Ver. 1. Then sang Deborah and Barak.] Like as before had done Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15:1-21, which chapter and this are by one called monumental chapters. Deborah was a poetess as well as a prophetess, learned, eloquent, industrious, far beyond Sappho or Procatia, who was called Musa Lyrica, and five various times got the better of Pindarus in versifying. On that day.] While the deliverance was fresh and their hearts well affected. So did Jehoshaphat and his army at Berachah. (2 Chronicles 20:26) So did Hezekiah newly recovered. (Isaiah 38:9,22) So did Zacharias so soon as his mouth was opened. (Luke 1:64) If this be not done speedily, benefits will soon wax stale, and putrify as fish. No part of the thank offering might be kept unspent till the third day. God loveth a cheerful giver. “Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion.” (Psalms 65:1) Suidas.
Ver. 2. When the people willingly offered themselves.] As Judges 4:10. Barak had no power to press them, but did only persuade with them, as the word Mashar there importeth. He gave goodly words, as being of the tribe of Naphtali, [see Genesis 49:21] and prevailed, God working their hearts thereunto, who is therefore worthily praised. All his people are volunteers, (Psalms 110:3) he draweth them and they follow him. (Song of Solomon 1:4)
Ver. 3. Hear, O ye kings.] Hear and give ear, be not proud, cast down your crowns, and give glory to God. The altar of incense was compassed about with a crown of pure gold, (Leviticus 3) to show that gratitude is a rich and royal virtue, best beseeming the best princes.
Ver. 4. Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir.] When thou marchedst before thy people through the wilderness. Thus this good woman recogniseth mercies long since received, that she may the better praise God for the present deliverance. A worthy pattern for us to imitate, with whom, as with children, eaten bread is soon forgotten. It is good to begin our thanksgivings high enough: and as shopkeepers, by turning over their books to look up one debt, take notice of many more: so should it be with us in revising and celebrating God’s favours.
Ver. 5. The mountains melted from before the Lord.] Heb., Flowed. “ Ruunt de montibus amnes. ” There was a general concussion, and the nations were all affrighted. See Psalms 68:15,16 Jos 5:1.
Ver. 6. In the days of Shamgar.] From the death of Ehud until this conflict with Jabin: for though Shamgur did worthily, -especially if without help of others he slew at one time six hundred of the enemy with an ox goad, Scanderbeg is said to have slain eight hundred Turks at several times with his own hands, some say three thousand, -and though Jael, a woman of a public spirit, and active beyond her sex, did her utmost; yet the times were very troublesome, “neither was there any peace to him that went out, or to him that came in, but great vexations”; (2 Chronicles 15:5) and no free commerce, or safe abode in any village, but “ Luctus ubique, metus, et plurima morris imago. ” Thus the dangers bypast are fitly recounted, that the present freedom may be the better prized. The miseries also of war, especially civil, when “ vi geritur res, ” are lively described, an evil so great as no words, how wide soever, are able to express. See Lamentations 1:4 4:18.
Ver. 7. The inhabitants of the villages ceased.] As now they do in Hungary, where the Turk wasteth at pleasure. They want but another Hunniades at the heels of them, who fought five times upon one day with the Turks, and five times foiled and put them to flight: and at that famous battle of Vascape, with fifteen thousand soldiers, he overthrew Abedin Bassa with fourscore thousand fighting men. Until that I Deborah arose.] This she speaketh not as vaunting of herself, but to the glory of God, who had made use of her as his unworthy instrument to excite Barak to this expedition. That I arose a mother in Israel.] A mater patrioe, a governess and protectress: such as was our English Deborah, Queen Elizabeth, whose usual saying was that she could believe nothing of her people that parents would not believe of their children. Camden’s Elisab., 205.
Ver. 8. They chose new gods.] τα καινα κενα: Nihil mihi antiquius, id est potius: We should set a jealous eye upon novelties, and say, The old is better. Idolatry is ancient, but not in comparison of God’s true worship. The serpent’s grammar first taught men to decline God plurally, Eritis sicut Dii, ye shall be as gods, saith Damianus. Then was war in the gates.] Hannibal ad portas; the enemy came up to their very gates, disarming and disabling them for their own defence. Rome, since it became Antichristian, was never besieged, but it was taken. Idolatry is a land desolating sin.
Ver. 9. My heart is toward the governors of Israel.] Heb., Those in whom was the legislative power, that they should lay by their parliament robes and gird on their swords to fight against the common enemy: that these he goats should go before the flocks, (Jeremiah 50:8) this got them a great deal of love and honour.