Juízes 5

Juízes 5

William MacDonald points out that "Scripture notes carefully those who fought in the battle and those who stood passively by, unwilling to risk their safety in Jehovah’s cause. And so it is today: The Lord knows who is actively confronting the world and the devil and who is sitting back and simply watching. There is a time of reward coming, but it is also a time of loss (1 Cor. 3:10–15). (Borrow Believer's Bible Commentary) Judges 5:18 "Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death, And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.. NKJV Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield. NIV The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the heights of the field. Young's literal Zebulun is a people who exposed its soul to death, Naphtali also--on high places of the field (This correlates with the LXX = "exposed their soul to death") Zebulun: Jdg 4:10 despised their lives Esther 4:16, Acts 20:24, Php 1:20-23, 1Jn 3:16, Rev 12:11 Naphtali also, on the high places of the field: Jud 4:6,10,14 TWO TRIBES WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death - They were willing to die for the cause! And were willing to do so with the promise of plunder in silver (Jdg 5:19)! And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field (LXX is rendered they "came to the high places of their land"). High places (or places of higher elevation) are alluded to in Jdg 4:6 (Mt Tabor) and Jdg 4:10 ("went up...went up") - The meaning is not clear as some think that if they were on the high places, they would have been exposed to the enemy. An alternative interpretation (especially as supported by the phrase "Naphtali also" suggesting also like the tribe of Zebulun. This would speak of Naphtali's similar courage and willingness to give their life for victory over the Canaanites. Judges 5:19 "The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver. The kings came and fought Jos 10:22-27 11:1-15 Ps 48:4-6 68:12-14 118:8-12 Rev 17:12-14 Rev 19:19 At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo Jdg 1:27, 1Ki 4:12 They took no plunder in silver. Jdg 5:30; Ge 14:22; 4:16; Ps 44:12 Related Passages: Judges 1:27+ But Manasseh did not take possession of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; so the Canaanites persisted in living in that land. DEBORAH DESCRIBES THE DEFEAT OF THE KINGS In Judges 5:19-23 Deborah describes the victory over Sisera, whose greatest strength proved to be his greatest liability! The kings came and fought - Canaan was not a unified state. Jabin and Sisera were leaders of an anti-Israelite coalition including other Canaanite kings. It is not much different in modern Israel opposed by a loose coalition of Iran-Syria-PLO. The point is that they enlisted a coalition that might put forth the strongest effort possible to crush Israel. This coalition of Canaanite kings reminds me of Israel's War for Independence in 1947-49 when Arab enemies surrounded her (and outmanned her) in an attempt to crush the newly declared nation of Israel and yet were repelled and defeated (I think by the great and mighty Yahweh!) Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo (Judges 1:27)- Megiddo was a strongly fortified elevation, on the western side of the Jezreel Valley and was one of a chain of enemy cities that remained unconquered during the period of the Judges. Later Solomon's huge stables were built at Megiddo. The famous battle between the Syrian states and the Egyptians under Thutmose III (c. 1500 B.C.) took place at Megiddo. This is recorded in ancient literature in such detail as to provide the starting point for the history of military science. Military leaders have called this area one of the greatest battlefields in the world. Megiddo commanded the pass between the plains of Jezreel and Sharon, and for this reason was the scene of several battles recorded in the Scriptures: (1) Deborah's victory (Jdg 4:10-24+); (2) Gideon's victory (Jdg 6:33+; cp. Jdg 7:1-25+); (3) Saul's defeat (1Sa 31:1); (4) Death of King Josiah in battle with Pharaoh Necho (2Ki 23:28-30; 2Chr 35:20-24). The GATHERING OF ARMIES prior to the last great battle of this age will be at Armageddon (Har-Megiddo = mount of Megiddo) (Rev 16:12-16+). Note Revelation 16:16 does not say that the Battle will occur at Armageddon which many scholars teach. This interpretation was suggested by C I Scofield but it is not the location of the actual battle but the is the site at which the anti-God armies will gather. They took no plunder in silver - They fought without expectation of pay. These brave Israelites show us that not everyone in the times of the Judges adhered to the "motto" in Judges 21:25! Judges 5:20 "The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera. English of the LXX: The stars from heaven set themselves in array, they set themselves to fight with Sisara out of their paths. The stars fought from heaven Joshua 10:11; 1Sa 7:10; Ps 77:17,18 Related Passages: Judges 4:15+ The LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. Joshua 10:11-12+ As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword. 12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.” Psalm 83:9+ (DAVID WROTE) Deal with them (ISRAEL'S ENEMIES) as with Midian, As with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon, STARS FROM HEAVEN FOUGHT The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera (see note) - Who were the stars that fought against Sisera? This is difficult verse to interpret dogmatically. One interpretation is that this refers to a cloudburst of rain sent by God (cf "the LORD routed Sisera" Judges 4:15+) and this would fit with the description of a "torrent of Kishon" (Jdg 5:21, cf Joshua 10:11-12). Another interpretation (probably less likely because nothing in immediate context supports this interpretation) is that stars could be reference to angels in this battle. Angels are equated with "stars" in Job 38:7 "When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?" ESV Study note - The imagery suggests that the forces of nature fought on God’s side (and thus Canaanite deities, who supposedly ruled over these forces, were powerless to help against the true God). (Borrow ESV study Bible) Ryrie says this is "A reference to the cloudburst God sent." (Borrow Ryrie Study Bible) Fruchtenbaum comments that "If this refers literally to the heavens and to literal stars, it would mean that the weather was in Israel’s favor. But, if the “heaven” and “stars” are being used symbolically, it would refer to angels engaged in a war on behalf of Israel in the heavenly realms. In context, both statements could be true." (Judges and Ruth: Ariel's Bible Commentary) Henry