The Song of Deborah and Barak
(Exodus 15:1–21)

1On that day Deborah (bee) and Barak (lightning) son of Abinoam (my father is delight) sang this song:

2“When the princes take the lead in Israel (he wrestles with God),

when the people volunteer,

bless the LORD {YHWH}.

3Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes!

I will sing to the LORD {YHWH};

I will sing praise to the LORD,

the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God).

4O LORD {YHWH}, when You went out from Seir (shaggy),

when You marched from the land of Edom (red),

the earth trembled, the heavens poured out rain,

and the clouds poured down water.

5The mountains quaked before the LORD {YHWH},

the One of Sinai (thorny),

before the LORD,

the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God).

6In the days of Shamgar (sword) son of Anath (answer),

in the days of Jael (mountain goat),

the highways were deserted

and the travelers took the byways.

7Life in the villages ceased;

it ended in Israel (he wrestles with God),

until I, Deborah (bee), arose,

a mother in Israel.

8When they chose new gods,

then war came to their gates.

Not a shield or spear was found

among forty thousand in Israel (he wrestles with God).

9My heart is with the princes of Israel (he wrestles with God),

with the volunteers among the people.

Bless the LORD {YHWH}!

10You who ride white donkeys,

who sit on saddle blankets,

and you who travel the road,

ponder 11the voices of the singers (archers)a

at the watering places.

There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD {YHWH},

the righteous deeds of His villagers (warriors)b in Israel (he wrestles with God).

Then the people of the LORD

went down to the gates:

12‘Awake, awake, O Deborah (bee)!

Awake, awake, sing a song!

Arise, O Barak (lightning),

and take hold of your captives, O son of Abinoam (my father is delight)!’

13Then the survivors came down to the nobles;

the people of the LORD {YHWH} came down to me against the mighty.

14Some came from Ephraim (doubly fruitful), with their roots in Amalek (dweller in a valley);

Benjamin (son of the right hand) came with your people after you.

The commanders came down from Machir (sold),

the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun (exalted).

15The princes of Issachar (there is recompense) were with Deborah (bee),

and Issachar was with Barak (lightning),

rushing into the valley at his heels.

In the clans of Reuben (behold a son)

there was great indecision (much searching of heart).c

16Why did you sit among the sheepfolds

to hear the whistling for the flocks?

In the clans of Reuben (behold a son)

there was great indecision.

17Gilead (rocky region) remained beyond the Jordan (flowing down).

Dan (He has judged), why did you linger by the ships?

Asher (happy) stayed at the coast

and remained in his harbors.

18Zebulun (exalted) was a people who risked their lives;

Naphtali, too (wrestling), on the heights of the battlefield.

19Kings came and fought;

then the kings of Canaan (lowland) fought at Taanach (sandy)

by the waters of Megiddo (place of crowds),

but they took no plunder of silver.

20From the heavens the stars fought;

from their courses they fought against Sisera (battle array).

21The River Kishon (winding) swept them away,

the ancient river, the River Kishon.

March on, O my soul, in strength!

22Then the hooves of horses thundered—

the mad galloping of his stallions.

23‘Curse Meroz (refuge),’ says the angel of the LORD {YHWH}.

‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants;

for they did not come to help the LORD,

to help the LORD against the mighty.’

24Most blessed among women is Jael (mountain goat),

the wife of Heber (comrade) the Kenite (smiths),

most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

25He asked for water, and she gave him milk.

In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.

26She reached for the tent peg,

her right hand for the workman’s hammer.

She struck Sisera (battle array) and crushed his skull;

she shattered and pierced his temple.

27At her feet he collapsed, he fell,

there he lay still;

at her feet he collapsed, he fell;

where he collapsed, there he fell dead.

28Sisera’s (battle array) mother looked through the window;

she peered through the lattice and lamented:

‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?

What has delayed the clatter of his chariots?’

29Her wisest ladies answer;

indeed she keeps telling herself,

30‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil—

a girl or two for each warrior,

a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera (battle array),

the spoil of embroidered garments

for the neck of the looter?’

31So may all Your enemies perish,

O LORD {YHWH}!

But may those who love You

shine like the sun at its brightest.”

And the land had rest for forty years.