These are the 10 songs of Judaism. Among them, two are found in the Psalter, and one is the Song of Solomon or Song of Songs, which I plan to delve into separately. It’s also important to note that the last song, the Song of the Messiah, according to Jewish custom, has never been sung, as it is reserved for when the Messiah is present.
This is an occasional series. I will add to the links as each song is blogged.
My wife bakes. Her shortbread may be coarser and grainier than that bought in the shops, but you know what? I prefer it like that. It’s like life, it’s not always smooth and its better that way.
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 5 She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6 She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. 7 And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?” 8 Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9 And she said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 And Barak called out Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. And 10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.
11 Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.
12 When Sisera was told that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, 13 Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon. 14 And Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Does not the Lord go out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him. 15 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot. 16 And Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.
17 But Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 18 And Jael came out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me; do not be afraid.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. 19 And he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. 20 And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’” 21 But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. 22 And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple.
23 So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel. 24 And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
5 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day:
2 “That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the Lord!
3 “Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the Lord I will sing; I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.
4 “Lord, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled and the heavens dropped, yes, the clouds dropped water. 5 The mountains quaked before the Lord, even Sinai before the Lord,[a] the God of Israel.
6 “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned, and travelers kept to the byways. 7 The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. 8 When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel? 9 My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the Lord.
10 “Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets[b] and you who walk by the way. 11 To the sound of musicians[c] at the watering places, there they repeat the righteous triumphs of the Lord, the righteous triumphs of his villagers in Israel.
“Then down to the gates marched the people of the Lord.
12 “Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. 13 Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the Lord marched down for me against the mighty. 14 From Ephraim their root they marched down into the valley,[d] following you, Benjamin, with your kinsmen; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the lieutenant’s[e] staff; 15 the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 16 Why did you sit still among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. 17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings. 18 Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.
19 “The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver. 20 From heaven the stars fought, from their courses they fought against Sisera. 21 The torrent Kishon swept them away, the ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!
22 “Then loud beat the horses’ hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.
23 “Curse Meroz, says the angel of the Lord, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
24 “Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed. 25 He asked for water and she gave him milk; she brought him curds in a noble’s bowl. 26 She sent her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen’s mallet; she struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple. 27 Between her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead.
28 “Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?’ 29 Her wisest princesses answer, indeed, she answers herself, 30 ‘Have they not found and divided the spoil?— A womb or two for every man; spoil of dyed materials for Sisera, spoil of dyed materials embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for the neck as spoil?’
31 “So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.”
And the land had rest for forty years.
Judges 4:4-5:31 ESV
Things were understandably challenging for the Israelites as they were still finding their footing in the land, remaining divided and functioning more as individual tribes than a united nation. In Chapter 4, the historical account conveys their struggles, contrasting with the song, which carries a tone of defiance. This song isn’t directed at the neighboring nations or those who still inhabit Canaan, yet it holds the hope that they will hear it. It serves as a reminder of the victory that God has granted, intended to resonate beyond their immediate context.
Here are a few of the features of this song:
It is the Lord who gives victory through those who are willing to follow His lead.
The references to natural events, such as earthquakes and storms, seem to serve as a response to the Canaanite religion, which revered Baal as the deity of storms.
This song uses repeated phrases and an echoing style. This is the VAR of psalms, something like a slow-motion replay used to profound effect. The song describes the moment in detail, lingering on the body of Sisera and his utterly humiliating defeat at the hands of a woman.
The Canaanites’ iron chariots highlight their advanced technology and strength, a fascinating contrast to the Israelites, who utilized bronze—they were still in the bronze age, but the iron age had arrived. But the Israelites were without their bronze and copper swords, but they demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness in the face of adversity, probably fighting with farm implements and with the help of some, but not all, of the other tribes of Israel. Although the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali faced challenges, their spirit and determination were far from diminished, allowing them to rise and overcome obstacles together.
“A womb or two for every man;” (verse 30) is a horrible phrase. It shows the attitude of the Canaanites towards women, calling them wombs, objects to be used rather than people. Yet God raised up a woman, the prophet Deborah to lead the people and another woman, Jail to kill Sisera.
So God raised a woman to lead, and Deborah the prophet joyfully spoke the words of God. Barak plays a vital role in this inspiring story but only through his obedience, yet it was Deborah who took the helm, proudly embracing her identity as a mother—an aspect that beautifully mirrors the fatherhood of God.
The forces that opposed God’s people ultimately faced a defeat. The armies that once oppressed women were triumphantly overcome by a force led by a woman, whose humble beginnings only highlighted her incredible strength. This showcases the remarkable justice of God, a theme that shines brightly in the song of another inspiring woman, Mary, who sang:
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
Making an ass of myself 