Judges 5 (résumé): The Song of Deborah

The song of Deborah contained in this chapter is a song of victory sung by judge and prophetess Deborah, leader of Israel, and Barak, her military commander, after having defeated the Canaanite king Jabin's army and killed its commander Sisera. The song gives praise to God for being the cause of the victory, and highlights the courage of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, for killing Sisera. Deborah sang too about God raising her up as a mother in Israel when they were downtrodden by their enemies. She praised Israel's army commanders for having followed her and Barak into their battle for freedom. She also commends the tribes that took part in the battle: Ephraim, Benjamin, Zebulon, Issachar and part of Manasseh, whilst criticizing the tribes that abstained: Reuben, Dan, Asher and part of Manasseh. Towards the end the song focuses on Sisera's mother who will never see her son again. The song closes with a curse on all the Lord's enemies and a blessing on all who love the Lord "like the sun when it rises in its strength". Israel then enjoyed 40 years of peace.