืืืฃ ืืื ื: ื ืืคื ืืื. ืืืืจืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ืืงืื ืืืื ืืืฉื:
When You came forth from Seir: When you came forth in front of Israel, when they passed Mount Seir - because they then started to fight with Sichon and Og. When you marched out from the field of Edom: It mentioned the matter twice with different words, as is the nature of verse. The earth quaked: He made all the kings of the land tremble and quake . The heavens also dripped: Terror and shaking seized the supernal ministering angels of the nations, like a man who trembles and the sweat drips from him. Water dripped to make the nations tremble and become confusef with the sound of much rain.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ื' ืืฆืืชื ืืฉืขืืจ. ืจืื ืืคืจืฉืื ืคืืจืฉื ืขื ืื ืื ืขื ืืชื ืชืืจื ืฉืืจืื ืืืจืื ืื ืืคื ืืื ืืื ืคื' ืื ืกืื ื ืืื ืื ืกืื ื ืฉืืจื ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืืจื ืื ืืืจ ืืื ืื ืืจืื ืฉืืจ ืืืจืื ืืื ืืจ ืฉืขืืจ ืืืจ ืคืืจื ืืืข"ืค ืฉืืื ื ืืชืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืจ ืืื ืืขืช ืืืชืจืื, ืืืืื ืจืื ืืืจืื ื"ืข ื"ื ืคื' ืื ืืื ืจืื ืืืืืืืช ืฉื ืืื ืืงื"ื ืืขืืืจ ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืฉืขืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืชืืื ืืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืืจ ืคืืจื ืืื ืืืืื ืืฆืืชื ืืคื ื ืขืื ืืฆืขืื ืืืฉืืืื ืกืื: ืืจืฅ ืจืขืฉื. ืืื ืืชืืขืฉ ืืชืจืขืฉ ืืืจืฅ ืืื ืจืื ืืืืืืืช ืืคื' ืืฆืืชื ืืฉืขืืจ ืืฆืขืื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืื ืฉื ืืชืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืื ืืืืืืช ืืฉืขืืจื ืืช ืืจ ืฉืขืืจ ืื ืืืื ืืกืืืื ืืขืื ืืืฆื ืืฉื ืืช' ืืคื ืืื ืื ืฆืืื ืืืืื ืืืจื ืืื ืืืืืืืช ืืื ืืื ืฉืืื ื ืืคื ืื ืขืืื ื ืืคื ืืื:
O Lord, when You came forth from Seir: Most of the commentators explained this matter to be about the giving of the Torah, since the mountains trembled and dripped with water. And likewise did they explain, "this Sinai" (verse 5) - that it trembled, as it is stated (Exodus 19:18), "and the entire mountain trembled greatly." Likewise did the other mountains tremble - like Mount Seir and Mount Paran - even though it is only written, "and the entire mountain trembled." And this is also the opinion of the translator (Targum Yonatan). But the sage, Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, explained that it is a hint to the wars that the Holy One, blessed be He, fought for Israel. And likewise (Deuteronomy 33:2), "He radiated forth to them from Seir"; as well as (Habakuk 3:3), "God is coming from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran"; and also (Psalms 68:8), "O God, when You went at the head of Your army, when You marched through the desert, Selah." The earth quaked: And likewise (II Samuel 22:8), "Then the earth rocked and quaked" - it is all a hint to the wars. And the explanation of, "when You came forth from Seir; when you marched out from the field of Edom," is because it was there that Israel started to fight with the nations - when they passed Mount Seir and fought with Sichon and Og. And God, may He be blessed, came forth before them and defeated [their enemies]. And it is with His power that they prevailed in all of those wars. And likewise, "the heavens dripped, also the clouds dripped water."
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 5
Hebrew:
ืึธืจึดึฅืื ื ึธืึฐืึืึผ ืึดืคึผึฐื ึตึฃื ืึฐืึนืึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึถึฃื ืกึดืื ึทึื ืึดืคึผึฐื ึตึื ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึฑืึนืึตึฅื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
The mountains quakedcquaked Taking nazelu as a by-form of nazollu; cf. Targum because of GOD,Yon Sinai, because of GODโthe God of Israel.
The mountains trembled and streamed like water at God's appearance. The mention of Sinai links the battle's cosmic upheaval to the original Sinai revelation โ just as nature shook then, so it shook now for Israel's salvation (Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธืจึดืื ื ึธืึฐืืึผ. ืึฐึผืึทืึดื ื ืึนืึฐืึดืื ื ึธืืึนืืึผ: ืึถื ืกึดืื ึทื. ืึฐึผืึธืจ ืึฐืคึนืจึธืฉื (ืฉืืืช ืื:ื) ืึทื ื ึดืจึฐืึธื ืึผืึน: ืขึธืฉึทืื ืึปึผืึผืึน, ืึฐืงืึนื, ืึฐืึทืคึดึผืืึดืื ืึฐืึตืฉื: ืึดืคึฐึผื ึตื ืืณ. ืึทืึฒืจึตื ืึถื ืึดืงึฐืจึธื ืงึธืฆึธืจ ืณืึถื ืกึดืื ึทืืณ, ืึทื ืึตืจึทืข ืึผืึน, ืึดืคึฐึผื ึตื ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึธืจึทื ืขึธืึธืื ืืณ:
Mountains streamed. Like streaming waterโthey dissolved. This Sinaiโฆ. Scripture has already recounted the visions thereโcovered by mist, thunder, flashes of light, flame.9Shemos, 19:18, 20:15, etc. Our passage, therefore, omits this, leaving it to the readerโs understanding. See the following Rashi. Because of the presence of Adonoy This is an shortened passage: "This Sinaiโwhat took place there occured because the mountain was visited by Adonoy."
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืจืื ื ืืื. ืืืืื ืืจืขืื, ืื ืืคื ืืืขื: ืื ืกืื ื. ืืื ืื ืืจ ืกืื ื, ืฉื ืืืจ ืื (ืฉืืืช ืื ืื), ืืืืจื ืื ืืืจ, ืืื ืื ืืจืื ืืืื ืืคืื ืืณ ืื ืืื ืืืฉืจืื:
The mountains flowed from the greatness of the shaking, and they dripped sweat. This Sinai: Like this is Mount Sinai, about which it is stated (Exodus 19:18), "and the entire mountain trembled." Likewise, everyone shook from fear of the Lord who fights for Israel.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืจืื ื ืืื ืืคื ื ื'. ืืื ืืฉื ืขื ืืืืืื ืข"ื ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืืื, ืืคื' ืื ืกืื ื ืืื ืฉืื ืกืื ื ืืจื ืืคื ื ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืจืื ืื ืืขืืื ืืคื ืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืชืคืื ืขืืืื ืืืืชื ืืคืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืืฉืื ืื ืขื:
The mountains flowed from before the Lord: It is all a metaphor for the war, along the lines of (Judges 5:20), "They fought from heaven." And the explanation of, "this Sinai," is [that] just like this Sinai trembled from before the God of Israel, so too did the whole word tremble from before Him - as it is stated (Exodus 15:16), "Horror and dread fall upon them"; (Exodus 15:15) "all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away."
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 6
Hebrew:
ืึผึดืืึตึื ืฉืึทืึฐืึผึทึคืจ ืึผึถืึพืขึฒื ึธืชึย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึดืืึตึฃื ืึธืขึตึื ืึธึฝืึฐืึืึผ ืึณืจึธืึืึนืชย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึฐืึนืึฐืึตึฃื ื ึฐืชึดืืึืึนืช ืึตืึฐืึืึผ ืึณืจึธืึืึนืช ืขึฒืงึทืึฐืงึทืึผึฝืึนืชืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,dson of Anath Or โthe Beth-anathite.โ In the days of Jael, caravansecaravans Or โroads.โ ceased,And wayfarers wentBy roundabout paths.
Before Deborah's victory, even under the judge Shamgar, Israel's deliverance was incomplete. Roads were unsafe and travelers took roundabout paths, forced to avoid the main highways due to enemy control (Rashi, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดึผืืึตื ืฉึทืืึฐืึทึผืจ ืึถึผื ืขึฒื ึธืช ืึดึผืืึตื ืึธืขึตื. ืึฐืึทืึตึผื ืฉึถืืึทืฃ ืึธืขึตื ืฉึธืืคึฐืึธื ืึถืช ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึฐึผืึธืึถืืึธ: ืึธืึฐืืึผ ืึณืจึธืืึนืช. ืึธืืึผ ืึฐืจึตืึดืื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึธืฆึตืืช ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึธึผื ืึดืคึฐึผื ึตื ืึธืืึนืึฐืึดืื ืึฐืึธืืึผ ืืึนืึฐืึดืื ืึถึผืจึถืึฐ ืขึฒืงึทืึธึผืชืึนื ืึฐึผืึตืึธืึตื:
In the days of Shamgar ben Anas, in the days of Yael. This teaches that Yael, too, judged Yisroel in her days. Thoroughfares came to a halt. The Yisroelites were afraid to undertake normal travel, because of their enemies. They would proceed along round about pathways, clandestinely.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืื ืฉืืืจ. ืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืคื ืฉืืืจ ืืืืื ืืขื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืื ืฉืคืื ืืืื ืฉืืืจ, ืื ืืืชื ืชืฉืืขื ืฉืืืื ืืื ืืจืื ืืืืื ืืคืื ืืณ, ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืจื ืืืจืืช ืืืืื: ืืืืื ื ืชืืืืช. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืื ืฉืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืื ืชืืืืช, ืืื ืืืืืื ืืจื ืืขืืงื ืืื ืืจืืืฉ ืื ืืื:
In the days of Shamgar: However during the days of the Judge, Shamgar, and during the days of Yael - since she also judged in the days of Shamgar - the salvation was not complete. So the nations did not tremble from fear of the Lord. And because of this, travelers on the ways ceased - due to fear of the nations. And wayfarers: That is to say that the people that were compelled to go on the roads went on roundabout paths, so that no one would detect them.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืื ืฉืืืจ ืื ืขื ืช. ืืื ืืื ืืฉืืคืื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืฉืืืืืจ ืืืขืื ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืืฉืืข ืืช ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืืชื ืืชืฉืืขื ืืืืืื ืืืืช ืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืจืืืช, ืืืขื ืืืืืืจ ืืขื ืืืืืจ ืืข"ืค ืฉืขื ืืื ืืื ืงืฆืช ืืชืฉืืขื ืืืืช ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืชื ืืฉื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืืช ื' ืฉืืืื ืขื ืืื ืืชืฉืืขื ืืืืช ืืข"ืค ืื ืื ืืืชื ืืื ืชืืืืช ืืชืฉืืขื ืขื ืฉืงืืชื ืื ื ืืืืจื ืฉืงืืชื ืืืืืชื ืืื ืืืฉืจืื:
In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anat: He was from the Judges of Israel, as it mentioned above (Judges 3:31). And even though he saved Israel, it was not as great a salvation as this. For in his days, "travelers on the ways ceased." And the reason to mention Yael is to say [that] even though a little of this salvation came through her, and it appears as if she was an important woman and loving of God since He brought this salvation through her - nevertheless, she was not the beginning of the salvation, "until I," myself, "Devorah arose" [first]. As I arose and was like a mother to Israel.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 7
Hebrew:
ืึธืึฐืึงืึผ ืคึฐืจึธืึืึนื ืึผึฐืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึื ืึธืึตึืึผืึผย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืขึทึคื ืฉืึทืงึผึทึืึฐืชึผึดืึ ืึผึฐืืึนืจึธึื ืฉืึทืงึผึทึฅืึฐืชึผึดื ืึตึื ืึผึฐืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Deliverance ceased,Ceased in Israel,Till youfyou Heb. qamti, archaic second-person singular feminine. arose, O Deborah,Arose, O mother, in Israel!
Unwalled villages were abandoned as people fled to fortified cities for safety. This desperate situation persisted until Deborah arose as 'a mother in Israel' โ Rashi notes the text uses third person out of modesty (Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธืึฐืืึผ ืคึฐืจึธืืึนื. ืขึธืจึตื ืึทืคึฐึผืจึธืึดื ืฉึถืืึตืื ืึธืึถื ืืึนืึธื ืึธืึฐืืึผ ืึดืึฐืืึนืช ืืึนืฉึฐืืึดืื ืึธึผืึถื ืึดืคึฐึผื ึตื ืืึนืึฐืึตืืึถื, ืึฐื ึถืึถืกึฐืคืึผ ืึถื ืขึธืจึตื ืึทืึดึผืึฐืฆึธืจ: ืขึทื ืฉึทืืงึทึผืึฐืชึดึผื. ืึฐึผืืึน ืฉึถืืงึทึผืึฐืชึดึผื, ืึฐืึตื (ืฉืืคืืื ื:ืื) ืฉึธืืึทืชึธึผื ืึฐืึทืึตึผืจ ืขึดืึดึผื:
Exposure was discontinued. Exposed, unwalled cities were discontinued as dwelling places, because of the enemies, and they flocked to the fortified cities. Until I rose. This10Scripture substitutes the โpasachโ vowelization for the โsegolโ in the opening โืฉโ of ืฉืงืืชื. The โkametzโ vowelization of the opening โืฉโ is substituted for the โsegolโ. is the same as ๏ฌชึถืงึทืึฐ๏ญึดื Similarly, 'That you are speaking to me'
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืื ืคืจืืื. ืื ืคืืื ืืฉืืช ืืขืจื ืืคืจืื, ืืจืง ืืืฉืจืื ืืืื, ืืื ืืืืื, ืื ืื ืื ืคืืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืืฉืืช ืืขืจื ืืคืจืื, ืื ืืื ืืืชื ืขื ืืขืืืื ื: ืขื ืฉืงืืชื ืืืืจื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ืืื ืขื ืืฉืจ ืงืืชื ืื ื ืืืืจื, ืื ืืขืชื ืืืื ืืืื, ืื ืืชืฉืืขื ืืืื ืขื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืื, ืืืืจืื ืืืืื ืืืณ ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืืช ืืืจื ืืืืฉืืช ืืขืจื ืืคืจืื: ืื. ืืื ืืืืกืจืช ืืช ืื ื ืืืืฉืจ ืืจืื, ืื ืื ืื ืืืฉืจืื:
Inhabitation of the villages ceased, because they were afraid to settle in the unwalled cities. And this only ceased with Israel, but not with the other nations. As they were not afraid of Israel, such that they not dwell in unwalled cities. For they had the upper hand. Until I Devorah, arose: That is to say, it was like this until I arose, I Devorah. As from now, it will be like before. For the salvation that comes through me is complete and the nations will tremble from the Lord. So Israel will not cease from going on the roads or settling in the unwalled cities. A mother: Like a mother who chastises her son to straighten out his way, so too am I to Israel.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืื ืคืจืืื. ืคืจืืื ืฉื ืืขื ืื ืขืจื ืืคืจืืืช ืืฉืงืืชื ืฉื ืืื ืืฉื"ื ืคืชืืื ืคืชื ืืืื ืืืงืื ืคืชื ืงืื:
Inhabitation of the villages (perazon) ceased: Perazon is a noun relating to unwalled towns. And both [mentions of] shekamti have a patach gadol [under] the shin in place of a patach katan.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 8
Hebrew:
ืึดืึฐืึทืจึ ืึฑืึนืึดึฃืื ืึฒืึธืฉืึดึืื ืึธึื ืึธืึถึฃื ืฉืึฐืขึธืจึดึืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึธืึตึคื ืึดืึพืึตึฝืจึธืึถืึ ืึธืจึนึืึทืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึฐืึทืจึฐืึผึธืขึดึฅืื ืึถึืึถืฃ ืึผึฐืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
When they chose new gods,Was there a fighter then in the gates?gWas there a fighter then in the gates? Meaning of Heb. uncertain; in contrast to others โthen was war in the gates.โ No shield or spear was seenAmong forty thousand in Israel!
Israel's troubles came because they chose foreign gods, which brought war to their gates. They could not muster even a shield or spear among 40,000 โ not for lack of weapons, but because God withheld His protection (Rashi, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดืึฐืึทืจ ืึฑืึนืึดืื ืึฒืึธืฉึดืืื ืึธื ืึธืึถื ืฉึฐืืขึธืจึดืื. ืึฐึผืฉึถืืึธึผืึทืจ ืืึน ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึฑืึนืึดืื ืึฒืึธืฉึดืืื, ืึธื ืึปืึฐืงึฐืงืึผ ืึฐืึดืึฐืึธืึธื ืึฐึผืฉึทืืขึฒืจึตืืึถื, ืจึฐืืึผ ืขึทืชึธึผื ืึฐึผืึดืชึฐื ึทืึฐึผืึธื, ืึดื ืึตืจึธืึถื ืึฐึผืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึธืึตื ืึธืจึนืึทื, ืฉึถืืฆึธึผืจึดืืึฐ ืึฐืึดืึธึผืึตื ืึฐึผืึทืจึฐืึธึผืขึดืื ืึถืึถืฃ ืจึธืืฉึตืื ืึฐืึธืกืึนืช ืฉึถืืึตืึดืื ืึทืึผืึนื ืขึฒืึตืืึถื, ืึฐืึปืึธึผื ืึฒืึธืึธื ืึทืึธึผืงืึนื ืึฐึผืึดืึฐืึถืึถืช ืึทืึผืึนืึธืึดืื (ืคืกืืง ืื) ืึฐื ึทืึทื ืงึดืืฉืืึนื ืึฐึผืจึธืคึธื: ืฉึฐืืขึธืจึดืื. ืึฐึผืืึน (ืืืจืื ืื:ื) ืึดึผื ืึดืึธึผืฆึตื ืึฐืงึดืจึฐืึฐึผืึธ ืึฐึผืึทืึทื ืฉึฐืืขึธืจึถืืึธ, ืขึฒืึธืืจืึนืช:
When they chose new godsโthere was war in the cities. When the Yisroelites preferred modern Deities, then they needed to engage in battle in their cities. But, take note, now, when they volunteered, was a shield or battle ax in sight among the Yisroelites when they needed to do battle with the forty thousand field marshals the idolators flung against them? The Omnipresent overwhelmed them all with celestial warfare, and the Kishon stream swept them away. Cities. As in, "If there should be found in your midst, in one of your cities".11Devarim, 17:2. Although generally translated as โgatesโ, ๏ฌชึฐืขึธืจึดืื is translated here as โcitiesโ.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืฉืื. ืื ืืืฉืจ ืืืืจ ืืฉืจืื ืืืืื ืืืฉืื, ืื ืื ืืืืื ืืขืจืื ืืขืืืจ ืืขืื ืฉ ืืื ืืฉืืืื ืืจืื, ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืฉืข ืฉื ืืืจ (ื ืื), ืืืจืืขืื ืืืฃ ืืืืณ ืขืืจื ืืืืณ ืื ืขืจืืืช ืืจืืื, ืืื ืืื ื ืจืื ืืืืชื ืืจืืขืื ืืืฃ ืืื ืืจืืื, ืื ืืื ืื ืก ืืืฉื ืืช ืืจืืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ืืจืืื:
They chose new gods: For when Israel chooses new gods, then war comes to their cities on account of the punishment; but not when they better their ways. As was it not that in the days of Yehoshua, it was stated (Joshua 4:13), "About forty thousand, etc. went across, etc. to the steppes of Yericho?" And was there any shield and spear seen with these forty thousand? For was it not by a miracle that they captured Yericho, and not through war and with a shield and a spear?
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืืจ. ืืฉืืืจ ืืฉืจืื ืืืืื ืืืฉืื ืื ืืืชื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืขืจื' ืืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืจืืืช ืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืื ืืืืืืืื ืืืข"ืค ืฉืืื ืืฉืจืื ืจืืื ืืจืืขืื ืืืฃ ืืืืชืจ ืืืื ืกื ืืฉืืื ืืข"ืค ืื ืืื ื ืกืื ืืคื ื ืืืืืืื ืื ืกืืจืื ืืขืจืืื ืืืืืืืื ืจืืืคืื ืืืชื ืขื ืืฉืขืจืื ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉืื ืืื ืื ืืจืื ืืฉืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืืื ืืฉืจืื ืขืืฉืื ืจืฆืื ืืืืจื ืืชืข' ืืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืจื ืืืืื ืืืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืฉืข ืื ืืื ืฆืจืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืจืืื ืืืจืืขืื ืืืฃ ืื ื ืื ืืื ื ืจืืืื ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืื ืืืืฆื ืฆืื ืื ืืฆืืจืื ืืืจืืืช ืืื ืื ืจืืื ืื ื' ืืื ื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืขื ืืืืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืคืืข ืจืข ืืคื ื ืฉืืื ืขืืฉืื ืจืฆืื ืืืืจื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืื ืืชืจืขืืื ืืื', ืืืืช ืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ื ืื ืงืืื ืื ืืื ื ืงืืื ืืกืืื ืื', ืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืืฉืงื ืืืฅ ืขืงื ืืฆืจ ืืื ืฉืื ืืกืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืื:
They chose When Israel chooses new gods, then war comes to their gates and they are not able to show a shield or a spear to fight with their enemies. And even though the Israelites were very numerous - forty thousand and more, and that is the total of the count - nevertheless, they would flee from before their enemies and seal themselves up in their cities, and their enemies would pursue them until the gates. But some explain, "no shield was seen," as positive. Meaning, when Israel would do the will of the Creator, may He be exalted, and did not follow other gods - and that was in the days of Yehoshua - they did not need a shield nor a spear for the forty thousand Children of Gad and Children of Reuven. And even though they were the army's vanguard, they did not need to show a shield nor a spear, since the Lord fought for them. So they went [to war] with their brothers, and returned in peace. There was no adversary and no bad incident, since they were doing the will of the Creator. And Yonatan translated (in the Targum), "When they became evil, etc." And the word, lachem, is unusual in its vocalization, as it is vocalized with a segol for the [letter], chet. And it is a noun, like war. And it is in the form of [the words,] chametz, akev, chatzer; except that this is with a segol, which is not customary.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 9
Hebrew:
ืึดืึผึดืึ ืึฐืืึนืงึฐืงึตึฃื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึทืึผึดึฝืชึฐื ึทืึผึฐืึดึืื ืึผึธืขึธึื ืึผึธืจึฐืึืึผ ืึฐืึนืึธึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
My heart is with Israelโs leaders,With the dedicated of the peopleโBless GOD!
Deborah's heart goes out to Israel's leaders and sages who volunteered to lead the repentance and battle effort, calling on them to bless God (Rashi, Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดืึดึผื. ืึฒื ึดื ืึฐึผืืึนืจึธื ืึฐืืึนืงึฐืงึตื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื, ืึถืึฑืึนื ืึถืช ืึทืึฐืึตื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืฉึถืืึดืชึฐื ึทืึฐึผืืึผ ืึธึผืขึธื, ืึตืืึนืจ: ืึธึผืจึฐืืึผ ืึถืช ืืณ ืึฐืฉืืึผืืึผ ืึตืึธืื:
My heart. I, Devorah, [my heart is out] to the legislators of Yisroelโwith affection for the sages of Yisroel who volunteered, among the people, saying, "Bless Adonoy, return to Him".
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืืืืงืงื ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ืื ืืฉืคื ืืืืืฅ, ืื ืื ืืขืืืง ืืื ืืืืจ ืืืืงืงื ืืฉืจืื ืืืชื ืืืื ืืืืื, ืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืืณ ืขื ืื ืฉื ืชื ืืืื ืืืชื ืื:
My heart is with Israelโs lawmakers: That is to say, it is not only lip service, but rather from the depths of the heart that I will speak to the lawmakers of Israel who voluntarily offer themselves to wage war, that they should bless the Lord for that which He put into their hearts to offer themselves voluntarily.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืื ืืืงืงื ืืฉืจืื. ืืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืฉืืคืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืชื ืืื ืืขื ืืฆืืช ืืืืืื ืืื ืืจืฆืื ื ืืืืื ืืืืืจืช ืืืืื ืืจืื ืืฉื ืฉืืื ืืข ืืืืืืื ืืคื ืืื ืื ืงืจืื ืืืืืืื ืืืงืงืื ืฉืืฉืืืื ืืืงืื ืืขื, ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ ืืืงืงื ืืฉืจืื ืกืืคืจืื ืืืืืื ืืืืจืช ืืื ืฉืืืจืื ื' ืขื ืืชืฉืืขื ืืืืช ืืคื' ืืืชื ืืืื ืืขื ืืืื ืืื ืชืืจื ืืืฆืืช:
My heart is with Israelโs lawmakers: The great ones among Israel, and its Judges and leaders, who voluntarily offered themselves; my heart and will is for them. And she said to them, "Bless the Lord, who subdued your enemies before you." And the great ones are called, lawmakers, because they establish laws among the people. And "Israel's lawmakers," can [also] be explained [as] its scribes and its sages. So she is saying to them, that they should bless the Lord for this salvation; and the explanation of, "who voluntarily offer themselves among the people," is about teaching them Torah and the commandments.
ืคืกืืง ืืด ยท Verse 10
Hebrew:
ืจึนืึฐืึตืึฉ ืึฒืชึนื ึจืึนืช ืฆึฐืึนืจึืึนืชย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึนืฉืึฐืึตึงื ืขึทืึพืึดืึผึดึืื ืึฐืึนืึฐืึตึฅื ืขึทืึพืึผึถึืจึถืึฐ ืฉืึดึฝืืืึผืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
You riders on tawny jennies,You who sit on saddle rugs,And you wayfarers, declare it!
Now that the enemy is defeated, merchants can ride fine white donkeys, judges can sit in open session, and travelers can walk the roads freely โ all should sing praise (Rashi, Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืจึนืึฐืึตื ืึฒืชึนื ืึนืช ืฆึฐืึนืจืึนืช. ืึทืกึผืึนืึฒืจึดืื ืึฐืึทืฉึธึผืืจึดืื ืฉึถืืึดึผืจึฐืึฐึผืืึผ ืึตืขึทืชึธึผื ืขึทื ืึฒืชืึนื ืึนืช ืึฐืึธื ืึนืช ืึทืึฒืฉืืึผืืึนืช, ืึดืึฐึผืึดื ืึดืจึฐืึธื ืึฐืึทืึฒืึทืช ืืึนืึฐืึตืืึถื, ืึฐืืึนืชึธื ืฉึถืืึผืึนืฉึฐืืึดืื ืขึทื ืึดืึดึผืื, ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึทึผืึธึผื ึดืื, ืฉึถืืึธืืึผ ืึฐืจึตืึดืื ืึทืขึฒืฉืืึนืช ืึดืฉึฐืืคึธึผื ืึฐึผืคึทืจึฐืึถืกึฐืึธื, ืึฐืึตื ืชึดึผืจึฐืึตึผื ืืึนื ึธืชึธื: ืึทึผืึฒืืึน ืึดืชึฐืึทืึฐึผืจึดืื ืึฐืึตืืชึทื ืขึทื ืึดึผืื ึธื, ืึฐืืึนืชึธื ืฉึถืืืึนืึฐืึดืื ืจึทืึฐืึดื ืขึทื ืึถึผืจึถืึฐ, ืฉึดืืืืึผ ืึฐืกึทืคึฐึผืจืึผ ืึถืช ืึทืชึฐึผืฉืืึผืขึธื ืึทืึนึผืืช, ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึดืงึผืึนื ืึทืึฐืึทืฆึฐึผืฆึดืื ืึถืชึฐืึถื, ืืึนืจึฐืึดืื, ืึดืกึฐืึดืื ืึผืืึนืึฐืกึดืื, ืึทืึผืึนืฉึฐืืึดืื ืึฐึผืืึผืึดืื ืึฐึผืึทืขึฒืจึธืืึนืช ืึถืึฑืจึนื ืึฐึผืขึธืึฐืจึตื ืึทืึทึผืึดื, ืฉึธืื ืึดืชึฐึผื ืึผ ืขึทืชึธึผื ืจืึนืึฐืึตื ืึธืึฒืชืึนื ืึนืช ืึฐืืึนืึฐืึตื ืขึทื ืึถึผืจึถืึฐ ืึถืช ืฆึดืึฐืงืึนืช ืืณ, ืึผืึทื ืึตื ืึทืฆึฐึผืึธืงืึนืช (ืคืกืืง ืื) ืฆึดืึฐืงืึนืช ืคึดึผืจึฐืืึนื ืึน ืึฐึผืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืฉึถืืึดืฉึฐืืงึดืื ืึถืช ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื, ืึดืฉึฐืืึผืึนื ืคึฐึผืจึธืืึนื ืึฐืึธืฆึตืืช ืึฐืคึปืึธึผืจึดืื ืึดึผืืึดืืึดื, ืฉึถืืึนึผื ืึทึผืึฒืกึดืืคึทืช ืขึธื:
Riders of white donkeys. Merchants and gentry who may now ride elegant, white donkeys without intimidation or concern about their enemies. And juristsโthis refers to the magistrates who were afraid to deliver judgement publicly, as Targum Yonasan's translates, "Those who assembled to sit in judgement". And wayfarers on foot. Speak up! Recount this salvation, when, in place of the clamor of the formations battling youโmarauders, thieves, tax processors, who station themselves in battle formations organized to waylay those crossing to watering placesโthere, the donkey riders and wayfarers will retell Adonoy's charity. What is this charity? The charity of His restoration of exposure in Yisroel, when He brought tranquility to Yisroel, allowing them to dwell in exposed cities, and to venture forth when dipersed,12The Talmud (Pesachim, 87:b) reads ๏ญึฝืจึธื๏ญื, lit. โexposureโ, as ๏ญึดืึฐืจ๏ญื, โdispersionโ. Rashi follows this interpretation. singly, without grouping together. Then, they went down to the cities, returning to the cities they had inhabited when they fled to congregate in the fortified cities.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืจืืื. ืื ืืฉืจืื ืืจืืืืื ืขื ืืชืื ืืช ืืื ืืช ืืจืื ืืืืืื, ืื ืืืืืื ืืืฉืื ืืืฉืคื, ืื ืืกืืืจืื ืืืืืืื ืืืจื, ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืจื ืชืืืืช ืืณ, ืืฉืจืื, ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืฉืืจื ืืืืืืชื, ืืืืืืื, ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืืืื ืืขืชื ืืืจืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืจืืืช ืคืื ืืืืื, ืืืกืืืจืื, ืขื ืื ืืืื ืืขืชื ืืืจื ืกืืืื, ืื ืืจืืืช ืขืงืืงืืืช:
You riders: Whether the ministers that ride on white donkeys due to [their] great exaltation, or whether the sages that sit in judgement, or whether the merchants who travel on the way - all of you should orate and speak the praises of the Lord! The ministers, because their greatness remained; the sages. because they are now able to expand their hearts with wisdom without concerns for fear of the nations; and the merchants, because they are now able to go on paved ways and not the roundabout paths.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืฆืืืจืืช. ืืื ืืช ืืื ืืฆืืจ ืฆืืจ ืจ"ื ืืกืืืจืื ืจืืืื ืืืชืื ืืช ืืฉืืืืช ืืืืืืช ืฉืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืช ืืคื ื ืืืืื ืขืชื ืฉืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืืื ืืช' ืืื ืืืฉืื ืขื ืืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืืงืื ืื ืืืจ ืืกืคืจ ืืืืฉืข ืืืื ืืกืืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืจื ืืืืข ืืฆืื ืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืช ืืืืชื ืืืจื ืืคื ื ืืืืื ืืขืชื ืฉืชืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืจื ืืฉ"ื ืืืืจ ืืืกืจื ืื' ืืืฉื ื ืืืื ืืกืืื ืืืฉืื ืขื ืืืื ืืืืืช ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืฉืื ืงืจืชื ืืื ืืฉืื ืืจืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืคืกืืงืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืืื ืขืกืงืืืื ืืื':
Tzechorot: White, as in (Ezekiel 27:18), "tzachar wool." Meaning to say, the merchants who rode on noteworthy good donkeys, who were unable to go because of the enemy - now, speak and sing to God, may He be blessed! And so too, "those who dwell on Midin." And that is the name of a place that is mentioned in the book of Joshua (15:61), "Midin and Sekhakhah"; or it is the name of a road known to them. They were afraid to go on those routes, because of the enemy. But now that you can go securely, speak and sing to God, may He be blessed. And in the Mesorah, it said there are three [usages of this word]: "Midin and Sekhakhah"; "those who dwell upon Midin"; "to sway midin (from the law) of the poor" (Isaiah 10:2) - one usage is a town, one usage is a road and one usage is law. And Yonatan translated the verses (in the Targum) like this, that they would lose their businesses.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 11
Hebrew:
ืึดืงึผึฃืึนื ืึฐืึทึฝืฆึฐืฆึดึืื ืึผึตึืื ืึทืฉืึฐืึทืึผึดึืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืฉืึธึคื ืึฐืชึทื ึผืึผึ ืฆึดืึฐืงึฃืึนืช ืึฐืึนืึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืฆึดืึฐืงึนึฅืช ืคึผึดืจึฐืืึนื ึืึน ืึผึฐืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึธึื ืึธึฝืจึฐืึฅืึผ ืึทืฉืึผึฐืขึธืจึดึืื ืขึทืึพืึฐืึนืึธึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Louder than the sound of archers,hsound of archers Or โthunder pealsโ; meaning of Heb. uncertain. There among the watering placesLet them chant GODโs gracious actsโThe gracious deliverance of Israel.Then did GODโs peopleMarch down to the gates!
Instead of the terrifying sound of enemy archers at the watering holes, the people will now hear songs recounting God's righteous acts and the return of peaceful village life (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐืึทืฆึฐืฆึดืื. ืคึธึผืชึทืจ ืึฐื ึทืึตื: ืขืึนืจึฐืึตื ืึดืึฐืึธืึธื ืึฐืกืึนืึฐืจึตื ืงึฐืจึธื, ืึฐืึดืึฐึผืจืึน ืขึดื (ืืฉืื ื:ืื) ืึถืึถืึฐ ืึตืื ืึธืึทืจึฐืึถึผื ืึทืึตึผืฆึตื ืึนืฆึตืฅ ืึปึผืึผืึน, ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึฐึผืืึผืึดืื. ืึธึผืึธืจ ืึทืึตืจ: ืึดืงึผืึนื ืึฐืึทืฆึฐืฆึดืื ืึตึผืื ืึทืฉึฐืืึทืึดึผืื. ืึฐึผืฉึถืืึฑืึดืืชึถื ืืึนืึฐืึดืื ืึตึผืื ืึทืฉึฐืืึทืึดึผืื ืึดืฉึฐืืึนื ืึทืึดื, ืึฑืึดืืชึถื ืึฐืจึตืึดืื ืึดืงึผืึนื ืึฒืึธื ึดืื, ืึทืึผืึผืงึตื ืึทื ึทึผืึทื, ืงืืืืดืฉ ืึฐึผืึทืขึทืดื, ืฉึถืืึธืขืึนืึตืจ ืขึฒืึตืืึถื ื ึดืฉึฐืืึธืข ืงืึนืึธื, ืึถืึฑืึดืืชึถื ืึฐืจึตืึดืื ืฉึถืืึนึผื ืึทืจึฐืึดึผืืฉืืึผ ืึธืึถื ืืึนืึฐืึตืืึถื, ืึตืขึทืึฐืฉึธืืื ืึตืื ืึธืืึผืฉื ืขึทื ืึนืืช, ืึผืึดืฉึผืืึผื ืึธืึดื ืึดืฆึฐืึธื ืขึฒืึตืืึถื ืึดืืชึผึตื ืืึนืึธืึธื ืึดืฉึฐืืืึน: ืึฐืึทืฆึฐืฆึดืื. ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึทืึฐื ึตื ืึดืึผืึผืงึตื ืึทื ึทึผืึทื, ืึฐึผืืึน (ืืืื ื:ืื): ืดืึทืึทึผืึฐืจึตืก ืึถึผืึธืฆึธืฅืด: ืึธื ืึธืจึฐืืึผ ืึทืฉึฐึผืืขึธืจึดืื. ืึธืึฐืจืึผ ืึฐืขึธืจึตื ืืึนืฉึฐืืืึนืชึธื ืฉึถืืึธึผืจึฐืืึผ ืึตืึถื ืึตืืึธืกึตืฃ ืึถื ืขึธืจึตื ืึทืึดึผืึฐืฆึธืจ:
Battle formations. Menachem interprets "strategists, military tactitians."13Meaning โthe battle formations organized by strategists and tactitians.โ He relates this to "The locust has no king, yet he advances entirely 'in formation'."14Mishlei, 30:27. The meaning is 'battle formations." Another interpretation,15Both interpretations appear in Targum Yonasan. Concerning the clatter of pebbles amidst the watering places. When you would walk amidst the watering places to draw water, you were terrified by the clatter of the pebbles smoothed by the stream, "cailloux" in old French. When stepped on, they emit a noise, and you were afraid that your presence would be sensed by your enemies. Now, however, such fears are baseless, and this is why you are commanded to offer thanks to His Name. Pebbles. This refers to pebbles smoothed by a stream, as in "He ground with pebbles."16Eichah, 3:16.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืงืื ืืืฆืฆืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืชืืืจืช ืื ืฉืืื ื ืฉืืข ืงืื ืืืจืื ืืฆืื ืืฉืจ ืืืจื ืืื ืืืืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืื, ืชืืืจืช ืืงืื ืืื ืืฉืืข ืขืชื ืฉื ืงืื ืืกืคืจืื ืฆืืงืืช ืืณ, ืืื ืืฆืืงืืช ืฉืขืฉื ืืืขืจืื ืืคืจืืื ืฉืืืฉืจืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืฉืืืืื, ืื ืื ืืืืืช ืืชืฉืืขื ืืืจื ืืืจืื ืขื ืืณ ืืขืจืืื ืืคืจืืื:
Louder than the sound of the archers: That is to say, in place of the sound, that was heard, of archers that would shoot at those who would go to draw water - in place of that sound, they will now hear the sound of those recounting the righteous acts of the Lord. And these are the righteous acts that He did for the [unwalled] villages in Israel which had been desolate. As when there was the salvation, the people of the Lord then returned to their villages.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืงืื ืืืฆืฆืื. ืืงืื ืืืจื ืืืฆืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืื ืืขืชื ืืชื ื ืฉื ืฆืืงืืช ื' ืืืขื ืฆืืงืืช ืคืจืืื ื ืฉืืืืื ืืฉืืช ืืขืจื ืืคืจืืืช ืืืืื ืืืขื ืืงืื ืื ืืคืจืฉืื ืืืืจื ืืืฆืื ื ืืชื ืื ืงืื ืืืจืืขืื ืืืคืืื ืืขื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืงืื ืคืจืฉ ืืจืืื ืงืฉืช ืืืจืืช ืื ืืขืืจ ืืคื' ืืชื ื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืื ืชืจืืื ืืฉื ื ืชื ืืื ืื ืืชืชื ืื ืื ืืื ืื:
Than/from the sound of the archers: They were not able to draw water, as a result of the sound of the archers. But now they will recount the righteous acts of the Lord. And the explanation of, "the righteous acts of the inhabitation of its villages," is that they became able to dwell in the [unwalled] villages securely. And the explantion of, "From the sound," is that riders and archers would make noise and blow trumpets to scare the people - as it stated (Jeremiah 4:29), "From the sound of the horsemen and the arch bearers, the entire city flees." And the explanation of, yetanu, is an expression of review and recital - the translation (Targum) of, "you shall recite them to your children" (Deuteronomy 6:7), is, "outetaninun livnayich."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 12
Hebrew:
ืขืึผืจึดึคื ืขืึผืจึดืึ ืึผึฐืืึนืจึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืขึฅืึผืจึดื ืขึืึผืจึดื ืึผึทืึผึฐืจึดืึพืฉืึดึืืจย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืงึฅืึผื ืึผึธืจึธึืง ืึผึฝืฉืึฐืึตึฅื ืฉืึถืึฐืึฐืึธึ ืึผึถืึพืึฒืึดืื ึนึฝืขึทืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Awake, awake, O Deborah!Awake, awake, strike up the chant!Arise, O Barak;Take your captives, O son of Abinoam!
Deborah rouses herself to intensify the song of praise. She tells Barak to seize his captives โ the doubling of 'awake' reflects poetic enthusiasm and the greatness of the moment (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืขืึผืจึดื ืขืึผืจึดื ืึฐึผืืึนืจึธื. ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืฉึถืืึทื ืึดึผืคึฐืฉืืึผืืึน, ืึดืชึฐืึทึผืึฐึผืจึดื ืึฐึผืฉึดืืืจึธืชึตืึฐ ืึฐืจึทืึผืึนืชึตืื ืึผ ืึธืึฐืจืึผ (ืคืกืืื ืกื:) ืึดืคึฐึผื ึตื ืฉึถืื ึดึผืชึฐืึทืึฐึผืึธื ืึฐืึธืึฐืจึธื (ืคืกืืง ื) ืขึทื ืฉึทืืงึทึผืึฐืชึดึผื ืึฐึผืืึนืจึธื, ื ึดืกึฐืชึทึผืึฐึผืงึธื ืึตืืึถื ึธึผื ืจืึผืึท ืึทืงึนึผืึถืฉื:
Awaken, awaken. The inference is, "awaken to praise," as plainly indicated. "Intensify your singing." However, the Rabbis remark,17Pesachim, 66:b. because she was self lauditory and said, "Until I rose, Devorah,"18Thereby favoring herself over the leaders who preceded her. (Rashi to Pesachim, ibid.) the Divine spirit departed from her.19Silencing her song (Rashi to Pesachim, ibid). It was now necessary for her to reinvoke the prophetic spirit by saying, โAwake, awake.โ
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืขืืจื ืขืืจื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืชืืืงื ืืืืจ ืืฉืืจ, ืืืคืื ืืืจืื ืืืจื ืืฉืืจ ืืืจืื ืืืจืื: ืืฉืื ืฉืืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืืชืืืง ืืฉืืจ ืชืชืืืจ ืืชืฉืืขื:
Awake, awake: That is to say, strengthen yourself to speak in song. And she repeated her words because that is the way of song, and out of great enthusiasm. Take your captives: That is to say, with the strengthening of the song, the salvation will intensify.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืขืืจื ืขืืจื. ืฉื ืื ืืจืืฉืื ืื ืืืจืข ืืืืืจืื ืื ืืืขืื:
Awake, awake: [This appears] twice. The first [set] is accented at the end [of the words]; and the last is accented at the beginning.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 13
Hebrew:
ืึธึื ืึฐืจึทึฃื ืฉืึธืจึดึืื ืึฐืึทืึผึดืืจึดึืื ืขึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึฐืึนืึธ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝื ืึฐืจึทืึพืึดึื ืึผึทืึผึดืึผืึนืจึดึฝืืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Then was the remnant made victor over the mighty, GOD โs peopleipeople Reading สปam (with pathaแธฅ) Adonai; so many Heb. mss. won my victory over the warriors.
The remnant of Israel is given dominion over the mighty โ God enabled the weak to rule over the powerful, reversing the natural order of strength (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธื ืึธืจึทื ืฉึธืืจึดืื ืึฐืึทืึดึผืืจึดืื. ืึธืจึทื - ืึดืจึฐืึผึถื, ืึฐึผืืึน (ืืฉืขืืื ืื:ื) ืึฐืจึทื ืึฐืคึธื ึธืื ืืึนืึดื, ืฉึฐืืจึดืืึตื ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืจึธืืึผ ืึฐึผืึทืึดึผืืจึตื ืึทืึผืึนืึดื: ืืณ ืึฐืจึทื ืึดื ืึทึผืึดึผืึผืึนืจึดืื. ืึดืจึฐืึผึถื ืึดื ืึถืช ืึดึผืึผืึนืจึตื ืึทืึผืึนืึดื:
Dominated.ืึฐืจึทื is similar to ืึดืจึฐืึถื, "dominated,"20ืึธืจึทื is translated as descended. ืึฐืจึทื, however, means dominated. as in "to prostrate nations before him."21To give him dominion over them. (Yeshayah, 45:1.) The surviving Yisroelites dominated the mighty among the idolators. Adonoy empowered me over the mighty. Gave me dominion22See fn.19. over the mighty warriors among the nations.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื. ืืืฉืจ ืืชืืืง ืืฉืืจ ืืชืชืืืจ ืืชืฉืืขื, ืื ืื ืฉืืจ ืืืฉืจืื ืืืฉืื ืืืืืจื ืขื, ืื ืืืืื ืืืืงืื: ืืณ ืืจื ืื. ืืณ ืืชื ืื ืืืฉืื ืืืืืจื ืืืืื, ืืืคื ืืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืืจ:
Then: With the strengthening of the song and the salvation's intensification; then [in order that] those that remain of Israel will rule over the mighty of the nations, which is referring to the mighty nations,... The Lord subdued for me: The Lord has given me dominion over the warriors of the nations. And it repeated this matter with what it said.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืื ืืจื ืฉืจืื. ืืจืื ืืชืฉืืืื ืืคื' ืจืื ืืืฉืืื ืืงื"ื ืืฉืจืื ืฉืืื ืฉืจืื ืืืืืจืื ืืขื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืขื ืืื"ื ืืืืืจืื ืืืงืื ืื"ืช ืืื ืืืฉืื ืืชื ืืืจืฅ ืื ืืืฉ ืืจืืชื ืืคืฆืขื ืืืืืชื:
Then the remnant yerad: That is yeradah, in its complete form. And the explantion is that the Holy One, blessed be He, had Israel, who is the remnant, subdue (radah) and control the mighty ones of the people of Yavin, the king of Canaan. And the [letter,] lamed (which otherwise means, to or for), [in] le'adirim is in place of bet (making it, among). And Yonatan translated (it in the Targum) to be like (Job 2:13), "And they sat with him le'aretz"; and (Genesis 4:23), "I killed a man le'pitzi"; and others beside them.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 14
Hebrew:
ืึดื ึผึดึฃื ืึถืคึฐืจึทึืึดื ืฉืืืจึฐืฉืึธืึ ืึผึทืขึฒืึธืึตึืงย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึทืึฒืจึถึฅืืึธ ืึดื ึฐืึธืึดึืื ืึผึทืขึฒืึธืึถึืืึธย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึดื ึผึดึฃื ืึธืึดึืืจ ืึธึฝืจึฐืืึผึ ืึฐืึนึฃืงึฐืงึดึืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผืึดึจืึผึฐืืึผืึปึื ืึนืฉืึฐืึดึืื ืึผึฐืฉืึตึฅืึถื ืกึนืคึตึฝืจืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
From Ephraim came they whose roots are in Amalek;After you, your kin Benjamin;From Machir came down leaders,From Zebulun such as hold the marshalโs staff.
The tribal roll call begins: from Ephraim came Joshua who first fought Amalek; after him Benjamin; from Machir (Manasseh) came leaders; and from Issachar came those who understood the times (Rashi, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดื ึดึผื ืึถืคึฐืจึทืึดื. ืึดื ืึถืคึฐืจึทืึดื ืึธืฆึธื ืฉืืึนืจึถืฉื ืึฐืืึนืฉึปืืขึท ืึถึผื ื ืึผื, ืึดืจึฐืึผืึนืช ืึทึผืขึฒืึธืึตืง ืึฐืึทืึธึผืฉื ืืึนืชืึน ืึฐืคึดื ืึถืจึถื, ืึผืึฐืึปืึธึผืจ ืึดืงึฐืจึธื ืึถื ืึฐืขึถืึฐืืึนื, ืึฐืคึธืจึตืฉื: ืืณ ืึฐืจึทื ืึดื ืึทึผืึดึผืึผืึนืจึดืื, ืึถืช ืึฐืืึนืฉึปืืขึท ืึตืงึดืื ืึฐืจึทื ืึทึผืขึฒืึธืึตืง: ืึทืึฒืจึถืืึธ. ืึธืงืึผื ืึดืฉึตึผืืึถื ืึดึผื ึฐืึธืึดืื ืฉึธืืืึผื ืึถึผื ืงึดืืฉื ืฉึถืืึดึผืึฐืจึฐืึถื ึผืึผ ืึดืืขึทืึตึผื ืืึนืชืึน ืึฐึผืึถืึธืึดืื ืขืึนืึฐืืึนืช ืึฐืึตืฉื ืึดืคึฐืชึผืึนืจ: ืดืึทึผืขึฒืึธืึถืืึธืด, ืึฐึผืึทืึดื ืฉึถืื ืึธืืชึทืึดื ืึถืึถืฃ ืจึทืึฐืึดื ืฉึถืืึธึผื ืฉึธืืืึผื ืขึฒืึตืืึถื: ืึดื ึดึผื ืึธืึดืืจ ืึธืจึฐืืึผ ืึฐืึนืงึฐืงึดืื. ืฉึธืืจึดืื ืึฐึผืืึนืึดืื ืฉึถืืึธึผืึฐืฉืืึผ ืึถืช ืึธืึฑืืึนืจึดื, ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึธึผืึฐืฉืืึผ (ืืืจืื ื:ื) ืฉึดืืฉึดึผืืื ืขึดืืจ ืึธึผื ืึถืึถื ืึทืจึฐืึผืึนื ืฉึถืืึธึผืึทืฉื ืึธืึดืืจ:
In Ephraim. From Ephraim emerged the root of Yehoshua bin Nun's dominance over Amaleik23 Yehoshua was descended from Ephraim, son of Yoseif, and Amaleik was a descendant of Eisov. Scripture states, โThe house of Yaakov shall be fire, the house of Yoseif flame, the house of Eisov chaffโ [Ovadiah, 18], teaching that the descendants of Yoseif shall devour the descendants of Eisov as flame consumes chaff. (Yalkut, 51. Cf. Rashi to Bereishis, 30:25) when he debilitated them with the sword.24Shemos, 17:13. This passage is related to the preceding one, as it explains "Adonoy empowered me over the mighty" by establishing Yehoshua's dominance over Amaleik. Your successor shall arise from the tribe of Binyomin.25Like Yoseif, Binyomin was a child of Rochel, and Eisov is destined to fall by the power of Rochelโs descendants. (Yalkut, ibid.) Shaul ben Kish, who will batter them26Shmuel 1, 15:7. This took place during the time of the prophet Shmuel, after the days of Devorah and the Shoftim. Her remarks here are prophetic. (Radak) and extinguish them like flickering embers. Another interpretation: "with your people,27โYour succesor, with your people.โ referring to the army of two hundred thousand infantrymen which Shaul mobilized against them.28 I Shmuel 15:4. From Mochir descended warlords. Great lords who vanquished the Emorites. They captured sixty citiesโthe entire imperial zone conquered by Yair.29Ben Menashe. (Bemidbar, 32:41, Devarim, 3:14).
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ื ืืคืจืื. ืื ืฉืื ืืคืจืื ืืฉืจืฉื, ืืืื ืืืืฉืข ื ืฉืืื: ืืขืืืง. ืืื ื ืืื ืืื ืืขืืืง ืืืืืืฉื, ืืื ืฉืืชืื (ืฉืืืช ืื ืื), ืืืืืฉ ืืืืฉืข ืืช ืขืืืง: ืืืจืื. ืืืื ืชืืืจ ืืืคืจืื ืืชืืืจ, ืืืจ ืืืืืช ืืืืฉืข ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืื, ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืขืืืง ืืจืื ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืขืื ืืื ืืชื ืืฉืจืื, ืืืื ืฉืืชืื (ืฉืืืื ื ืื ื), ืืืคืงืื ืืืืณ ืืืชืื ืืืฃ: ืืจืื ืืืงืงืื. ืืฉืจืื ืืื ื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืฉื ืืจืื ืืืืืืื ืืืื ืขื ืกืืกืจื, ืืืืืืืื ืืจืื ืืืื, ืืืฃ ืืกืืคืจืื, ืขื ืฉืืื ื ืืืืืื ืืืืื:
From Ephraim: From the tribe of Ephraim and their source; and that is Yehoshua, their prince In Amalek: From back then, he fought against Amalek and weakened them - as it is written (Exodus 17:13), "And Yehoshua weakened Amalek." After you: It is as if she is speaking to Ephraim and saying, "After the war of Yehoshua, who came from you; Shaul, who comes from Binyamin, will come and fight Amalek with a great troop that will come out with him - from you, Israel." And it is as it is written (I Samuel 15:4), "and he counted them, etc. 200,000." From Machir came down leaders: The ministers of the sons of Machir the son of Menashe came down to this war against Sisera; and all of them came down from Zevulun - even the scribes, even as they were unexperienced in warfare.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืื ื ืืคืจืื. ืืื ืื ืืคืจืื ืืืื"ื ื ืืกืคืช ืืื ืื ื ืืืืจ: ืฉืจืฉื ืืขืืืง. ืฉืจืฉื ืืื ื ืืื ืืขืืืง ืืืื ืืืืฉืข ืื ื ืื ืฉืืื ืฉืจืฉ ืืคืจืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืฉืข ื ืืื ืื ืืื ืขื ืขืืืง ืืืื ืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืื ืื"ืฃ ืืืจืื ืื ืื ืืคืจืื ืื"ืฃ ืืขืืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืจื ื ืืืื ืืืืืืจื ืืืชืขืืจืจืื ืืืืชืืืงืื ืื ืืืืืืช ื' ืืขืชื ืฉืืจืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืืืจ ืืืืืืื ืืืืืืื ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืชืขืืจืจ ืืืชืืืง ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืืืืืื ืืจืื ืืคืืื ืืกืืคืจืื ืืืืืืื ืืืื ืฆืจืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืจ ืืขื: ืืืืฉืืื ืืฉืื ืกืืคืจ. ืคื' ืืืืืื ืืืกืืคืจืื: ืฉืื. ืืขื ืืื ืชืืจืื ืืื ืชื ืืงืืืืืก ืืกืคืจื ืืื ืืฉืจืื ืฉืืื ืืืฉืฉืืจ ืืฆืื ืขื ืืืืจื:
Mini Ephraim: It is like Min (From), and the [letter,] yod is extra. Likewise is, "mini Machir." Whose roots are in Amalek: Their roots fought against Amalek - and that is Yehoshua bin Nun, the root of Ephraim and its chieftain. And after Yehoshua, Binyamin fought with Amalek - and that is Shaul, who was from the tribe of Binaymin. And the [letter,] kaf (indicating, you) in, "after you," refers to Ephraim. And the [letter,] kaf in, "among your peoples," refers to Binyamin. And she said this by way of prophecy and mentioned those arousing themselves and strengthening themselves for the wars of the Lord. And now [she also mentioned] that the great ones and the sages of Machir came down to war. And even though they were on the other side of the Jordan, they aroused themselves and strengthened themselves to come to this war. And likewise did Zevulun go down, even their scribes and their sages. And it is not necessary to mention the rest of the nation. Wielders of the scribe's staff: The explanation is the sages and the scribes. Staff: The stylus. And likewise did Yonatan translate [it] (in the Targum), "With the scribe's quill." And so too did Yissacharโs leaders go down with Devorah.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 15
Hebrew:
ืึฐืฉืึธืจึทึคื ืึผึฐืึดืฉืึผึธืฉืึธืจึ ืขึดืึพืึผึฐืึนืจึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึฐืึดืฉืึผึธืฉืึธืจึ ืึผึตึฃื ืึผึธืจึธึืง ืึผึธืขึตึืึถืง ืฉืึปืึผึทึฃื ืึผึฐืจึทืึฐืึธึืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึดืคึฐืึทืึผึฃืึนืช ืจึฐืืึผืึตึื ืึผึฐืึนืึดึืื ืึดืงึฐืงึตืึพืึตึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
And Issacharโs chiefs were with Deborah;As Barak, so was IssacharโRushing after him into the valley.Among the clans of ReubenWere great decisions of heart.
Issachar's nobles โ members of the Sanhedrin expert in Torah โ sat with Deborah and supported the effort. Barak was sent on foot into the valley with them, showing their devotion and courage (Rashi, Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐืฉึธืืจึทื ืึฐึผืึดืฉึธึผืืฉืึธืจ. ืฉึธืืจึดืื ืฉึถืืึฐึผืึดืฉึธึผืืฉืึธืจ, ืึตื ืกึทื ึฐืึถืึฐืจึธืืึนืช ืขืึนืกึฐืงึดืื ืึทึผืชึผืึนืจึธื, (ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืื:ืื) ืืึนืึฐืขึตื ืึดืื ึธื ืึธืขึดืชึดึผืื, ืึตื ืชึธึผืึดืื ืขึดื ืึฐึผืืึนืจึธื ืึฐืึทืึตึผื ืึฐึผืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื ืึนืง ืึผืึดืฉึฐืืคึธึผื: ืึฐืฉึธืืจึทื ืึฐึผืึดืฉึธึผืืฉืึธืจ. ืืึผืดื ืืึน ืึฐืคึตืึธื ืึดืื ืึฐืึตืื ึธืึผ ืึฐืฉึทืืึถึผืฉึถืืช ืึฐึผืืึผื, ืึทืึฒืจึตื ืึดืื ืึฐึผืืึผืดื (ืชืืืื ื:ื) ืึทึผืึฒืืึนืช ืฉึธืืึทื, (ืืจืืืื ืื:ืื) ืึฐืงึธืจึทืข ืืึน ืึทืึผืึนื ึธื: ืึฐืึดืฉึธึผืืฉืึธืจ ืึตึผื ืึธึผืจึธืง. ืึผืฉึฐืืึธืจ ืึธืขึธื ืฉึถืื ืึดืฉึธึผืืฉืึธืจ, ืึตึผื ืึตื ืขึดื ืึธึผืจึธืง ืึฐืึธื ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึฐืฆึทืึถึผื: ืึธึผืขึตืึถืง ืฉืึปืึผึทื ืึฐึผืจึทืึฐืึธืื. ืฉึฐืืึธืึธื ืึฐึผืึธื ืฉึฐืืึดืืืึผืชืึน, ืึฐืึถืึฑืกืึนืฃ ืึถืช ืึธืขึธื ืึผืึฐืึธื ืฆึธืจึฐืึตื ืึทืึดึผืึฐืึธืึธื: ืึดึผืคึฐืึทืึผืึนืช ืจึฐืืึผืึตื. ืึฒืึธื ืึฐึผืึดืึผืึผืงึตื ืึดืึผืึน ืฉึถืื ืจึฐืืึผืึตื ืจึทืึผืึผ ืึดืงึฐืงึตื ืึตื. (ืชืจืืื:) ื ึดืึฐืึตื ืึดืืึธึผื, ืขึธืจึฐืืึผืึดืืช, ืึผืึธื ืึดืื ืขึธืจึฐืืึผืึดืืชืึน, ืึธืฉึทืื ืืึน ืึตึผืื ืึดืฉึฐืืคึฐึผืชึตื ืึทืึดึผืึฐืึธืึธื ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนืขึท ืึดื ื ืึนืฆึตืึท ืึฐืึดืึฐืึถื ืขึดืึผืึน:
Yesochar's nobles. The noblemen of Yesochar. This refers to members of the Sanhedrin who were engrossed in Torah study, and who knew and understood the times.30Divrei Hayamim (1, 12:32) lists, among King Davids followers, โOf the sons of Yesachar, who knew and understood the times.โ They understood the nature of the events taking place in their times, and were, therefore, qualified to serve as King Davidโs advisors. (Rashi to Divrei Hayamim, there). Or, they were expertly versed in the calculations used in fixing the months and years of the Jewish calendar. They knew and understood the determination of the times of the calendar. (Yalkut, here, 52. See Rashi to Bereishis, 49:15) They constantly accompanied Devorah, teaching the Yisroelites the laws and precepts. Yesochar's nobles. The "ื" in ๏ฌซืืจึทื [lit. "my" nobles] is ancillary, fulfilling no grammatic function. It is similar to the "ื" in "the animals in the field,"31Tehilim, 8:8. ๏ฌซืืึทื, lit. โmyโ field, is translated as ๏ฌซืืึถื, โthe field.โ or "he cut open, for himself, a window."32Yermiyahu, 22:14. ืึท๏ฌผ๏ญื ึทื, lit. โmy windows,โ is translated as ืึท๏ฌผ๏ญื, โthe window.โ Yesochar with Barak. The remainder of Yesochar's constituency were likewise at Barak's disposal whenever he issued orders. Dispatched to the valley at his heels. He dispatched them on all of his missionsโto mobilize the people, and for all military needs. However, in Reuven's equivocation. However, in Reuven's ambiguity was great cunning. "Craftiness of heart,"33 This is Targum Yonasanโs translation. cunning. In what way was he cunning? He straddled the battle lines to learn who would emerge the victor so that he could join them.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืฉืจื ืืืฉืฉืืจ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืขื ืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืฉืฉืืจ ืืฉืื ืืื ืขืช ืขื ืืืืจื ืืืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืง ืืืฉืคื, ืืืื ืฉืืชืื (ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืื ืื), ืืืื ื ืืฉืฉืืจ ืืืืขื ืืื ื ืืขืชืื ืืืืณ, ืืื ื ืกื ืื ืื ืืขืืื ืืืืช ืืืืืื, ืืืฉืฉืืจ ืขื ืื ืื ืขืฉื ืื ืืื ืืจืง, ืืืจื ืืืืืื ืืืืื: ืืขืืง ืฉืื ืืจืืืื. ืื ืืืขืื ื ืืืจ (ื ืื) ืฉืืืจื ืืืืจื ืืืจืง ืืจืืช ืื ืืืจ ืื ืืขืืง ืืงืจืืช ืืืืืื, ืืฉืืข ืืจืง ืืืื ืืืจืื, ืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืื ืขืฉื ืืฉืฉืืจ ืืืจืง, ืื ืืขืืง ืืฉืจ ืฉืืื ืืจืืช ืื ืืืืจ ืืณ ืขื ืืื ืืืืจื, ืื ืืจื ืืจืืืื ืฉื ืืจืง, ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืขื ืืืืื ืืืืจืื, ืืื ืคืื ืืจืืช ืื ืืขืืง (ืืืืช ืณืฉืืืณ ืืืืจ ืขื ืืฉืฉืืจ, ืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืฉืขื ืืื ืืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืขื, ืืืคื ื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจ ืืืจืง, ืฉืืื ืฉืจ ืืฆืื): ืืคืืืืช ืจืืืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืื ืื ืคืืื ืืืจืืช ืืืืืื ืื ืืขืืจ ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืขืชืื, ืืืืช ืืคืืืืช ืจืืืื, ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืื ืฉืจืืืื ื ืืืง ืื ืคืจื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืื, ืืืืืื ืืื ืณืืงืงื ืืืณ, ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ื ืจืืื ืืืฉืื ืจืืืช ืืืฉืืืช ืื ืืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืง ืื ืืืืืื:
And Yissacharโs leaders: That is to say, even as the leaders of Yissachar sat with Devorah all the time to teach laws and statutes to Israel - as it is written (I Chronicles 12:33), "And of the children of Yissachar who had understanding of the times, etc." Yet if so, they had never experienced going to war. Nevertheless, Yissachar did so, just like Barak, and came down to war like him. Dispatched to the valley, at his heels: As earlier, it is stated (Judges 4:14) that Devorah said to Barak to go down from the mountain to the valley to confront the war; and Barak listened to her and they went down. Accordingly, she said that also with this, Yissachar did like Barak. For in the valley into which he was dispatched to go down by the word of the Lord through Devorah, they followed at Barak's heels - that is to say, with his going and after him - and were not afraid to go down into the valley. (And the word, dispatched, refers back to Yissachar. Since the word of the Lord that was through Devorah was for the whole nation; but due to [his] honor, she directed the speech to Barak, since he was the general of the army.) With the divisions of Reuven: That is to say, if all of these tribes did not fear from coming down to war - not in the past, present, nor future - accordingly, with the divisions of Reuven, meaning that which Reuven detached and separated [itself], great decisions of the heart [are called for]. That is to say, behold it is suitable to contemplate many thoughts of the heart to understand this thing - what was with them, such that they did detached [themselves] from the war.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืฉืจื. ืืื ืฉืจืื ืืื ืืงืจืข ืื ืืืื ื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืฉืืคื ืฉืช ืืืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืฉืฉืืจ ืืฆื ืืื ืืื ืืจืง ืืฆื ืขื ืืืืจื: ืืขืืง ืฉืื ืืจืืืื. ืฉืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืจืืื ืืจืื ืืคืฆื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืคืืืืช ืจืืืื ืฉื ืคืื ืื ืืืง ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืงืงื ืืืงืจื ืืื ืขืืื:
And sarai: It is like sarim (leaders); as (Jeremiah 22:14), "and he cuts him out chalonai," is like chalonim; and like (Isaiah 20:4), "and the chasufai of buttocks"; and those that are similar to them. And so too did the whole tribe of Yissachar go out, and so too did Barak go out with Devorah. Dispatched to the valley, at his heels/with his feet: As he did not request an animal to ride upon, due to his great desire for the war. But about the separation of Reuven - who separated and split [to] the other side of the Jordan and did not come to the war - great are the decisions of the heart and the searchings of the heart about him.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 16
Hebrew:
ืึธึฃืึผึธื ืึธืฉืึทึืึฐืชึผึธ ืึผึตึืื ืึทึฝืึผึดืฉืึฐืคึผึฐืชึทึืึดืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึดืฉืึฐืึนึืขึท ืฉืึฐืจึดืงึฃืึนืช ืขึฒืึธืจึดึืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึดืคึฐืึทืึผึฃืึนืช ืจึฐืืึผืึตึื ืึผึฐืืึนืึดึืื ืึดืงึฐืจึตืึพ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึตึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Why then did you stay among the sheepfoldsAnd listen as they pipe for the flocks?Among the clans of ReubenWere great searchings of heart!
Reuben is rebuked: despite great soul-searching, they stayed among the sheepfolds listening to their flocks rather than answering the call to war. The question 'why did you stay?' is pointed (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืฉึฐืืจึดืืงืึนืช ืขึฒืึธืจึดืื. ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนืขึท ืงืึนื ืขึถืึฐืจึตื ืึทืึดึผืึฐืึธืึธื, ืึฐืึดื ืงืึนื ืขึฒื ืึนืช ืึฐึผืืึผืจึธื ืึผืึฐืึดื ืงืึนื ืขึฒื ืึนืช ืึฒืืึผืฉึธืื:
The shrieking companies. Listening to the sounds emitted by the companies engaged in battle, to determine which was the cry of triumph, and which the cry of defeat.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืืฉืืช ืืื ืืืฉืคืชืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืื ืชืฉืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืชื ืืืจื ืื ืืจืืช ืืงืจืืช ื ืฉืง ืื ืื ืืชืืื ืืื ืืฉืืช ืืืืืืช ืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืื ืืืื ืืจืฅ ืืฉืจืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืื, ืืื ืืงืื ืกืื ื ืืื ืืฉืืช ืขื ืืกืคืจ, ืืืืืข ืืืจืช ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืืช ืื: ืืฉืืข ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ืฉืฉืืืช ืืืจืฅ ืืืื ืืืืจื (ืืืืืจ ืื ื), ืืจืฅ ืืงื ื ืืื ืืืขืืืื ืืงื ื, ืืื ืฉืืืชื ืืื ืืฉืืช ืืืช ืืฉืืืข ืฉืจืืงืืช ืืขืืจืื ืืืืงื ื, ืืื ืื ืขืืชื ืขื ืืขืชื ืฉืืขื ืืจืื ืชืจื ืืืืืื ืืืืืชื ืืืฉื ืขื ืืกืคืจ: ืืคืืืืช. ืืืืช, ืืื ืฉื ืคืจื ืจืืืื ืื ืืืืืื, ืจืืื ืืืงืืจ ืขืืื ืจืืืช ืืงืจื ืื, ืืืฉืืื ืืืชืช ืืืืจ:
Why did you stay among the sheepfolds: That is to say, if you answer that you are frightened to come down to war, to face weaponry - if so, why at first did you settle the holding on the other side of the Jordan, between the border of the Land of Israel and the border of the nations? Is that not a dangerous place? So why did you choose to settle on this border? To listen: That is to say, that which you requested that land with your saying (Numbers 32:4), "it is a land of livestock, and your servants have livestock" - was your request [in order] to sit at home to listen to the whistling of the flocks and cattle? And did it not enter your mind that you will perforce come down to war, from your settling on the border? For the divisions: Hence it is suitable to search greatly [with] searchings of the heart, to understand the truth of the matter [about] why Reuven separated from the war.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืฉืืช ืืื ืืืฉืคืชืื. ืืื ืืขืจืืืช ืืืืจืืช ืืฆืื ืืฉืืืข ืฉืจืืงืืช ืขืืจืื ืืืืืจ ืืืฉื ืืืืื ืืื ืืฉืฉืช ืืืืืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืฉืจ ืืืจืฅ ืื ืขื ืืื ืืืช ืืขืืจื ืืืืืื ืืืืช:
And I shall say to him... Why did you stay among the sheepfolds - and these are the arrangements and fences of the sheep - to listen to the whistling of the flocks and cattle, meaning, settled and secure? And you were not concerned with Israel's war that was in the Land of Canaan and you did not come to help them in that war.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 17
Hebrew:
ืึผึดืึฐืขึธึื ืึผึฐืขึตึคืึถืจ ืึทืึผึทืจึฐืึผึตืึ ืฉืึธืึตึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึฐืึธึื ืึธึฅืึผึธื ืึธืึืึผืจ ืึณื ึดืึผึืึนืชย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึธืฉืึตึืจ ืึธืฉืึทืึ ืึฐืึฃืึนืฃ ืึทืึผึดึืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึฐืขึทึฅื ืึดืคึฐืจึธืฆึธึืื ืึดืฉืึฐืึผึฝืึนืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Gilead tarried beyond the Jordan;And Danโwhy did he linger by the ships?jby the ships Or โat Onioth,โ a presumed designation of Danโs region. Asher remained at the seacoastAnd tarried at his landings.
Gilead (Gad) remained beyond the Jordan, Dan stayed with his merchant ships, and Asher sat by the seashore โ all chose their own comfort over collective obligation (Rashi, Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐึผืขึตืึถืจ ืึทืึทึผืจึฐืึตึผื ืฉึธืืึตื. ืึฐืึนื ืึธื ืึถื ืึทืึดึผืึฐืึธืึธื, ืึฐืึตื ืึธึผื ืึดืึฐื ึดืืก ืึธืืึนื ืึน ืึดึผืกึฐืคึดืื ืึนืช ืึทืขึฒืืึนื ืึฐืึดืึฐืจืึนืึท: ืึฐืขึทื ืึดืคึฐืจึธืฆึธืื. ืึดืฉึฐืืืึนืจ ืคึดึผืจึฐืฆืึนืช ืึทืจึฐืฆืึน:
Is ensconced beyond the Yardein and never arrived at the battle front. Similarly, Dan hoarded his money into sea vessels, poised to escape. At his exposures. To defend his exposed territory.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืขื ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ื ืืฉื ืฉืืื ืื ืื ืจืืืื ืืืืืื, ืขื ืื ื ืืืชื ืืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืจืืืงื ืืืงืื ืืืืืื, ืืื ืื ืืืขื ืฉืืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืขื ืื ืื ืื ืืืืืื, ืืื ืฉืืชืื ืืืขืื (ืคืกืืง ืื) ืื ื ืืืืจ ืืืืณ, ืืืื ืืืขื: ืืื ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืฃ ืขื ืื ืืฉ ืืืชืจืขื ืืื, ืื ืืื ืืงืืฅ ืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืฉืืื ืืกืคืื ืืช ืืืืจืื, ืืื ื ืืืชื ืงืจืืื ืืืงืื ืืืืืื, ืืืืืข ืื ืื ืืจื ืืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืขื ืฉืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืื ืื ื, ืื ืืืขื ืขืฉื, ืจืง ืขื ืื ื ืืืชื ืืื ืืืืฃ ืืื ืขื ืืกืคืจ ืืขืจืื ืืื ืคืจืืฆืื ืืคืจืืืื ืืืื ืืืื, ืืืื, ืืขื ืืจืื ืฉืื ืืฆื ืขืจืื ืืคืจืืฆืื, ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืกืืืืื ืืืกืคืจ:
Gilead, etc. That is to say, that if we would think that it is because of this that Reuven did not come to the war - because his inheritance is on the other side of the Jordan, far away from the location of the war - does not Gilead also dwell on the other side of the Jordan? Nevertheless, they still came to the war, as it is written above (Judges 5:14), "from Machir, etc." - and that is Gilead. And Dan, etc.: That is to say, also about Dan should we be very angry. For why should he gather all that he has, to place it in his ships, and flee? Is his inheritance not very close to the location of the war? And if so, why did Asher flee and not come to the war, etc.? That is to say, if Asher also did not come here - it did not do so blameworthily, but rather only because his inheritance is on the sea and his cities are open and spread out without a wall. So as a result, he stayed near his open cities, so that the nations close to the border not go into them.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืื ืืืขื ืฉืฉืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืฉ ืืชืืื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืืืจ ืฉืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืขื ืืืจืฅ ืืืืขื ืืืืช ืืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืชื ืืช ืืืืขื ืืืืืจ ืื ืื ืฉื, ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ ืื ืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืขื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืฉืื ืขื ืืืช ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืฉื' ืืื ืืื ืืืงื ืืืจืฅ ืืืืขื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืืืจ ืื ืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืช ืืืืชืืื ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ ืขืื ืื ืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืขื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืจื ืชืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืจืืืื ืืื ืืฉืืช ืืืืชื ืืื ืืืช ืืืืืื ืืืขื ืขืฉื ืื ืืื ืฉืขืฉืืช ืืชื ืืืฉื ืืฉืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืื ืืจื ืืื ืืขืืืจ ืืืืืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืชื ืืื ืขืฉืืช ืื ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืชื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื, ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ ื"ื ืืขื ืื ืื ืืคืืจืืฉ ืฉืื ืืืจื ืชืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืืขื ืืื ืฉืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืืงื ืื ืืืชื ืฉื ืืื ืืืขืค"ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืืขืืจืช ืืฉืจืื ืืืชื ืืื ืื ืขืฉืืช ืื: ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืช. ืืื ื ืืืืจ ืขื ืื ืืืช ืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืงื ืขื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืงื ืฉื ืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืืฃ ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืชืื ืืืืงื ืืื ืืคื ืืข"ืค ืื ืื ืืื ืืคื ืืืืงื ืืื ืื ืืืช ืืืจืื ืจ"ื ืฉืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืืจื ืืคืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืก ื ืืกืื ืืขืืจ ืืืจืื ืืื ืชืืจืื ืืื ืชื ืืื ืืขืืจื ืืจืื ื ืืื': ืืฉืจ ืืฉื ืืืืฃ ืืืื. ืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืงื ืืืืจืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืืจืื ืืคืืข ืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืืื ืชืืฆืืืชืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืืื: ืืขื ืืคืจืฆืื ืืฉืืื. ืขื ืืงืืืืช ืืคืจืืฆืื ืื ืืขืจืื ืืฉืืื ืฉื ืืคืื ืืืืืื ืืคืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืฉืื ืื ืื ืขืจืื ืคืจืืฆืืช ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืงืจืื ืขืืืื ืืื':
And likewise, Gilead who dwelt beyond the Jordan and did not come to the war. And one should wonder: And did not Makhir say that he was coming to the war? And Makhir was the father of of Gilead. So the Gilead (region) went to the House of Makhir, as it stated (Numbers 32:40), "And he gave the Gilead to Makhir, the son of Menashe." But it can be explained that that which it said, Gilead dwelt beyond the Jordan, was about the House of Yair, the son of Menashe, as his portion was also in the land of Gilead, as it stated (Numbers 32:41), "And Yair, the son of Menashe, went and conquered their villages." And it can further be explained that what it stated, that Gilead dwelt beyond the Jordan, is by way of a question. And it is saying it to Reuven - why did you sit in your house and not come to the war: Gilead did like you and settled on the other side of the Jordan. Did he not tremble and come to help in Israel's war? So why did you not do so? And even though you are from the other side of the Jordan, is he not also from the other side of the Jordan? But it can also be explained with the same idea as this understanding, not by way of a question. That is to say, does not Gilead also dwell on the other side of the Jordan like you and his portion and inheritance is there? Nevertheless, he crossed over and came to the help of Israel. But you, why did you not do this? And Dan, why did he linger by the ships: It is not speaking about ships of the sea, since his portion was not on the sea. For Zevulun's portion was there, as it states (Genesis 49:13), "Zevulun will dwell upon the shore of the seas." And even though it is written about his portion (Yehoshua 19:26), "across from Yafo" - nevertheless, Yafo was not in his portion. Rather it is river boats, meaning to say that he crossed the Jordan and fled out of fear of the enemy and took his possessions across the Jordan. And so did Yonatan translate (in the Targum), "they swiftly crossed the Jordan, etc." Asher remained at the seacoast: Since his portion and his lot were there, as it is written (Joshua 19:26), "and it reaches the Carmel towards the sea." And it stated (Joshua 19:29), "and then its boundaries towards the sea, to Mechebel towards Achziv." And dwelt at his breaches: He dwelt at the breached places in his cities, due to the fear of the enemies. Hence he will not come to the war, so that he will not leave his unwalled towns alone (undefended). And Yonatan (in the Targum) translated, "the towns of nations, etc.."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 18
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึปืึืึผื ืขึทึฃื ืึตืจึตึฅืฃ ื ึทืคึฐืฉืึืึนย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึธืึืึผืช ืึฐื ึทืคึฐืชึผึธืึดึื ืขึทึื ืึฐืจืึนืึตึฅื ืฉืึธืึถึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Zebulun is a people that mocked at death,kthat mocked at death Lit. โbelittled its life to die.โ Naphtaliโon the open heights.
By contrast, Zebulun and Naphtali risked their lives fearlessly. They 'scorned death' and fought on the open heights of Mount Tabor (Rashi, Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐืึปืืึผื ืขึทื ืึตืจึตืฃ ืึฐืืึนืณ. ืึดึผืึธึผื ื ึทืคึฐืฉืืึน ืึฐืึดืคึฐืงึดืืจ ืขึทืฆึฐืืึน ืึธืืึผืช ืึทึผืึดึผืึฐืึธืึธื ืขึดื ืึธึผืจึธืง, ืึฐืึตื ื ึทืคึฐืชึธึผืึดื ืขึทื ืึฐืจืึนืึตื ืฉึธืืึถื ืขึทื ืึทืจ ืชึธึผืืึนืจ:
Zevulun; a people who disdained, etc. They were contemptuous of their lives, and subjected themselves to death in battle with Barak. Likewise, Naftoli at the highland field on Mount Tovor.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืืื ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืืื ืืืืืื ืขืฉื ืืืื, ืื ืืื ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืจืฃ ืืืื ื ืคืฉื ืืืืช ืืืืืื ืืื ืืงืจื ื ืคืฉื ืืขืื ืื ืืืฉืืฉ ืคื ืืืืช ืืืืืื: ืื ืคืชืื ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืื ื ืคืชืื ืืืืื ืื ืืฉ ืืืืช ืขื ืืจืืื ืฉืื ืืืงืื ืืืืืื (ืขื ืื ืืณ ืฆืื ืืงืืช ืืืืืื ืื ื ืืืืืื ืืื ื ื ืคืชืื, ืืื ืฉืืชืื ืืืขืื ืืื ืฆืื ืืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืชืจ ืืฉืืืื, ืืื ืืงืื ืืชืจืขืื ืืืืจื ืขื ืจืืืื ืืขื ืื ืขื ืฉืื ืืื ืืขืฆืื, ืืืจื ืฉืืื ืืฉืืจ ืืฉืืืื):
Zevulun, etc.: That is to say, Zevulun however did what is good. For it is a nation that mocked and belittled his [own] life, to go to war. And his life was not [so] precious in his eyes, to be concerned lest he die in war. And Naphtali, etc. That is to say, and likewise Naphtali also did not worry about dying upon the open heights of the war's location. (Granted, God commanded taking the Children of Zevulun and the Children of Naphtali to war, as it is written above (Judges 4:6); and He did not command bringing [men] from the other tribes to the war. Nevertheless, Devorah was angry with Reuven and with Dan about their not coming on their own, the way the other tribes had come.)
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืจืฃ ื ืคืฉื ืืืืช. ืืื ืืคืจืกื ื ืคืฉื ืืืกืจ ืขืฆืื ืืืืชื ืืจืื ืืคืฆื ืืืืืื ืื ืคืชืื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืขืฆืื ืขื ืืจืืื ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืืืช ื ืคืชืื ืืฉืืืื ืื ืื ืขืืื ืืจืขื:
Zevulun mocked his life: He revealed and publicized himself and handed himself over to death, so great was his desire for war. And likewise did Naphtali place himself upon the open heights to fight. And Yonatan translated [it] (in the Targum), "all the nations of the earth will praise those of the House of Naphtali."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 19
Hebrew:
ืึผึธึคืืึผ ืึฐืึธืึดืืึ ื ึดืึฐืึธึืืึผย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึธึคื ื ึดืึฐืึฒืืึผึ ืึทืึฐืึตึฃื ืึฐื ึทึืขึทืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึฐืชึทืขึฐื ึทึืึฐ ืขึทืึพืึตึฃื ืึฐืึดืึผึืึนย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึถึฅืฆึทืข ืึผึถึืกึถืฃ ืึนึฅื ืึธืงึธึฝืืึผืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Then the kings came, they fought:The kings of Canaan foughtAt Taanach, by Megiddoโs watersโThey got no spoil of silver.
Foreign kings came to help Sisera at Taanach near Megiddo's waters โ yet they gained no silver spoil, because God fought for Israel (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐึผืชึทืขึฒื ึทืึฐ ืขึทื ืึตื ืึฐืึดืึผืึน. ืชึดึผืจึฐืึตึผื ืืึนื ึธืชึธื: ืึฐึผืชึทืขึฒื ึทืึฐ ืึฒืืึน ืฉึธืืจึธื ืึผืึธืึธื ืขึทื ืึตื ืึฐืึดืึผืึน, ืจึนืืฉื ืึทืึทึผืึฒื ึถื ืึฐึผืชึทืขึฒื ึทืึฐ ืึผืึทืึดึผืืขึท ืขึทื ืึตื ืึฐืึดืึผืึน: ืึถึผืฆึทืข ืึถึผืกึถืฃ ืึนื ืึธืงึธืืึผ. ืึดื ึธึผื ืึธึผืืึผ ืึฐืขึถืึฐืจึทืช ืกึดืืกึฐืจึธื, ืึนื ืึดึผืงึฐืฉืืึผ ืึดืึถึผื ึผืึผ ืฉึธืืึธืจ:
At Ta'anach to the waters of Megiddo. Targum Yonasan renders, "They were encamped at Ta'anach, and reached the waters of Megiddo." The upper section of the camp was at Ta'anach, and it extended to the waters of Megiddo. Deigning no mercenary reward. They came to Sisera's assistance gratuitouslyโwithout requesting payment.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืืืืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืฉืืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ื ืื ืืื ืืขืืจืช ืืืืื, ืืืืื ืืจืฆืืช ืืืจืืช ืืื ืืขืืจืช ืกืืกืจื ืื ืืืื ืืขืืืจื: ืื. ืืขืช ืืืื ืกืืกืจื ื ืืืื ืืขืืืจื ืืืื ืื ืขื ืืจื ืขื, ืื ืืชืขื ื ื ืืืื, ืืงืฆื ืืืื ื ืืืืข ืขื ืื ืืืื: ืืฆืข. ืืื ื ืืื ืืขืืจืชื ืืื ืืงืื ืืฉืืจื ืืฆืข ืืกืฃ, ืืืืจื ืืืชืจืขืืช, ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืขืืจืช ืกืืกืจื, ืืืืืข ืื ืื ืจืืืื ืืื ืืขืืจืช ืืืืื:
The kings came: That is to say, [some of] the tribes of Israel did not come to the assistance of their brothers; whereas the kings of other lands came to the assistance of Sisera and fought for him. Then: At the time that Sisera fought, the kings of Canaan fought with a large mass. As [although] they fought at Taanakh, the edge of the camp reached the waters of Megiddo. Spoil: They came to his assistance for free and they did not take spoil of silver as their reward. And she said this, like someone angry, "Did the nations not come for free to the assistance of Sisera? So why did Reuven and Dan not come to the assistance of their brothers?"
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืชืขื ื ืขื ืื ืืืื. ืชืขื ื ืืืืืื ืฉื ื ืืงืืืืช ืื ืืืืง ืื ืฉื ืืื ืื ืจืื ืื ืจืืืงืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืืฉืื ืชืขื ื ืืื ืืชืื ืืืืฉืื ืืืื ืืื ืืชืื ื"ื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืชืขื ื ืขื ืื ืืืืื ืืืชืื ืืคืจืฉ ืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืขื ืืืืื ืืืื ืกืืกืจื ืืืฉืจ ืืื ืขืื ืืืืื ืืชืขื ื ืืืื ืืืืืชืื ืื ืื ืจืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืขืื ืขื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืชืืจืื ืืื ืชื ืืชืขื ื ืืื ืฉืจื ืืืื ืขื ืื ืืืื: ืืฆืข ืืกืฃ ืื ืืงืื. ืื ืืื ืืืงืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืฉืืื ื ืืคืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืจืืื ืืืชื:
At Taanakh, by Megiddoโs waters: Taanakh and Megiddo were two places in the portion of Menashe. And from what it seems, they were far from one another - as it stated (Yehoshua 17:11), "the inhabitants of Taanakh and its hamlets, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its hamlets." If so, what is that which it stated, "at Taanakh, by Megiddoโs waters?" Yet it can likely be explained that the kings of Canaan came to fight - meaning Sisera and those that came with him to fight - in Taanakh. But his troops were so many that they reached Megiddo's waters. And likewise did Yonatan translate (in the Targum), "they dwelled in Taanakh, and they spread out to Meggido's waters." They got no spoil of silver: They would take no money from the Children of Israel that would fall into their hands, but would rather kill them.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 20
Hebrew:
ืึดืึพืฉืึธืึทึืึดื ื ึดืึฐืึธึืืึผย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึทืึผึฝืึนืึธืึดืืึ ืึดืึผึฐืกึดืึผืึนืชึธึื ื ึดืึฐืึฒืึืึผ ืขึดืึพืกึดึฝืืกึฐืจึธึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
The stars fought from heaven,From their courses they fought against Sisera.
The battle had a cosmic dimension: it was as if the very stars fought against Sisera from their heavenly courses, so overwhelming was Israel's divinely-aided victory (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดื ืฉึธืืึทืึดื ื ึดืึฐืึธืืึผ. ืึฐืึทืฃ ืึทืงึธึผืืึนืฉื ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืืึผื ืฉึธืืึทื ืึธึผื ืฆึฐืึธืึธืื ืฉึถืืึตืื ึธื ืจืึนืฆึดืื ืฉืืึผื ืฉึธืืึธืจ: ืึดืึฐึผืกึดืึผืึนืชึธื. ืจึนืืฉื ืึทืึผืึนืึธื ืึทึผืฉึธึผืืึทืึดื ืึฐืกืึนืคืึน ืึธึผืึธืจึถืฅ, ืึดืึธึผืื ืึธืึฐืจืึผ (ืชื ืืืื ืืจืืฉืืช ื) ืขึธืึฐืืึน ืฉึถืื ืจึธืงึดืืขึท ืึทึผืึฒืึดืืจ ืฉึถืืึตึผืื ืฉึธืืึทืึดื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ, ืฉึถืืึทืึผืึนืึธื ืชึธึผืงืึผืขึท ืึธึผืจึธืงึดืืขึท ืึฐึผืึดืื ื ึถืึถืจ ืึฐึผืึถืึถืช, ืึดืึทึผืช ืึธืจึฐืึผืึน ืึฐึผืขึธืึฐืืึน ืฉึถืื ืจึธืงึดืืขึท, ืึผืึดื ืึทืึดึผืงึฐืจึธื ืฉึถืืึตึผืขึดืื ืณืึดืึฐึผืกึดืึผืึนืชึธื ื ึดืึฐืึธืืึผืณ, ืึธื ืึผ ืฉืืึนืึฐืขึดืื ืฉึถืืขึธืึฐืืึน ืฉึถืื ืจึธืงึดืืขึท ืึฐึผืืึนืึทืึผ ืฉึธืืึทืึดื ืึดื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ:
War was waged from heaven. The Holy One blessed is He, as well, dispatched His hosts against them. They, too, have no desire for any payment. In their pathways. The upper tip of the star was in heaven, the bottom on earth. This teaches that the width of the firmament is equivalent to the distance between heaven and earth. For the star is suspended across the firmament like a sort of bolt across a door, its length measuring the same as the width of the firmament. From this passage, which attests that they waged war in their pathways, we learn that the width of the firmament is the same as the elevation of heaven from earth.34โIn their pathwaysโ indicates that the star remained in its celestial path during the battle on earth. Evidently, the tip of the star remained fixed in heaven, while the remainder swung downward so that the lower edge reached the earth and destroyed Siseraโs forces. Since the star now extended from heaven to earth normally reached across the firmament, we learn that the distance between the two areas is the same.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืืื ืื ืืืชื ื ืคื ืกืืกืจื, ืืืืื ืื ืืฉืืื ื ืืืื ืขืื ืืืืื ืืืืืืื ืกืจื ืืืกืืืชื ืืืืจื ืืืืื ืืืจืื ืื ืืืื ืขื ืกืืกืจื ืืจืืืชืื ื ืืืจืื ื ืืืจืื ืืืจื (ืคืกืืื ืงืื ื) ืฉืืืืืืื ืืจืชืืื ืืฉืจืืื ืืช ืื ืื ืกื ืื ืื ืงืืฉืื ืืืชืงืจืจ, ืืฉืืคื ืื ืื ืื:
They fought from heaven: That is to say, even without them, however, Sisera fell. And it was as if they fought with him from the heavens, and as if the stars swerved from their paths and from the way of their trajectories and descended and fought with Sisera. But our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, said (Pesachim 118b) that the stars heated up the armor (such that it was too hot to touch). So they went into the Kishon Rivor to cool [it] down, but the waters of the river washed them away.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืืื. ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืฆืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืฆืื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืกืืกืจื ืืืื ืื ืืฉืืื ื ืืืื ืขื ืกืืกืจื: ืืืืืืื ืืืกืืืืชื. ืขื ืืจื ืฉืื ืื ืืช ื' ืืืืจืื ืืืจื ืืืจืฉ ืื ืืืืืืื ืืืื ืืืชื ืืืื ืืืืฉืื ืฉืจืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืืืืืช ืืื ื ืื ืกืื ืื ืื ืงืืฉืื ืืืชืงืจืจ ืืฉืืืคื ืื ืื ืืคืืื ืกืื ืคืกืืง ื ืื ืงืืฉืื ืืจืคื ืืคืกืืง ืื ืฉืืื ื ืืืื ืืืคื ืืจื ืืคืฉื ืืคื ืฉืืืืืื ืืืชื ืืขืจืื ืืฉืจ ืขื ืฉืคืช ื ืื ืงืืฉืื ืืื ื ืื ืกืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืจืื ืื ืืขืจืื ืืืืื ืขื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืืฉืื ืืืจืืืืช ืืื ืืืฆืจืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืกืจ ืืช ืืืคื ืืจืืืืชืื ืื ืคืื ืืคืจืฉืื ืื ืื ืืืจืคื ืื ืื ืืืืขื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืฉืจืื ืืื ืฉืืจืื ืื ืื ืืขืื ืืขืืจืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืคืืข ืื ืืง ืื"ืฉ ืชืืจืื ื ืคืฉื ืขืื ืืืืืจ ืื ืื ืฉืืจืคื ืืจืื ื ืคืฉื ืืขืื ืกืืื ืืฉืืื ื ืืืื ืขืืื ืืขืืืจื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืชืืจืื ื ืคืฉื ืขืื ืืืฉืืฉืช ื ืคืฉื ืงืืืื ืืืจืืืื ืืชืงืืฃ, ืืคื' ื ืื ืงืืืืื ื ืื ืฉืืื ืฉื ืืงืื ืืืืื ื ืืจื ืฉื ืืงืื ืืื ืงื ืืืืืื ื' ืขื ืืจื ืื ืคืขื ื' ืืืขื ืื ืืื':
They fought from heaven: So great was the victory in which Israel defeated Sisera's army that it was as if they fought with Sisera from the heavens. The stars from their paths: Along the same lines as (Joel 4:11), "cause Your mighty ones to come down there, O Lord." And according to the homiletical approach (Pesachim 118b), it is that the stars heated them up, and they were wearing armor. So from the great heat, they went into the Kishon River to cool down; but the river washed them away. That is why it placed the verse of the Kishon River adjacent to the verse, "They fought from the skies." But according to the simple approach: Because the war was in the desert on the shore of the Kishon River, they went [into it] - whether to flee or whether to fight the war with Israel - but the chariots stumbled, like in Egypt, as it stated (Exodus 14:28), "He removed the wheels of their chariots." So the horsemen fell into the river, the river washed them away and they drowned. But it was not like this with Israel, but they rather marched through the river with courage, and passed through it without any incident or injury. And this is [the meaning of] that which is written (in the next verse), "march on, my soul, with courage." Meaning, with courage did my soul march through that river which washed them away. It is a sign that the heavens fought with them for my sake. And Yonatan translated (in the Targum), "march on, my soul, with courage" [as], "my soul trampled their dead warriors with power." And the explanation of the kedumim river, is that it is a river that was there from antiquity (kedem); as if it were created there from antiquity to take vengeance on the enemies of the Lord, along the lines of (Proverbs 16:4), "God did everything for His sake, etc."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 21
Hebrew:
ื ึทึคืึทื ืงึดืืฉืืึนืึ ืึผึฐืจึธืคึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ื ึทึฅืึทื ืงึฐืืึผืึดึืื ื ึทึฃืึทื ืงึดืืฉืึืึนืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืชึผึดืึฐืจึฐืึดึฅื ื ึทืคึฐืฉืึดึื ืขึนึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
The torrent Kishon swept themlthem I.e., the kings of Canaan (v. 19). away,The raging torrent, the torrent Kishon.March on, my soul, with courage!
The Kishon River swept away the enemy forces. Rashi explains this was the same river that had served as surety since the days of Egypt โ an ancient promise of divine intervention fulfilled (Rashi, Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐึผืจึธืคึธื. ืึตืืึตื ืึดื ืึธืขืึนืึธื, ืึฐึผืึทืึฐืจึตืคึธื ืืึน ืฉึถืืึผืึนืจึถืคึถืช ืึถืช ืึธืึตืคึถืจ ืึดื ืึทืึดึผืืจึธื: ื ึทืึทื ืงึฐืืึผืึดืื. ืฉึถืื ึทึผืขึฒืฉึธืื ืขึธืจึตื ืึทืึธึผื ืขึทื ืึถื ืึดืืืึนืช ืึดืฆึฐืจึทืึดื, ืึดึผืึฐืึดืืชึธื ืึดึผืคึฐืกึธืึดืื (ืงืื:): ืชึดึผืึฐืจึฐืึดื ื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืื. ืึธึผืจึทืึฐืึทืึดื ืึถืช ืขึนื ืึดึผืึผืึนืจึตื ืึฐื ึธืขึทื:
Swept them away. It brushed them from the world like a broom which brushes ashes from an oven. The stream of antiquity. It guaranteed the obligation to the sea concerning this, from the days of Egypt,35In the days of antiquity, during the exodus from Egypt. as stated in Pesachim.36 118:b. When the Egyptians drowned at the splitting of the Reed Sea, Adonoy ordered the sea to cast their bodies onto the shore, to prove to the Yisroelites that they had perished. The sea objected, claiming the bodies as its due, and consented only when Kishon stream guaranteed repayment of the obligation. Kishon now fulfilled the guarantee, by sweeping Siseraโs forces into the sea. My soul trampled underfoot the power of the mighty Canaanite warriors.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ื ืื ืงืืฉืื ืืจืคื. ืื ืืืืืื ืืืชื ืืฉืคืช ืื ืื, ืืื ืก ืืืจื ืื ืื ืื ืืฉืืคื: ื ืื ืงืืืืื ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ื ืื ืื ืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืงืืื ืืืื ืื ืื ืงืืฉืื, ืืื ืืขืืื ืืื, ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืจืืชื ืื ื ืื ืืขืื ืืืื ื ืืง, ืืขืชื ืขื ืคื ืื ืก ืืื ืจืื ืืืขืื ืขื ืืฉืจ ืฉืืคื ืืืืื:
The Kishon River swept them away: As the war was at the edge of the river; and the waters of the river miraculously grew and washed them away. That ancient river, etc.: That is to say, behold the water of the river which had been in the Kishon River earlier and from always - was it not slight, to the point that I would step in it boldly without injury. But now, how is it that it miraculously grew to the point that it washed away the nations?
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 22
Hebrew:
ืึธึฅื ืึธืึฐืึืึผ ืขึดืงึผึฐืึตืึพืกึืึผืกย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึดึฝืึผึทืึฒืจึืึนืช ืึผึทืึฒืจึฅืึนืช ืึทืึผึดืืจึธึฝืืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Then the horsesโ hoofs poundedAs headlong galloped the steeds.mAs headlong galloped the steeds Lit. โFrom the gallopings, the gallopings of his steeds.โ
The fleeing horses' hooves shattered from the furious galloping. Rashi adds that the cosmic heat from the battling stars boiled the mud, causing the hooves to break off โ a vivid image of total rout (Rashi, Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธืึฐืืึผ ืขึดืงึฐึผืึตื ืกืึผืก. ื ึดืฉึฐืืชึทึผืึฐึผืคืึผ ืึทืึฐืคึตื ืกืึผืกึตืืึถื, ืฉึถืืึธืึธื ืึนื ืึทืึผืึนืึธื ืึทืจึฐืชึดึผืืึท ืึถืช ืึทืึดึผืื ืึฐืึทืฆึดึผืคึผืึนืจึถื ื ึดืฉึฐืืึฐืึธื, ืึฐึผืืึน ืฉึถืืึผืึนืึฐืึดืื ืึถืช ืึธืจึทืึฐืึทืึดื ืึฐึผืจืึนืชึฐืึดืื ืึฐืึทืึฐึผืึธืคึดืื ื ึดืฉึฐืืึธืึดืื, ืึดืชึผืึนืึฐ ืฉึถืื ึดึผืฉึฐืืชึทึผืึฐึผืคืึผ ื ึถืึถืึฐืืึผ ืึธืจึทืึฐืึทืึดื: ืึดืึทึผืึฒืจืึนืช ืึทึผืึฒืจืึนืช ืึทืึดึผืืจึธืื. ืฉึถืืึธืืึผ ืึทืจึฐืงึดืืึดืื ืึถืช ืกืึผืกึตืืึถื ืึทึผืึดึผืึฐืึธืึธื, ืึฐึผืืึน (ื ืืื ื:ื) ืึฐืกืึผืก ืึนึผืึตืจ, ืืึผื ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึทืจึฐืงึธืึทืช ืึทืกึผืึผืก:
Horses' legs were battered. Their horses' hooves were severed. The heat of the star brought the mud to a boil, severing the hooves, as when legs are scalded in boiling water to detach the hooves. Once the hooves were severed, the legs were battered. By the prancing, the prancing of their mighty. They pranced their horses in battle, as in "a prancing horse.37Nachum, 3:2. The word connotes the dancing of a horse.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ืืืื ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ืืจืืืชื ืื ืื ืฉืืืฃ, ื ืกื ืื ืคืฉื ืขื ืืกืืกืื, ืืื ืืืื ืื ืฉืืจื ืขืงืื ืืกืืก ืื ืืืืจืืช ืืืืืืืช ืฉืขืฉื ืขืืื ืื ืฉืื ืืืืืจืื ืจืืืื ืืกืืกืื, ืื ืืืช ืณืืืืจืืืณ ืืืืจ ืขื ืืกืืกืื, ืืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืื ืืืืจืืช ืฉืขืฉื ืกืืกืื ืืืืงืื:
Then they pounded: That is to say, when they saw the river rushing, they fled for their lives on the horses. But then the hoofs of the horses were broken from the galloping and the jumping that his mighty men, the riders of the horses, did with them. Or the word, "abiriv (his strong ones)," refers back to the horses (and not the riders). So that is to say, [they broke] from the galloping of his strong horses.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืื ืืืื. ืคืืขื ืขืืื ืืืืื ืืืืจ ื ืืืื ืขืงืื ืืกืืกืื ืืจืื ืืจืืฆืชื ืืืืืื, ืื"ืฉ ืืืืจืืช ืืืจืืช ืืืืจืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืกืืก ืืื ืขื ืืืจืฅ ืืขืช ืืืจืืฆื ืืฉืื ืืขืช ืืืจืืฆื ืฉื ืจืื ืืืจืงื ืชืงืจื ืืืืจื ืืื ืืกืืก ืืืืจ ืืืจืืื ืืจืงืื, ืืืืจ ืขืงืื ืกืืก ืื ืืขืงืืื ืืื ืคืจืกื ืืคืืื ืืืจ ืื ื ืืืื ืขืงืื ืกืืก ืืื ืืืช ืืกืืก ืืืจืฅ, ืืืขื ืืืืจืื ืขื ืืคืจืฉืื ืื ืขื ืืกืืกืื:
Then they pounded: It is a passive verb, as if it said, the horses' hoofs were pounded from their great running. And [regarding] that which it states, "his strong ones were galloping gallops": That which a horse strikes the ground with force - when it is running and when it is not running - like a dancer, is called galloping. And likewise (Nachum 3:2), "the galloping horse and dancing chariot." And it stated, "the horses' hoofs," because there is no split in the hoofs. That is why it stated that the horses' hoofs were pounded by the force of the striking of the horse on the ground. And the explanation of "abiriv (his strong ones)," is [that it is] referring to the riders, or referring to the horses.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 23
Hebrew:
ืึฃืึนืจืึผ ืึตืจึืึนื ืึธืึทืจึ ืึทืึฐืึทึฃืึฐ ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึนึฅืจืึผ ืึธืจึืึนืจ ืึนืฉืึฐืึถึืืึธย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึดึคื ืึนึฝืึพืึธึืืึผึ ืึฐืขึถืึฐืจึทึฃืช ืึฐืึนืึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึฐืขึถืึฐืจึทึฅืช ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึผึทืึผึดืึผืึนืจึดึฝืืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
โCurse Meroz!โ said the angelnthe angel Lit. โthe messenger.โ of GOD.โBitterly curse its inhabitants,Because they came not to GODโs aidTo GODโs aid amongoamong Or โagainst.โ the warriors.โ
The city of Meroz, located near the battlefield, is bitterly cursed for failing to come to God's aid. Some say Meroz was a star that failed in its duty; others say it was a prominent person who refused to fight (Rashi, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืืึนืจืึผ ืึตืจืึนื. ืึธืึฐืจึตื ืึทืึผ ืึผืึนืึฐืึธื ืึฒืึธื, ืึฐืึธืึฐืจึตื ืึทืึผ ืึทึผืึฐืจึธื ืึฒืฉึดืืืึธื ืึฒืึธื (ืืืขื ืงืื ืื.), ืึฐืึธืึธื ืกึธืืึผืึฐ ืึดืึฐืงืึนื ืึทืึดึผืึฐืึธืึธื ืึฐืึนื ืึธื: ืึธืึทืจ ืึทืึฐืึทืึฐ ืืณ. ืึธืึทืจ ืึธึผืจึธืง ืึดึผืฉึฐืืึดืืืึผืชืึน ืฉึถืื ืึทืงึธึผืืึนืฉื ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืืึผื: ืืึนืฉึฐืืึถืืึธ. ืึทืึผืึนืฉึฐืืึดืื ืึฐึผืึทืจึฐืึทึผืข ืึทืึผืึนืช ืฉึถืืึผืึน (ืฉื) ืึผึฐืึทืจึฐืึผึทืข ืึฐืึธื ืฉืึดืืคึผืึผืจึตื ืฉืึทืึผึฐืชึตืืึผ ืึผึธืจึธืง ืึฐืึตืจืึนื: ืึฐืขึถืึฐืจึทืช ืืณ. ืึดึผืึฐืึธืืึนื, ืฉึถืืึดึผื ืฉึถืืืึผื ืขืึนืึตืจ ืึถืช ืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื, ืึฐึผืขืึนืึตืจ ืึถืช ืึทืฉึฐึผืืึดืื ึธื:
Curse Meroz! One opinion is that this was a star.38Siseraโs protective star. (Rashi to Moed Katan, 16:a). According to others, this was a distinguished person who was near the battle field but failed to appear.39Moed Katan ibid. Declares Adonoy's emissary. Barak made this declaration, as the emissary of the Holy One, blessed is He. Those who dwell in it. Those who remain within his four amohs. With four hundred shofar blasts, Barak excommunicated Meroz.40Ibid. To assist Adonoy. As if it were possible,41 ืืืืืื, โas if it were possible,โ is used as a caveat when human qualities seem to be attributed to Adonoy. if anyone comes to Yisroel's assistance, it is as if he were assisting the Divine Presence.42Yalkut, 55.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืจื ืืจืื. ืงืืื ืืชื ืืช ืืืงืื ืณืืจืืืณ: ืืืจ ืืืืณ. ืืืืื ืืืจ ืืงืืื, ืืื ืืืื ืืืจื: ืืจื ืืืืณ. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืงืืื, ืืืืจ, ืืจืืจ ืืืฉืื ืืจืื ืขื ืฉืื ืืื ืืขืืจืช ืขื ืืณ, ืขื ืื ืืื ืกืืืืื ืืืงืื ืืืืืื: ืืขืืจืช ืืณ ืืืืืจืื. ืืคืื ืืืืจ ืืคืจืฉ ืืืืื ืขืืจื, ืืืืจื ืืขืืจืช ืขื ืืณ ืื ืืื ืืืืืจืื, ืืื ืื ืฉื ืกืืกืจื:
Curse Meroz: You - curse the place, Meroz. Said: The angel said to curse it. And [Devorah] said it prophetically. Curse, etc.: That is to say, curse it, saying, "Cursed are the inhabitants of Meroz" - since they did not come to the assistance of the Lord's people, even though they were close to the war's location. To the assistance of the Lord with the warriors: She repeated the matter, to explain what assistance it was. So she said, to the assistance of the people of the Lord, who are fighting with the warriors - and [the warriors] are Sisera's men.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืจื ืืจืื. ืฉื ืขืืจ ืงืจืืื ืืืงืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืขืืจื ืืคืืื ืงืืื ืืืชื ืืื ืืจืืืงืื ืฉืื ืืื ืื ืงืืื ืืืชื: ืืืจ ืืืื ื'. ืืืฉืืขื ืื ื ืืืื ืืืชื ืืืืจื ืืขื ืคื ืื ืืืื ืืืจื ืื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืืจ ืืจืง ื ืืืื ืื':
Curse Meroz: It is the name of a city close to the war's location; and [its inhabitants] did not come to help. Therefore she cursed them. But she did not curse the far ones that did not come. Said the angel of the Lord: This is like its literal meaning, since Devorah was a prophetess; so she said it prophetically. But Yonatan translated [it] (in the Targum), "Barak, the prophet of the Lord, said."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 24
Hebrew:
ืชึผึฐืึนืจึทืึฐึ ืึดื ึผึธืฉืึดึืื ืึธืขึตึื ืึตึืฉืึถืช ืึถึฃืึถืจ ืึทืงึผึตืื ึดึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึดื ึผึธืฉืึดึฅืื ืึผึธืึนึืึถื ืชึผึฐืึนืจึธึฝืึฐืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Most blessed of women be Jael,Wife of Heber the Kenite,Most blessed of women in tents.
In contrast to Meroz's curse, Jael is blessed โ more blessed even than the matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, who are called 'women of the tent' (Rashi). She acted decisively where she was (Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึดื ึธึผืฉึดืืื ืึธึผืึนืึถื. ืฉึธืืจึธื, ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืึทืจ ืึธึผืึผ (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ื) ืึดื ึตึผื ืึธืึนืึถื. ืจึดืึฐืงึธื ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืึทืจ ืึธึผืึผ (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ืกื) ืึทืึฐืึดืืึถืึธ ืึดืฆึฐืึธืง ืึธืึนืึฑืึธื. ืจึธืึตื ืึฐืึตืึธื, ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืึทืจ ืึธึผืึถื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ืื) ืึทืึตึผืฆึตื ืึตืึนืึถื ืึตืึธื ืึฐืืึนืณ: ืึดื ึธึผืฉึดืืื ืึธึผืึนืึถื ืชึฐึผืึนืจึธืึฐ. ืึธืขึตื ืึธืึธึผื - ืึตื ืึธืึฐืืึผ ืึฐืึดืึฐึผืืึผ, ืึฐืึดื ืึนื ืึธืขึตื ืึฒืจึตื ืึธืจึธืฉึธืืข ืึทืึถึผื ืึธึผื ืึผืึฐืึทืึฐึผืึธื, ืึธึผืึฐ ืืึผื ืึดึผืึฐืจึตืืฉึดืืืช ืจึทืึธึผื (ืื:ืื). ืึธึผืึธืจ ืึทืึตืจ, ืึทืฃ ืึธืขึตื ืึธืึฐืชึธื ืืึนืฉึถืืึถืช ืึนืึธืึดืื, ืึฐืคึดืืึธืึฐ ืึดืึฐืึดึผืืจ ืืึนืชึธืึผ ืึฐึผืึดืจึฐืึทึผืช ืึนืึธืึดืื:
By the women of the tent. Sarah, of whom it is said, "Here she is, in the tent."43Bereishis, 18:9. Rivkah, of whom it is said, "Yitzchak brought her to the tent."44Ibid, 24:67. Rachel and Leah, of whom it is said, "He left Leah's tent and entered Rachel's tent."45Ibid, 31:33. Blessed by the women of the tent. Yael was blessed. Why? They bore and raised children. Were it not for Yael, this scoundrel would have annihilated them. This is taught in Breishis Rabbah.46 Another interpretation: Yael, as well, remained in the tent,47 and she is therefore, mentioned in the blessing of the women of the tents.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืชืืจื ืืืืณ. ืืคื ืฉืืืจื ืืงืื ืืืฉืื ืืจืื, ืืืจื, ืืื ืืขื ืชืืืจื ืืคื ืื ืฉืื, ืขื ืื ืืื ืขืืจื ืืืฉืจืื: ืื ืฉืื ืืืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืคื ื ืฉืื ืฆืืงื ืืืช ืืฆื ืืขืืช ืืืืฉืืืช ืืืื, ืืคื ืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืชืืืจื ืืชืชืงืืื ืืืจืื, ืขื ืฉืื ืืืจื ืืืื ืืณ ืืงืืืช ืืจืื:
Blessed, etc.: Since she said to curse the inhabitants of Meroz, she [also] said, "But Yael is to be blessed by the mouths of the women, because she assisted Israel." Than/from women in tents: That is to say, by the mouths of righteous and modest women who dwell in tents. It is from these women that she she should be blessed, so that the blessing will be fulfilled - even if the angel of the Lord did not say it, like the curse of Meroz.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืชืืืจื. ืืจืื ืชืืื ืืจืืจื ืืื ืืขื ืชืืื ืืจืืื ืฉืืืชื ืืจืืื ืืขืืจืช ื' ืืืงืื ืฉืืืชื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืืืชืจ ืชืืืจื ืืฉืืจ ื ืฉืื ืืืืฉืืืช ืืืื:
Blessed: Meroz shall be cursed, but Yael shall be blessed, since she was alacritous to help the Lord in the place where she was, in her tent. So she was more blessed than the other women that sat in tents.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 25
Hebrew:
ืึทึฅืึดื ืฉืึธืึทึื ืึธืึธึฃื ื ึธืชึธึื ึธืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึฐืกึตึฅืคึถื ืึทืึผึดืืจึดึืื ืึดืงึฐืจึดึฅืืึธื ืึถืึฐืึธึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
He asked for water, she offered milk;In a princely bowl she brought him curds.
Jael wisely gave Sisera milk instead of the water he requested โ to make him drowsy and heavy with sleep, so he would not notice her approach (Radak, Metzudat David). She served it in a lordly bowl to honor him and lower his guard (Rashi).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึธืึธื ื ึธืชึธื ึธื. ืึธืึทืขึทืช ืึดื ืึดืึผืึน ืขึธืึธืื ืฉึถืืึธึผืึดืื ืึตึผืื ืึทืขึทื ืึทืึดื ืึฐืึทืขึทื ืึธืึธื, ืึตึผื ืชึดึผืจึฐืึตึผื ืืึนื ึธืชึธื: ืึฐึผืกึตืคึถื ืึทืึดึผืืจึดืื. ืึฐึผืกึตืคึถื ืฉึถืืฉึผืืึนืชึดืื ืึผืึน ืึทืึดื, ืฉึถืืึทืึทึผืึดื ื ึดืงึฐืจึฐืืึผ ืณืึทืึดึผืืจึดืืืณ, ืฉึถืื ึถึผืึฑืึทืจ (ืฉืืืช ืื:ื): ืึฐึผืึทืึดื ืึทืึดึผืืจึดืื:
But she gave milk to ascertain whether he was alert enough to differentiate between the taste of water and the taste of milk. This is Yonasan's rendition. In a cup of the mighty. In a cup used for drinking water, for waters are described as "mighty", as it is said, "in mighty waters."48Shemos, 15:10.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืฉืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืืื ื ืืืืชื ืฉื ืืขื, ืื ืกืืกืจื ืืงืฉ ืืื, ืืืื ื ืชื ื ืื ืืื, ืืื ืฉืืชืื ืืืขืื (ื ื), ืืชืคืชื ืืช ื ืื ืืืื ืืชืฉืงืื, ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืขืืื ืชืจืืื: ืืกืคื ืืืืจืื. ืืืืขื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืจืืืฉ ืืืืจ, ืืงืจืืื ืืคื ืื ืืืื ืืกืคื ืืฉืื ืืจืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืืืจืื ืืืฉืืืื, ืืืขื ืืืฉื ืืฉืจ ื ืคืฉื ืืงืจื ืืขืื ืื, ืืืืืื ืืืฉื ืื:
He requested water: That is to say - understand the wisdom of Yael: For Sisera requested water, but she gave him milk - as it is written above (Judges 4:19), "and she opened a pouch of milk and gave him to drink." And that was in order to bring him to sleep. In a bowl of the noblemen: And so that his heart be confident about her and not sense the thing, she brought curds before him in an eminent bowl - one from which it is fitting to feed noblemen and dignitaries - in order that he think that he was precious in her eyes, and that she considered him to be a lord.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืื ืฉืื ืืื ื ืชื ื. ืืืืืืื ืืื ืฉืืจืื ืืืืจื ืขื ืืขืืืคืืช ืฉืืื ืื ืืืืื ืฉืฉืชื ืฉืื ืืจืืืฉ ืืืืืชื ืืืชื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืื ื ืกืืกืจื ืจืฉืืขื ืืื': ืืกืคื ืืืืจืื. ืืกืคื ืืืื ืฉืฉืืชืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืจืื: ืืืืื ืจืื ืืื ื ืคื' ืืืืจืื ืืจืืขืื ืืืืืืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืืฆืื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืคืืืื ืืืจืื ืืื', ืืื ืชืจืื ืงืืืขืช ืืืก ืืชืจืขืื ืคืืืื ืืกื ืืืืืืื ืืื ืืฉืืชืื ืืืืจืงื ืืื ืืฉืชืืื ืืคืืืื ืืืจ ืืืืืจื ืจื"ื ืืื ืืืื ืืคืืืื ืฉื ืืจืก ืืืฉื ืืืืฉืื ืืื ืืืก ืคืืืื: ืืงืจืืื ืืืื. ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืฉืืืจ ืขืืื ืืืงืื ืฉื ืื ืืืฉืงืชื ืืืื ืื ืืชืจ ืืืจ ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืืจืฃ ืืืขืช ืืืชืื ืืคืจืฉ ืื ื ืชื ื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืจ ืฉืืฉืงืชื ืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืงืชืื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืชืคืชื ืืช ื ืื ืืืื ืืชืฉืงืื ืืืกืคื ืืืืจืื ืืงืจืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื:
He requested water, she gave him milk: To make him heavier, in order to quickly bring him to sleep - from the tiredness that he [already] had and the milk that he drank - so that he not notice her striking him. And Yonatan translated [it] (in the Targum), "He requested water from her, Sisera the wicked, etc." In a bowl of adirim: In a large bowl, from which great ones and noblemen drink. And the sage, Rabbi Yonah, explained, adirim are great shepherds, like (Jeremiah 25:34), "adirei of the sheep." But Yonatan translated [it], "in a pailei of great men, etc." And likewise did he translate (Isaiah 51:17), "the dregs of the cup of reeling," [as] "the pailei cup of curse;" and likewise (Amos 6:6), "They drink from the wine bowls," [as], "They drink from pailei of wine." And in the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, "he would bring an earthenware pailei" (Nazir 38a). And in the Greek language, a cup is, pailei. She brought curds: Milk curds. And when it mentioned, "milk," it stood in the place of two [words]: And I gave him to drink the milk that is left after the curds for it makes the heart heavy and mixes up the mind. But it is [also] likely to explain it - that she gave him curds to eat after she had him drink. As she gave him to drink with a pouch of milk, as it is stated (Judges 4:19), "and she opened a pouch of milk and gave him to drink." And [then] she brought him curds to eat in a nobleman's bowl.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 26
Hebrew:
ืึธืึธืึผึ ืึทืึผึธืชึตึฃื ืชึผึดืฉืึฐืึทึืึฐื ึธืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึดืืึดืื ึธึืึผ ืึฐืึทืึฐืึฃืึผืช ืขึฒืึตืึดึืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึฐืึธืึฐืึธึคื ืกึดึฝืืกึฐืจึธืึ ืึธืึฒืงึธึฃื ืจึนืืฉืึืึนย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผืึธืึฒืฆึธึฅื ืึฐืึธืึฐืคึธึื ืจึทืงึผึธืชึฝืึนืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Her [left] hand reached for the tent pin,Her right for the workmenโs hammer.She struck Sisera, crushed his head,Smashed and pierced his temple.
With her left hand she took the tent peg and her right hand the workman's hammer, then struck Sisera, driving the peg through his temple. The verse's slow repetition emphasizes the deliberate, fatal act (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฐืึทืึฐืืึผืช ืขึฒืึตืึดืื. ืกึดืืกึฐืจึธื, ืฉึถืืึธืึธื ืขึธืึตื ืึฐืึธืึตืขึท: ืึธืึฒืงึธื. ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึดืืงึผืึผื: ืึผืึธืึฒืฆึธื. ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึทืึทืฅ: ืึฐืึธืึฐืคึธื. ืืึนืฆึตื ืึดืฆึทึผื ืึทืึตืจ:
To batter the exhausted Sisera, who was exhausted, totally fatigued. Penetrated. From ืึดื๏ญ๏ฌตื, "penetration". Inflicted grievous injury. From ืึทืึทืฅ, "injury". Impaled. It emerged from the other side.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืืืืณ. ืืื ืืงืฉื ื ืคืฉื ืืืืฉืืื ืืื ืืฉืืืืืช ืืงืืช ืืชื ืืืื, ืืืืื ื ืืืฉืืื ืืงืืช ืืืงืืช ืืงืจืื ืณืืืืืช ืขืืืืืณ, ืขื ืฉื ืฉืืื ืฉืื ืขืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืขืฉืืช ืืืืืชื: ืืืืื ืกืืกืจื. ืืืชื ืืฉืืจื ืืช ืกืืกืจื ืืืกืืจื ืจืืฉื, ืื ืืขื ืืืชื ืืืืื ืืคืฆืืขื, ืืขื ืืืชื ืณืืืคื ืจืงืชืืณ ืืขืืจ ืื ืขืืจ:
Her hand, etc.: Meanwhile she herself reached out her left hand to take the tent pin and reached out her right to take a hammer that is called, a toilers' striker - on account of people toiling in their work and striking with it to do their work. And she struck Sisera: She struck and broke Sisera and removed his head. She attacked him with striking and wounding, and pierced his temple from side to side with the pin.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืื ืืืชื ืชืฉืืื ื. ืืื ืชืฉืื ืืื ื"ื ืืื"ื ื ืืกืคืืช ืื ื"ื ื"ื ืืกืืจืื ื ืคืจืฉืืื ื ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืคืขืืื ืืืืื ื ืืื ื"ื ืคื' ืชืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืืืื ื ืฉืืื ืืขืืืจ ืืชื ืืืืืืช ืืื ืฉืืืื ืฆืจืืื ืืชื ืืืืื ื ืฆืจืืื ืืืืืช ืืื ื ืืฉืืืืืช ืืืืื ืืขืืืจ ืื ืื ืขืฉื ืืืขืฉื ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืฉืืื ืขืื ื, ืืืืชื ืื ืืฉืื ื ืจืืืื, ืืืชืืื ืืช ืืคืื ืื ืื, ืืื ืชืืืจ ืื ืชืฉืืื ื ืืืื ืืื ืฆืจืื ืืื ืื ืื ืคืืจืืฉ ืืื ืืืืื ื ืืืฉืื ืืขืืืจ ืืชื ืืืืืืช, ืืจืื ืืื ืจ' ืืฉื ื"ื ืคืืจืฉื ืืืกืจืื ื"ืฃ ืืืืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืคืืจืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืคื' ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืจื ืฉืืื ืืขืืืจ ืฉืืืจ ืชืืืจื ืื ืฉืื ืืขื ืืืจ ืจืืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืืืชืจ ืืฉืืจ ื ืฉืื ืื ืขืฉืชื ืืขืฉื ืืืืจื ืฉืื ืืขืฉื ืฉืืจ ืื ืฉืื ืื ืืื ืืขืฉื ืืืืจื ืื ืฉืื ืื ืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืคืืื ืืืจ ืืจื ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืชื ืชืฉืืื ื ืื ืฉืื ืืืืจืืช ืืืืื ื ืืืืืืช ืขืืืื ืืืืืืช ืฉื ืืืื ืฉืืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืขืืืื ืืขืื ืืืืืื: ืืืงื ืจืืฉื. ืืกืืจื ืจืืฉื ืืืฉืื ืืืง ืืืืจื ืจื"ื ืืื ืืืืงืื ืืืงืื ืฉืืืืฉืื ืืืืืง ืืื ืืืื ืฉืืขืืืจืื ืขื ืืืื ืฉืืขืืืจ ืื ืื ืฉืขืืื: ืืืืฆื. ืื ืืืืฅ ืืืชื: ืืืืคื. ืืขืืืจื ืืืชื ืืจืงืชื ืืื ืชืืจืื ืืื ืชื ืืขืืจืช ืืฆืืขืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืคื ืื ืืืืืฃ ืืืกืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืฉืื ืืจืืชื:
Her hand reached (tishlachenah) for the tent pin: It is like tishlach (the singular conjugation, and not the plural, which tishlachenah would otherwise be). And the [final letters] nun and hay are extra - as [in] (Judges 3:23), "misdaronah"; (Judges 3:22), "parshedonah" - even though this is not customary. And my master, my father, may his memory be blessed, explained,"tishlachenah," [as] her [left] hand and her right hand sent out (such that the verb is understandably conjugated in the plural) for the tent pin and the hammer. She required her left hand for the tent peg; and her right, for the hammer. And it attributed sending to the hands because they performed the act. And similar to this is (Ecclesiastes 2:10), "And everything that my eyes requested"; (Proverbs 7:11), "her feet did not reside at home"; (Psalms 78:72) "and he led them with the skill of his palms." But if you say that tishlachenah is singular, there is no need for all this. As the explanation is that her [left] hand and her right hand were extended for the sake of the tent peg and the hammer. And my teacher, my brother, Rabbi Moshe, may his memory be blessed, explained it [as] lacking (though having the meaning as if it had) the comparative [letter] kaf - as [in] (Proverbs 17:22), "A joyful heart is brightness," the understanding of which is, "is like brightness." And likewise did he explain, "her hand," [as,] "like her hand." And it is in the way of a question: Since it stated (Judges 5:24), "More blessed than women is Yael," it said that she is more fitting for blessing than other women, as she did this powerful act that other women do not do. For acts of power are not done by women, but rather by men. Hence it said by way of a question, "Do the other women send out [their hands] - like her hand - for the tent peg, and the right hand for the worker's hammer (halmut)?" And halmut is the name of the tool with which working craftsmen strike. She machakah his head: She removed his head. It is from the usage, machak, in the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed (Bava Batra 89a) - "We do not flatten (mochakim) [produce] in a place that they heap [it]." And a machak is a tool that we pass over a measure to remove everything above it. And she smashed: It is from [the same usage as] (Isaiah 30:26), "and the crushing of its wound." And she chalfah: She passed the tent peg through his temple. And so did Yonatan translate (in the Targum), "she passed it through his temple." Or, "and she chalfah," can be from [the same usage as] (Job 11:10), "yachalof and confine," which is an expression of cutting off.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 27
Hebrew:
ืึผึตึฃืื ืจึทืึฐืึถึืืึธ ืึผึธืจึทึฅืข ื ึธืคึทึื ืฉืึธืึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึตึคืื ืจึทืึฐืึถึืืึธึ ืึผึธืจึทึฃืข ื ึธืคึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึผึทืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืึผึธืจึทึืข ืฉืึธึื ื ึธืคึทึฅื ืฉืึธืึฝืึผืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
At her feet he sank, lay outstretched,At her feet he sank, lay still;Where he sank, there he layโdestroyed.
The poetic repetition โ 'he sank, he fell, he lay' โ emphasizes the finality of Sisera's death. Where he sank, there he fell destroyed, never to rise again (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (2)
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืจืืืื ืืจืข. ืืคื ืื ืืจืข ืขื ืืจืขืื, ืืืื ื ืคื ืืืจืฅ ืื ืฉืืจ ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืกืืฃ ืืงืื, ืืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืืืืจืืช ืจื ืืืืช, ืืืคืื ืืืืจ ืืืืืง, ืืืืจื ืืฉืืจ: ืืืฉืจ ืืจืข. ืืืงืื ืฉืืจืข, ืฉื ื ืคื ืกืืกืจื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืื, ืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืชืืืง ืขืื ืืืจ ืืืจืืขื, ืืืื ืืืืืฆืช ืืฉืืจ, ืื ืืืืช ืื ืืจืข ืืื ื ืคื:
Between her feet he sank: He sank in front of her, upon his feet. And he fell immediately to the ground and remained prostrate; and he did not rise again. And that is to say, he was killed very quickly. And she repeated the words for emphasis, and in the way of verse. Where he sank: In the place where he sank, that is where the destroyed and disgraced Sisera fell. For he could not strengthen himself again after the sinking. And this is from the poetics of verse, as he did not truly sink nor fall (as he was already laying down).
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืื ืจืืืื ืืจืข ื ืคื. ืื ืื ืื ืืืฉืื ืืืคืื ืืืืจืื ืืื ืืืืงื ืืืขื ืื ืื ืืจืข ืืจืืขื ืฉืื ืืืชื ืื ืชืงืืื ืืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืฉืจ ืืจืข ืฉื ื ืคื ืฉืืื ืืืฉ ืื ืืจืฉ ืืืื ืจืืืง ืื ืืฉ ืืคืกืืง ืฉืืขื ืืื ืืจืข ืื ืคื ืืฉืื ืืืืจื ืื ืฉืืข ืืขืืืืช ืืขื ืืืชื ืจืฉืข ืืืขื ืืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืฉืืชืื ืืืขืื ืืืืืช ืฉืืืื ืืืืืฉ ืื ืืืจืฉ:
Between her feet he sank, he lay: Such is the custom of the language to repeat the words in order to strengthen them. And the content is that he sank a sinking, from which there would be no getting up. And that is what is stated, "where he sank, there he lay - destroyed." And there is a homiletical teaching about it - though it is distant - that between [all the mentions of] sank, lay and fell, there are seven. So they said that that wicked man had sexual intercourse with Yael seven times on that day. But what they wrote above (Judges 4:18) about the word, "semikhah (blanket)," contradicts this teaching.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 28
Hebrew:
ืึผึฐืขึทืึฉ ืึทืึทืึผึจืึนื ื ึดืฉืึฐืงึฐืคึธึงื ืึทืชึผึฐืึทืึผึตึื ืึตึฅื ืกึดึฝืืกึฐืจึธึื ืึผึฐืขึทึฃื ืึธืึถืฉืึฐื ึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึทืึผึืึผืขึท ืึผึนืฉืึตึคืฉื ืจึดืึฐืึผืึนึ ืึธืึืึนืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึทืึผึฃืึผืขึท ืึถึฝืึฑืจึืึผ ืคึผึทืขึฒืึตึื ืึทืจึฐืึผึฐืืึนืชึธึฝืืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
Through the window peered Siseraโs mother,Behind the lattice she whined:pwhined Or โgazedโ; meaning of Heb. uncertain. โWhy is his chariot so long in coming?Why so late the clatter of his wheels?โ
The scene shifts to devastating dramatic irony: Sisera's mother peers through the window, wondering why her son's chariot delays. The word for her cry suggests moaning or wailing โ she senses something is wrong (Rashi, Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึทืชึฐึผืึทืึตึผื. ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึดึผืึผืึผืจ, ืึฐึผืืึน (ืืฉืขืืื ื ื:ืื) ื ึดืื ืฉึฐืืคึธืชึทืึดื ืึฐืจึทืึผืึนืชึตืื ืึผ ืคึตึผืจึฐืฉืืึผืืึผ (ืจืืฉ ืืฉื ื ืื:) ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืึฐึผื ึดืืึธื, ืึดึผืชึฐืจืึผืขึธื, ืึดึผืึฐืชึทืจึฐืึฐึผืึดืื ึธื ืณืึฐืึธืึธืืณ (ืืืงืจื ืื:ืื). ืึทืึฒื ึดื ืืึนืึตืจ: ืึฐืฉืืึนื ืจึฐืึดืึธึผื, ืึฐึผืืึน (ืืืจืื ื:ื) ืึธึผืึทืช ืขึตืื ึดื, ืึฐืึตื ืึดืึฐึผืจืึน ืึฐื ึทืึตื: ืึถืฉึฐืื ึธื. ืึทืึผืึนื:
Moaning. The word refers to expressing speech, as in "the expression of the lips."49Yeshaya, 57:19. However, the Rabbis50Rosh Hashona 33:b. interpret this as referring to moaning, as in the shofar's "teruah" sound, translated ืึท๏ฌฑึธืึธื, "moan".51Bemidbar, 29:1. In my opinion, the reference is to seeing, as in "the pupil of his eye."52Zechariah, 2:12. This is Menachem's interpretation. A window.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืขื ืืืืื. ืืืจื ืืกืคืจ ืืฉืืจืชื ืืฉืจ ืื ืกืืกืจื ื ืฉืงืคื ืืขื ืืืืื ืืจืืืช ืื ืื ืืจืืืช ืื ื, ืืืจืืืชื ืื ืืื ื ื ืชืืื ืืืจ ื ืคืฉ, ืืืฉืงืคืช ืชืืื ืืขื ืืืฉื ื ืืืืืจืช, ืืืืข ืืฉืฉ ืจืืื ืืืื ืืืืข ืืืจื ืืืืณ, ืืืคืื ืืืืจ ืืืจื ืืืืืื ืืืื ืื:
Through the window: She went back to recount in her song about the mother of Sisera peering through the window, to see if her son's chariot was coming. And when she saw that he was not [coming], she wailed bitterly, while constantly peering through the lattice and saying, "Why did his chariot tarry in coming, why so late, etc." And she repeated the matter, as is the way of one wailing on account of a pained heart.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืชืืื. ืืจืืขื ืืชืจืื ืชืจืืขื ืืืื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืืืืืงื ืืฉืื ืืืื: ืืืฉื ื. ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืขื ืืฉื ืื ื ืฉืงืคืชื:
Vateyabev: Sounded. "A trumpet blow," is translated [by Onkelos] as yabava. But Yonatan (in the Targum here) translated [it as], "veodika," which is an expression of peering. Haashnav: It is like a window. And likewise (Proverbs 7:2), "I looked down through my ashnav."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 29
Hebrew:
ืึทืึฐืึฅืึนืช ืฉืึธืจืึนืชึถึืืึธ ืชึผึทืขึฒื ึถึืื ึผึธืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึทืฃึพืึดึืื ืชึผึธืฉืึดึฅืื ืึฒืึธืจึถึืืึธ ืึธึฝืึผืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
The wisest of her ladies give answer;She, too, replies to herself:
Her wise ladies console her โ and she consoles herself too โ with hollow reassurances that the delay must be caused by dividing the spoils of war (Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึทืึฐืืึนืช ืฉึธืืจืึนืชึถืืึธ ืชึทึผืขึฒื ึถืื ึธื. ืึทืึฒืึธืืึนืช ืฉึถืืึฐึผืฉึธืืจืึนืชึถืืึธ, ืึฐืึธืึฐ ื ึธืงืึผื ืึตืืดืช ืคึทึผืชึทึผืดื, ืึธืึฐืืึนืช ืฉึถืืืึผื ืฉึตืื ืึธึผืึธืจ ื ึธืงืึผื ืึฒืึทืดืฃ ืงึธืึทืดืฅ, ืึฐึผืืึน (ืืฉืื ืื:ื) ืจึธืืืึนืช ืึถืึฑืึดืื ืึธืึฐืืึนืช, ืึฐืึถื ื ึธืงืึผื ืึทืึฐืืึนืช, ืึฐืึตื (ืฉื ืื:ื) ืึทืึฐืืึนืช ื ึธืฉึดืืื ืึธึผื ึฐืชึธื ืึตืืชึธืึผ, ืึทืึฐืืึนืช ืฉึถืืึทึผื ึธึผืฉึดืืื: ืชึทึผืขึฒื ึถืื ึธึผื. ืึทึผืึฐืฉืืึผืช ืฉึถืื ื ืึผืดื ืึฐืฉึทืืึถึผืฉึถืืช ืึดึผืึฐืงืึนื ื ืึผืดื ืฉึฐืืึดืืฉึดืืืช, ืึผืคึดืชึฐืจืึนื ืึน ืชึทึผืขึฒื ึถืื ึธึผื ืืึนืชึธืึผ, ืึทึผืึฐืฉืืึผืช ื ืึผืดื ืึฐืฉึทืืึถึผืฉึถืืช ืึดึผืึฐืงืึนื ืณืืึนืชึธืึผืณ, ืึฐึผืืึน (ืืืงืจื ื:ืื) ืึปืจึฐืึถึผืึถืช ืชึฐึผืึดืืึถื ึธึผื: ืึทืฃ ืึดืื ืชึธึผืฉึดืืื ืึฒืึธืจึถืืึธ. ืชึทึผื ึฐืืึผืึดืื ืึฐืขึทืฆึฐืึธืึผ: ืึธื ืึฒื ึดื ืึดืชึฐืึทืึผ ืชึฐึผืึดืืึธ ืขึทื ืขึดืึผืึผื ืึฐึผื ึดื:
The wise among her ladies responded to her. The wise ones53Not โthe wisdoms of her ladies.โ The vocalization indicates that the proper translation is โthe wise ones,โ rather than โthe wisdoms,โ as Rashi explains. among her ladies. This is why the "ื" is vocalized with a "pasach". The plural noun, lit. "wisdoms" is vocalized with the half-kametz, as in "Wisdoms are remote gems to the foolish."54Mishlei, 24:7. Here, the vocalization is ืึทืึฐื๏ญืช. Similarly, "The wise among women has constructed her home."55Mishlei, 14:1. The wise one among the women. Responded. The period punctuating the ื serves as a substitute for a third ื .56The third person feminine plural for โresponseโ is ๏ญึทืขึฒื ืื ืื, โthey respondedโ. Also, as a general rule, the suffix ื ื is added as a contraction of ื๏ญืชื๏ฌด, โto her.โ Thus, โthey responded to herโ should actually read ืึท๏ญึทืขึฒื ืื ืื, with the ื tripled. However, Rashi notes, Scripture drops the third ื , and punctuates the second ื with a period to represent the missing letter. Hence, the translation is "[the wise ones] responded 'to her.'" The period punctuating ื serves as a substitute for "her",57 A punctuated ื may appear where no letter has been dropped. Then, its purpose is to represent a contraction of ื๏ญืช๏ฌด, โherโ. as in "you shall bring 'her' scalded."58Vayikra, 6:14. This refers to the feminine ืึดื ึฐืึธื. Indeed, she stated in reply. She consoled herself. Why should I keep wondering about my son's delay?
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืืืืช ืฉืจืืชืื. ืืืืืืช ืืฉืจ ืืฉืจืืชืื ืื ืืืช ืชืฉืื ืื ืืื, ืืืฃ ืืื ืืืืช ืืื ืชืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืขืฆืื:
The wisest of her ladies: The wisest [of those] who were among her ladies - each one answered to console her. And she was also like one of them, answering her speech to herself.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืชืขื ื ื. ืื ืืืช ืื ืืืืืืช ืชืขื ื ืืืชื: ืืฃ ืืื. ืื ืกืืกืจื: ืชืฉืื ืืืจืื ืื. ืืื ืืขืฆืื ืืื ืฉืืืืืืช ืืฉืืืืช ืื ืื ืืืชื ืืื ืืขืฆืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืจืช ืื ืืขืืืจ ืื ืืืจื ืคืขืื ืืจืืืืชืื:
Answer (plural): Each one of the wise ladies would answer her. She, too: The mother of Sisera. Answers her speech to herself: She herself. Just like the wise ladies would answer her, so too would she herself answer and say that it was because of this that the wheels of his chariots tarried.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 30
Hebrew:
ืึฒืึนึจื ืึดืึฐืฆึฐืึืึผ ืึฐืึทืึผึฐืงึฃืึผ ืฉืึธืึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืจึทึคืึทื ืจึทืึฒืึธืชึทึืึดืึ ืึฐืจึนึฃืืฉื ืึผึถึืึถืจย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืฉืึฐืึทึคื ืฆึฐืึธืขึดืืึ ืึฐืกึดึฃืืกึฐืจึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืฉืึฐืึทึฅื ืฆึฐืึธืขึดึืื ืจึดืงึฐืึธึืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืฆึถึฅืึทืข ืจึดืงึฐืึธืชึทึืึดื ืึฐืฆึทืึผึฐืืจึตึฅื ืฉืึธืึธึฝืืย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
โThey must be dividing the spoil they have found:A woman or two for each man,Spoil of dyed cloths for Sisera,Spoil of embroidered cloths,A couple of embroidered clothsRound every neck as spoil.โ
The ladies imagine Sisera's men finding beautiful captive women and colorful embroidered garments. The crude phrase 'a womb or two for each man' reveals the enemy's dehumanizing cruelty โ which the reader knows will never come to pass (Rashi, Metzudat David).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึฒืึนื ืึดืึฐืฆึฐืืึผ ืึฐืึทืึฐึผืงืึผ ืฉึธืืึธื. ืึฐืืึผื ืึฐืขึทืึฐึผืึธื: ืจึทืึฒืึธืชึทืึดื ืึฐืจึนืืฉื ืึถึผืึถืจ. ืึฐืขึทื ึดึผืื ื ึธืฉึดืืื ืึธืคืึนืช ืึฐึผืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื, ืึฐืึธื ืึดืืฉื ืึตืึถื ืึตืฉื ืืึน ืึฐึผืึดืึธึผืชืึน ืฉึฐืืชึทึผืึดื ืึฐืฉึธืืึนืฉื ื ึธืฉึดืืื:
Are they not finding and dividing the pillage? That is the cause of the delay. Or two [wombs] for each man. They are ravishing the attractive Yisroelite women, and each of them has, in his bed, two or three women.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืืื ืืืฆืื. ืจืฆื ืืืืจ, ืืืืช ืืืจื ื ืืืชื, ืื ืชืืืจื ื, ืืื ืืื ืจื ืืืฆืื ืืืฉืจืื, ืืฉืื ืืืืงื ืืื ืืื ืืช ืืฉืื, ืืืื ืื ืืืืจืื ืืืื: ืจืื ืืืืณ. ืืฃ ืื ืืื ืืงื ืืฉืื, ืขืืื ืื ืฉืชื ืขืืืืช: ืฉืื ืฆืืขืื. ืืฉืื ืืืืืื ืฆืืืขืื ืืืฉืืืื ืืืืชืจ ืืืื ื ืชืื ืื ืืกืืกืจื ืขื ืืืืชื ืฉืจ ืืฆืื ืืืืืจืช ืืืคืจืฉืช ืฉืืื ืืฉืื ืืืืืื ืฆืืืขืื ืืืจืืงื ืืฉืจ ืืชืืื ืืฉื ื ืขืืจืืื, ืืื ืฆืืข ืจืงืืชืื ืฉืืื ื ืืชืืืื ืืฉื ื ืขืืจืืื ืืืฉืื ืขืื ืืืชืจ ืืืืชืจ, ืืืืืง ืืื ืืขืื ืืฉืื ืืืจืื ืื ืืฆืืืจ ืื ืื, ืื ืืชืืื ืขืฉืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืจืืืืื ืืชืฉืืืฉ ืืืจ, ืืืื ืืืืืง ืืืืื, ืืื ืื ืืขืืืจ ืื ืื ืืื ืืชืืืจืื ืืืื:
Did they not find: That is to say, that these are the words of their consolation: Did they not find great wealth in Israel? So they must be dividing the spoils there among themselves. And that is why they are delaying in coming. A wombed one: Each one even took for himself a maiden or two as spoil. Spoil of dyed cloths: The spoil of dyed clothes which were the most eminent would be given to Sisera, on account of his being the general of the army. And she then goes back to explain that this was the spoil of dyed embroidered clothes which can be seen on both sides. But the dyed doubly embroidered clothes which cannot be seen on both sides, which was very, very eminent, would be divided among all [the recipients of] the spoil, to place around his neck as an ornament. For this is what they are made for from the start and are not suitable for [any] other use. And that is why they would be divided among all of them. And they are hence delaying to come because of all of this.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืฆืื ืืืืงื ืฉืื. ืืืฆืื ืฉืื ืืจืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฉืจืื ืฉืื ืฆืื ืืืชื ืืืืืงื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืจืื ืืื: ืจืื ืจืืืชืื. ื ืขืจื ืื ืฉืชื ื ืขืจืืช: ืืจืืฉ ืืืจ. ืืื ืืืจ ืืืืจ ืืฉ ืื ื ืขืจื ืื ืฉืชื ื ืขืจืืช ืืืฉืื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืืืื ืืืจ ืืืืชืื ืืื ืื ืืื: ืฉืื ืฆืืขืื. ืืืืื ืขืฉืืืื ืืืื ื ืฆืืขืื ืื: ืจืงืืชืื. ืฉืขืฉื ืื ืืขืฉื ืืจืงืื ืืฉื ื ืืคื ืื ืืฉืื ืืืจืงืื ืืื ืืขืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืฆืืจืืช ืืฆืืขืื ืฉืื ืื ืื ืืื: ืืฆืืืจื ืฉืื. ืืื ืืจืืฉ ืืฉืื ืืืืืจ ื ืชืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืจืืฉ ืืฉืื ืืชืชื ืืฉืจ ืืฆืื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืื ืืืืช ืฆืืืจื ืฆืืขืื ืื ืืื':
They found, they divided the spoil: They found much spoil in the Land of Israel, since they defeated them. So they must be dividing the spoil there among themselves. And that is why they are delaying in coming. A wombed one: A maiden or two maidens. Per head of a man: For each and every man, there was one maiden or two maidens from the spoil. But Yonatan translated [it] (in the Targum), "they gave a man and his household to each and every one." Spoil of dyes: Clothes made of colorful materials. Doubly embroidered: For they did embroidery work on both of the sides equally. And embroidery is needlework on a garment in differently colored shapes. For the necks of the spoil: It is like, "for the heads of the spoil." Meaning, they give the clothes to the head of the spoil, to give them to the general of the army. And Yonatan [also] translated like this, "The spoil of the colored shapes, etc."
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 31
Hebrew:
ืึผึตึ ื ืึนืืึฐืึคืึผ ืืืึพืืึนืึฐืึถึืืึธึ ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึฐืึนึฃืึฒืึธึืื ืึผึฐืฆึตึฅืืช ืึทืฉืึผึถึืึถืฉื ืึผึดืึฐืึปืจึธืชึืึนย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ืึทืชึผึดืฉืึฐืงึนึฅื ืึธืึธึืจึถืฅ ืึทืจึฐืึผึธืขึดึฅืื ืฉืึธื ึธึฝืืย {ืค}
English:
So may all Your enemies perish, O GOD!But may YourqYour Heb. 3rd person. friends be as the sun rising in might!And the land was tranquil forty years.
Deborah concludes: may all God's enemies perish like Sisera, whose mother's consolation proved empty. But may those who love God shine like the sun rising in its full strength โ ever increasing in power and glory (Rashi, Metzudat David, Radak).
โถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดืRashi
ืึตึผื ืึนืืึฐืืึผ. ืึฐึผืืึนืจึธื ืึธืึฐืจึธื: ืชึทึผื ึฐืืึผืึดืื ืฉึถืื ืึถืึถื ืึตื ืึธืึผ, ืึตึผื ืึนืืึฐืืึผ ืึธื ืืึนืึฐืึถืืึธ ืืณ, ืึทึผืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืึธืึทื ืืึผื: ืึฐืึนืึฒืึธืื ืึฐึผืฆึตืืช ืึทืฉึถึผืืึถืฉื ืึดึผืึฐืืึผืจึธืชืึน. ืึถืขึธืชึดืื ืึธืึนื, (ืืฉืขืืื ื:ืื) ืฉึดืืึฐืขึธืชึทืึดื ืึฐึผืืึนืจ ืฉึดืืึฐืขึทืช ืึทืึธึผืึดืื, ืฉึถืืึดืื ืขึทื ืึทืึทืช ืฉึฐืืึนืฉื ืึตืืึนืช ืึฐืึทืจึฐืึธึผืขึดืื ืึฐืฉึธืืึนืฉื ืึฐึผืึดืกึฐืคึทึผืจ ืึทืจึฐืึธึผืขึดืื ืึฐืชึตืฉึทืืข ืฉึฐืืึดืืขึดืึผืึนืช: ืึทืชึดึผืฉึฐืืงึนื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ. ืึตืื ืึถื ืึดืึดึผืึฐืจึตื ืึฐืืึนืจึธื ืึถืึธึผื ืึดืึดึผืึฐืจึตื ืึผืึนืชึตื ืึทืกึตึผืคึถืจ:
So may perish. Devorah declared,59Our verse was not recited by Siseraโs mother, but by Devorah. (Yalkut, 58.) her consolation is hollowโmay all your enemies perish, Adonoy, as he perished. But those who love himโas the sun emerging in its full power in the world to come, sevenfold over the light of the seven days of creation, or three hundred forty three to one. This equals forty nine times seven.60Sevenfold over the light of all seven days of creation is equivalent to forty nine-fold over the original light of creation. (Rashi to Zechariah, 4:3). The light of creation was sevenfold over our present light. (Tosafos to Bava Basra, 8:b). Hence, the light of the world to come will be one hundred forty three times as great as our present light. The land was tranquil for forty years. These words are not Devorah's, but the author's.
ืืฆืืืช ืืืMetzudat David
ืื ืืืืื. ืืืจื ืืืืจื, ืื ื ืชื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืื, ืืืืืื ืณืื ืืืืื ืื ืืืืืืืณ, ืืชื ืืณ, ืืืฉืจ ื ืืื ืกืืกืจื: ืืืืืื. ืืื ืืืืื ืืณ ืืืื ืืฆืืช ืืฉืืฉ ืืืืงืจ ืฉืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืคืขื ืืืชืจ ืขื ืฉืืื ืืืืืจืชื, ืฉืืื ืืฆื ืืืื, ืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืณ ืืืืืื ืืืืงืื ืขื ืืฉืจ ืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืขืื: ืืชืฉืงื ืืืืณ. ืืื ืื ืืืืจื ืืฉืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืชื ืืกืคืจ: ืืจืืขืื ืฉื ื. ืขื ืืืืช ืืจืืขืื ืฉื ื ืืืื ืืชืืืช ืืฉืขืืื:
So may they perish: Devorah said, "Behold these were vain consolations. And if only 'all of Your enemies would perish so,' You O Lord, like Sisera perished. But His friends: But may God's friends be as the sun in the morning, which continuously shines more, until it is in its might - which is noon. So too should God's friends continuously grow strong until they be at the heights of elevation. And it was tranquil: This is not from the words of the song, but are rather words of the book's writer. Forty years: Until the end of forty years from the time of the beginning of the subjugation.
ืจืืดืงRadak
ืืืืืืื. ืืืืืื ื': ืืฆืืช ืืฉืืฉ ืืืืืจืชื. ืืฆืืช ืืฉืืฉ ืืืืงืจ ืฉืืืื ืืืืจ ืขื ืฉืืื ืืืืืจืชื ืืืื ืืฆื ืืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืชืืจื ืืืืืื ืืืืงืื ืืืื ืชื ืชืจืื ืืจืืืืื ืฆืืืงืื ืืืื ืขืชืืืื ืืื':
But His friends: But those who love the Lord. As the sun rising in might: As the sun rising in the morning, which continuously shines more, until it is in its might - which is noon. So too should the friends of God, may He be blessed, continuously grow strong. But Yonatan translated [it] (in the Targum), "And His friends, the righteous, will in the future, etc."
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โถCommentaries (2)