Judges 5

שופטים פרק ה׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: Judges | Chapter: 5 of 21 | Day: 29 of 742

Date: March 12, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

The Song of Deborah (שירת דבורה) 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 — 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 “a mother in Israel” (אם בישראל).

The poem’s 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 — without central authority, participation in the common defense was voluntary.

The climax is Sisera’s death at Jael’s hands, rendered in slow-motion poetic repetition. The final scene is devastating in its irony: Sisera’s mother peers through the window wondering why her son’s chariot delays, while her ladies reassure her he must be dividing the spoil. The poem ends with a prayer that God’s enemies perish, while His friends shine “as the sun rising in might.” Forty years of peace follow.

פרק ה׳ · Chapter 5

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַתָּ֣שַׁר דְּבוֹרָ֔ה וּבָרָ֖ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֑עַם        בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹֽר׃        

English:

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang:

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

בִּפְרֹ֤עַ פְּרָעוֹת֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל        בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב עָ֑ם בָּֽרְכ֖וּ יְהֹוָֽה׃        

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 themselves—Bless GOD!

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

שִׁמְע֣וּ מְלָכִ֔ים הַאֲזִ֖ינוּ רֹֽזְנִ֑ים        אָנֹכִ֗י לַֽיהֹוָה֙ אָנֹכִ֣י אָשִׁ֔ירָה        אֲזַמֵּ֕ר לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃        

English:

Hear, O kings! Give ear, O potentates!I will sing, will sing to GOD,Will hymn the ETERNAL, the God of Israel.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

יְהֹוָ֗ה בְּצֵאתְךָ֤ מִשֵּׂעִיר֙        בְּצַעְדְּךָ֙ מִשְּׂדֵ֣ה אֱד֔וֹם        אֶ֣רֶץ רָעָ֔שָׁה גַּם־שָׁמַ֖יִם נָטָ֑פוּ        גַּם־עָבִ֖ים נָ֥טְפוּ מָֽיִם׃        

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,

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

הָרִ֥ים נָזְל֖וּ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה        זֶ֣ה סִינַ֔י מִפְּנֵ֕י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃        

English:

The mountains quakedcquaked Taking nazelu as a by-form of nazollu; cf. Targum because of GOD,Yon Sinai, because of GOD—the God of Israel.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

בִּימֵ֞י שַׁמְגַּ֤ר בֶּן־עֲנָת֙        בִּימֵ֣י יָעֵ֔ל חָֽדְל֖וּ אֳרָח֑וֹת        וְהֹלְכֵ֣י נְתִיב֔וֹת יֵלְכ֕וּ אֳרָח֖וֹת עֲקַלְקַלּֽוֹת׃        

English:

In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,dson of Anath Or “the Beth-anathite.” In the days of Jael, caravansecaravans Or “roads.” ceased,And wayfarers wentBy roundabout paths.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

חָדְל֧וּ פְרָז֛וֹן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חָדֵ֑לּוּ        עַ֤ד שַׁקַּ֙מְתִּי֙ דְּבוֹרָ֔ה שַׁקַּ֥מְתִּי אֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃        

English:

Deliverance ceased,Ceased in Israel,Till youfyou Heb. qamti, archaic second-person singular feminine. arose, O Deborah,Arose, O mother, in Israel!

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

יִבְחַר֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חֲדָשִׁ֔ים אָ֖ז לָחֶ֣ם שְׁעָרִ֑ים        מָגֵ֤ן אִם־יֵֽרָאֶה֙ וָרֹ֔מַח        בְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃        

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 “then was war in the gates.” No shield or spear was seenAmong forty thousand in Israel!

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

לִבִּי֙ לְחוֹקְקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל        הַמִּֽתְנַדְּבִ֖ים בָּעָ֑ם בָּרְכ֖וּ יְהֹוָֽה׃        

English:

My heart is with Israel’s leaders,With the dedicated of the people—Bless GOD!

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

רֹכְבֵי֩ אֲתֹנ֨וֹת צְחֹר֜וֹת        יֹשְׁבֵ֧י עַל־מִדִּ֛ין וְהֹלְכֵ֥י עַל־דֶּ֖רֶךְ שִֽׂיחוּ׃        

English:

You riders on tawny jennies,You who sit on saddle rugs,And you wayfarers, declare it!

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

מִקּ֣וֹל מְחַֽצְצִ֗ים בֵּ֚ין מַשְׁאַבִּ֔ים        שָׁ֤ם יְתַנּוּ֙ צִדְק֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֔ה        צִדְקֹ֥ת פִּרְזוֹנ֖וֹ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל        אָ֛ז יָֽרְד֥וּ לַשְּׁעָרִ֖ים עַם־יְהֹוָֽה׃        

English:

Louder than the sound of archers,hsound of archers Or “thunder peals”; meaning of Heb. uncertain. There among the watering placesLet them chant GOD’s gracious acts—The gracious deliverance of Israel.Then did GOD’s peopleMarch down to the gates!

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

עוּרִ֤י עוּרִי֙ דְּבוֹרָ֔ה        ע֥וּרִי ע֖וּרִי דַּבְּרִי־שִׁ֑יר        ק֥וּם בָּרָ֛ק וּֽשְׁבֵ֥ה שֶׁבְיְךָ֖ בֶּן־אֲבִינֹֽעַם׃        

English:

Awake, awake, O Deborah!Awake, awake, strike up the chant!Arise, O Barak;Take your captives, O son of Abinoam!

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

אָ֚ז יְרַ֣ד שָׂרִ֔יד לְאַדִּירִ֖ים עָ֑ם        יְהֹוָ��ה יְרַד־לִ֖י בַּגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃        

English:

Then was the remnant made victor over the mighty, GOD ’s peopleipeople Reading ʻam (with pathaḥ) Adonai; so many Heb. mss. won my victory over the warriors.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

מִנִּ֣י אֶפְרַ֗יִם שׇׁרְשָׁם֙ בַּעֲמָלֵ֔ק        אַחֲרֶ֥יךָ בִנְיָמִ֖ין בַּעֲמָמֶ֑יךָ        מִנִּ֣י מָכִ֗יר יָֽרְדוּ֙ מְחֹ֣קְקִ֔ים        וּמִ֨זְּבוּלֻ֔ן מֹשְׁכִ֖ים בְּשֵׁ֥בֶט סֹפֵֽר׃        

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 marshal’s staff.

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וְשָׂרַ֤י בְּיִשָּׂשכָר֙ עִם־דְּבֹרָ֔ה        וְיִשָּׂשכָר֙ כֵּ֣ן בָּרָ֔ק בָּעֵ֖מֶק שֻׁלַּ֣ח בְּרַגְלָ֑יו        בִּפְלַגּ֣וֹת רְאוּבֵ֔ן גְּדֹלִ֖ים חִקְקֵי־לֵֽב׃        

English:

And Issachar’s chiefs were with Deborah;As Barak, so was Issachar—Rushing after him into the valley.Among the clans of ReubenWere great decisions of heart.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

לָ֣מָּה יָשַׁ֗בְתָּ בֵּ֚ין הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתַ֔יִם        לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ שְׁרִק֣וֹת עֲדָרִ֑ים        לִפְלַגּ֣וֹת רְאוּבֵ֔ן גְּדוֹלִ֖ים חִקְרֵי־��ֵֽב׃        

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!

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

גִּלְעָ֗ד בְּעֵ֤בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ שָׁכֵ֔ן        וְדָ֕ן לָ֥מָּה יָג֖וּר אֳנִיּ֑וֹת        אָשֵׁ֗ר יָשַׁב֙ לְח֣וֹף יַמִּ֔ים        וְעַ֥ל מִפְרָצָ֖יו יִשְׁכּֽוֹן׃        

English:

Gilead tarried beyond the Jordan;And Dan—why did he linger by the ships?jby the ships Or “at Onioth,” a presumed designation of Dan’s region. Asher remained at the seacoastAnd tarried at his landings.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

זְבֻל֗וּן עַ֣ם חֵרֵ֥ף נַפְשׁ֛וֹ        לָמ֖וּת וְנַפְתָּלִ֑י עַ֖ל מְרוֹמֵ֥י שָׂדֶֽה׃        

English:

Zebulun is a people that mocked at death,kthat mocked at death Lit. “belittled its life to die.” Naphtali—on the open heights.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

בָּ֤אוּ מְלָכִים֙ נִלְחָ֔מוּ        אָ֤ז נִלְחֲמוּ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י כְנַ֔עַן        בְּתַעְנַ֖ךְ עַל־מֵ֣י מְגִדּ֑וֹ        בֶּ֥צַע כֶּ֖סֶף לֹ֥א לָקָֽחוּ׃        

English:

Then the kings came, they fought:The kings of Canaan foughtAt Taanach, by Megiddo’s waters—They got no spoil of silver.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

מִן־שָׁמַ֖יִם נִלְחָ֑מוּ        הַכּֽוֹכָבִים֙ מִמְּסִלּוֹתָ֔ם נִלְחֲמ֖וּ עִם־סִֽיסְרָֽא׃        

English:

The stars fought from heaven,From their courses they fought against Sisera.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

נַ֤חַל קִישׁוֹן֙ גְּרָפָ֔ם        נַ֥חַל קְדוּמִ֖ים נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֑וֹן        תִּדְרְכִ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י עֹֽז׃        

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!

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

אָ֥ז הָלְמ֖וּ עִקְּבֵי־ס֑וּס        מִֽדַּהֲר֖וֹת דַּהֲר֥וֹת אַבִּירָֽיו׃        

English:

Then the horses’ hoofs poundedAs headlong galloped the steeds.mAs headlong galloped the steeds Lit. “From the gallopings, the gallopings of his steeds.”

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

א֣וֹרוּ מֵר֗וֹז אָמַר֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֹ֥רוּ אָר֖וֹר יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ        כִּ֤י לֹֽא־בָ֙אוּ֙ לְעֶזְרַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה        לְעֶזְרַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּגִּבּוֹרִֽים׃        

English:

“Curse Meroz!” said the angelnthe angel Lit. “the messenger.” of GOD.“Bitterly curse its inhabitants,Because they came not to GOD’s aidTo GOD’s aid amongoamong Or “against.” the warriors.”

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

תְּבֹרַךְ֙ מִנָּשִׁ֔ים יָעֵ֕ל אֵ֖שֶׁת חֶ֣בֶר הַקֵּינִ֑י        מִנָּשִׁ֥ים בָּאֹ֖הֶל תְּבֹרָֽךְ׃        

English:

Most blessed of women be Jael,Wife of Heber the Kenite,Most blessed of women in tents.

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

מַ֥יִם שָׁאַ֖ל חָלָ֣ב נָתָ֑נָה        בְּסֵ֥פֶל אַדִּירִ֖ים הִקְרִ֥יבָה חֶמְאָֽה׃        

English:

He asked for water, she offered milk;In a princely bowl she brought him curds.

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

יָדָהּ֙ לַיָּתֵ֣ד תִּשְׁלַ֔חְנָה        וִימִינָ֖הּ לְהַלְמ֣וּת עֲמֵלִ֑ים        וְהָלְמָ֤ה סִֽיסְרָא֙ מָחֲקָ֣ה רֹאשׁ֔וֹ        וּמָחֲצָ֥ה וְחָלְפָ֖ה רַקָּתֽוֹ׃        

English:

Her [left] hand reached for the tent pin,Her right for the workmen’s hammer.She struck Sisera, crushed his head,Smashed and pierced his temple.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

בֵּ֣ין רַגְלֶ֔יהָ כָּרַ֥ע נָפַ֖ל שָׁכָ֑ב        בֵּ֤ין רַגְלֶ֙יהָ֙ כָּרַ֣ע נָפָ֔ל        בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרַ֔ע שָׁ֖ם נָפַ֥ל שָׁדֽוּד׃        

English:

At her feet he sank, lay outstretched,At her feet he sank, lay still;Where he sank, there he lay—destroyed.

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

בְּעַד֩ הַחַלּ֨וֹן נִשְׁקְפָ֧ה וַתְּיַבֵּ֛ב אֵ֥ם סִֽיסְרָ֖א בְּעַ֣ד הָאֶשְׁנָ֑ב        מַדּ֗וּעַ בֹּשֵׁ֤שׁ רִכְבּוֹ֙ לָב֔וֹא        מַדּ֣וּעַ אֶֽחֱר֔וּ פַּעֲמֵ֖י מַרְכְּבוֹתָֽיו׃        

English:

Through the window peered Sisera’s mother,Behind the lattice she whined:pwhined Or “gazed”; meaning of Heb. uncertain. “Why is his chariot so long in coming?Why so late the clatter of his wheels?”

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

חַכְמ֥וֹת שָׂרוֹתֶ֖יהָ תַּעֲנֶ֑ינָּה        אַף־הִ֕יא תָּשִׁ֥יב אֲמָרֶ֖יהָ לָֽהּ׃        

English:

The wisest of her ladies give answer;She, too, replies to herself:

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

הֲלֹ֨א יִמְצְא֜וּ יְחַלְּק֣וּ שָׁלָ֗ל        רַ֤חַם רַחֲמָתַ֙יִם֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ גֶּ֔בֶר        שְׁלַ֤ל צְבָעִים֙ לְסִ֣יסְרָ֔א        שְׁלַ֥ל צְבָעִ֖ים רִקְמָ֑ה        צֶ֥בַע רִקְמָתַ֖יִם לְצַוְּארֵ֥י שָׁלָֽל׃        

English:

“They 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.”

פסוק ל״א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

כֵּ֠ן יֹאבְד֤וּ כׇל־אוֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וְאֹ֣הֲבָ֔יו כְּצֵ֥את הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ בִּגְבֻרָת֑וֹ        וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָאָ֖רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃ {פ}

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.

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