Judges 5:19-24
Judges 5:19
The
kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters
of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
There
were kings who ruled much smaller areas which came and allied themselves in the
battle with Jabin. Taanach and
Megiddo, both situated in the area belonging to the tribe of Issachar, were two
well-known cities which came and allied themselves with Jabin.
They must have had great hatred for the Israelites because they chose to
fight without requesting any payment for their services.
Judges 5:20
They
fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
This
verse is teaching that either the angels from Heaven had a part in the battle
against Sisera or else the elements were supernaturally brought against the army
of Sisera. The stars fighting
against Sisera tells us that maybe part of this battle was fought at night.
Since these pagan nations would have engaged in astrology, then maybe the
starts which they counted on for guidance had now betrayed them and fought for
Israel in some manner.
Judges 5:21
The
river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my
soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
When
the battle finally reached the river Kishon, the army of Jabin was being
defeated until they were totally overpowered and as they were killed, their
bodies fell into the river and were swept downstream.
Many probably tried to ford the river and drowned in their retreat.
So even the river was used of God to defeat them.
In like manner the staff of Moses was used to defeat the Egyptians.
Deborah extols the fact that she rejoices in her soul that a mighty army
which had shown much strength has been trodden down.
The word “trodden” carries with the meaning of “trample, beat or press
with the feet, or crush under foot.”
Judges 5:22
Then
were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their
mighty ones.
The
word “pransings” carries with it the meaning of “galloping.”
It could have been that the chariot drivers were attempting to get away
from the Israelites by making it across the river and regrouping or retreating
further toward Harosheth. It may be
that God raised the river supernaturally and that cause the chariots to become
stuck and as a result the horse’s hoofs would be broken by means of stress in
trying to get across the river.
Judges 5:23
Curse
ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof;
because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against
the mighty.
Meroz
was a city of which the location has been lost to antiquity.
Some believe it was about 12 miles (19 km) from Samaria but it is no
longer found on any maps. Since it
was cursed because it did not respond to the call of the Lord to come and help
Israel, both the city and the inhabitants have been cursed.
The Lord did the same thing to Amalek as he fought against Israel.
Exodus 17:14 (KJV)
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and
rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of
Amalek from under heaven. Maybe
that is what happened, God had blotted out the remembrance of Meroz from under
Heaven and is no longer in existence.
Judges 5:24
Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall
she be above women in the tent.