Judges 5... Yahweh, the Divine Warrior

Overview Judges 5:1-31

A victory hymn of praise to Yahweh

Some suggest it’s a ballad:

Theophany

Troubled times

The appearance of Deborah

The muster of the tribes

The battle & sequel

Others believe it should be read in segments, because each possesses its own general integrity

Could be a mix:

History: informs

Ballad: entertains

Heroic ode: inspires

Hymn: celebrates

Serves as:

Praise to God and the woman

Taunt of Sisera and the Canaanites

Judges 5:1

An introduction

“On that day” must mean it was composed SUPER quick, instantaneous… For the defeat of Sisera and his army gave them freedom after 20 years.

Judges 5:2-3 (Stanza 1)

God is to be praised for the fact that there were many volunteers to fight!

Judges 5:4-5 (Stanza 2)

Judges, Ruth ((2) The Poetic Celebration (5:1–31))

The biblical records consistently portray Sinai in the south as the site where Yahweh had appeared to the nation, gathered at the foot of the mountain, entered into covenant relationship with them, and then revealed the Torah. This was the definitive moment when he established himself as “the God of Israel” and Israel as “the people of the LORD.”

Then God led them from the south, to Seir and Edom up through the promised land.

This section proclaims to the kings and rulers that Yahweh is God, not Baal.

Baal was partly a storm-god

Judges 5:6-8 (Stanza 3)

By naming this period after 2 foreigners, it in part shows that lack of Israelite leadership and devotion to God.

Why do you think they kept to the byways?

In fear of attack, fees, being taken.

Deborah is described as a MOTHER… a maternal image of Gods providential care over His people

Verse 8 is difficult:

Some suggest it describes the apostacy of Israel…

But its an off thing to put in the song

It calls for a plural verb rather than a present singular

And it disrupts the narrative of: Deborah arose, God chose new leaders, then fighting broke out.

Judges 5:9-11 (Stanza 4)