Judges 5

This is a psalm - and it appears to allude to other Psalms. Verse 3 reflects Psalm 2.2. Verse 4 reflects Psalm 68.9 - a very odd insertion into the poem as if a later interpreter were pointing out what we sovereigns and rule-makers should know. Verse 5 reflects Psalm 97.5. Verse 16 alludes to Psalm 68.14 and Genesis 49.14. This was an unexpected trio. For its rarity, I should probably read them all with one rather than two glosses (ash-heaps or hearth-stones, also used as ordained in Psalm 22.16). Psalms 68 and Judges 5 share nearly 50% of their words, including 14 stems in the same sequence between Psalms 68:9-14 and Judges 5:4-16. Towards the end, verse 31, there is just a hint of Psalm 19. (Additional note below on verse 2.)


See also this link on paying with silver. I would not use pieces for its overlap with נתח. Nonetheless, chunks of silver or hacksilver would be a suitable distinction.

Judges 5		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַתָּ֣שַׁר דְּבוֹרָ֔ה וּבָרָ֖ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֑עַם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹֽר	1		Then sang Deborah and Baraq, child of Abinoam, in that day, saying,	3e	4B	14 6
בִּפְרֹ֤עַ פְּרָעוֹת֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב עָ֑ם בָּרֲכ֖וּ יְהוָֽה	2		Disheveled were the premiers in Israel. The people willingly offered themselves. Bless Yahweh.	3e	4C	15 5
שִׁמְע֣וּ מְלָכִ֔ים הַאֲזִ֖ינוּ רֹֽזְנִ֑ים אָֽנֹכִ֗י לַֽיהוָה֙ אָנֹכִ֣י אָשִׁ֔ירָה אֲזַמֵּ֕ר לַֽיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	3		Hear sovereigns. Lend an ear, rule-makers. I to Yahweh, I myself will sing. I will sing a psalm, to Yahweh, the God of Israel.	3e	4B	11 22
יְהוָ֗ה בְּצֵאתְךָ֤ מִשֵּׂעִיר֙ בְּצַעְדְּךָ֙ מִשְּׂדֵ֣ה אֱד֔וֹם אֶ֣רֶץ רָעָ֔שָׁה גַּם־שָׁמַ֖יִם נָטָ֑פוּ גַּם־עָבִ֖ים נָ֥טְפוּ מָֽיִם	4		Yahweh, when you go forth from Seir, when you march from the fields of Edom, earth quaked, even the heavens dropped, even thick clouds dropped water.	3e	4C	27 7
הָרִ֥ים נָזְל֖וּ מִפְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה זֶ֣ה סִינַ֔י מִפְּנֵ֕י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	5		The mountains flowed from the presence of Yahweh, (that is Sinai) from the presence of Yahweh, the God of Israel.	3e	4B	8 13
בִּימֵ֞י שַׁמְגַּ֤ר בֶּן־עֲנָת֙ בִּימֵ֣י יָעֵ֔ל חָדְל֖וּ אֳרָח֑וֹת וְהֹלְכֵ֣י נְתִיב֔וֹת יֵלְכ֕וּ אֳרָח֖וֹת עֲקַלְקַלּֽוֹת	6		In the days of Shamgar child of Anat, in the days of Jael, caravans were set aside, and travelers on pathways walked crooked paths.	3e	4C	16 15
חָדְל֧וּ פְרָז֛וֹן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חָדֵ֑לּוּ עַ֤ד שַׁקַּ֙מְתִּי֙ דְּבוֹרָ֔ה שַׁקַּ֥מְתִּי אֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל	7		hamlets were set aside in Israel, were set aside, until I Deborah arose, that I arose, a mother in Israel.	3c	4C	12 15
יִבְחַר֙ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חֲדָשִׁ֔ים אָ֖ז לָחֶ֣ם שְׁעָרִ֑ים מָגֵ֤ן אִם־יֵֽרָאֶה֙ וָרֹ֔מַח בְּאַרְבָּעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל	8		He chose new gods, then war, gates. Did he see shield or lance among forty thousand in Israel?	3e	4C	14 19
לִבִּי֙ לְחוֹקְקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַמִּֽתְנַדְּבִ֖ים בָּעָ֑ם בָּרֲכ֖וּ יְהוָֽה	9		My heart to the lawgivers of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the people, bless Yahweh.	3e	4B	14 5
רֹכְבֵי֩ אֲתֹנ֨וֹת צְחֹר֜וֹת יֹשְׁבֵ֧י עַל־מִדִּ֛ין וְהֹלְכֵ֥י עַל־דֶּ֖רֶךְ שִֽׂיחוּ	10		Riders of tawny donkeys, you who sit over advocacy and who travel on a way, ponder.	3c	3g	21
מִקּ֣וֹל מְחַֽצְצִ֗ים בֵּ֚ין מַשְׁאַבִּ֔ים שָׁ֤ם יְתַנּוּ֙ צִדְק֣וֹת יְהוָ֔ה צִדְקֹ֥ת פִּרְזֹנ֖וֹ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אָ֛ז יָרְד֥וּ לַשְּׁעָרִ֖ים עַם־יְהוָֽה	11		From the rumbling platoons between places of drawing water, there they will demonstrate the righteousness of Yahweh, the righteousness of his hamlets in Israel. Then the people of Yahweh will come down to the gates.	3d	4C	26 9
עוּרִ֤י עוּרִי֙ דְּבוֹרָ֔ה ע֥וּרִי ע֖וּרִי דַּבְּרִי־שִׁ֑יר ק֥וּם בָּרָ֛ק וּֽשֲׁבֵ֥ה שֶׁבְיְךָ֖ בֶּן־אֲבִינֹֽעַם	12		Be roused, be roused, Deborah. Be roused, be roused, Speak a song. Arise, Baraq, and lead captivity captive, child of Abinoam.	3d	4C	14 14
אָ֚ז יְרַ֣ד שָׂרִ֔יד לְאַדִּירִ֖ים עָ֑ם יְהוָ֕ה יְרַד־לִ֖י בַּגִּבּוֹרִֽים	13	C	Then he made the survivor rule for the majestic ones of the people. Yahweh made me rule among the valiant.	3e	4C	10 9
מִנִּ֣י אֶפְרַ֗יִם שָׁרְשָׁם֙ בַּעֲמָלֵ֔ק אַחֲרֶ֥יךָ בִנְיָמִ֖ין בַּֽעֲמָמֶ֑יךָ מִנִּ֣י מָכִ֗יר יָֽרְדוּ֙ מְחֹ֣קְקִ֔ים וּמִ֨זְּבוּלֻ֔ן מֹשְׁכִ֖ים בְּשֵׁ֥בֶט סֹפֵֽר	14		From Ephraim, their root against Amalek. After you Benjamin, among your people. From Makir came down lawgivers, and from Zebulun, those who draw out with the sceptre of a scribe.	3e	4B	22 20
וְשָׂרַ֤י בְּיִשָּׂשכָר֙ עִם־דְּבֹרָ֔ה וְיִשָּׂשכָר֙ כֵּ֣ן בָּרָ֔ק בָּעֵ֖מֶק שֻׁלַּ֣ח בְּרַגְלָ֑יו בִּפְלַגּ֣וֹת רְאוּבֵ֔ן גְּדֹלִ֖ים חִקְקֵי־לֵֽב	15		And the nobles in Issachar with Deborah, Issachar, so Baraq. In the valley he was sent on foot, in the streams of Reuben, great prescriptions of heart.	3e	4C	26 12
לָ֣מָּה יָשַׁ֗בְתָּ בֵּ֚ין הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתַ֔יִם לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ שְׁרִק֣וֹת עֲדָרִ֑ים לִפְלַגּ֣וֹת רְאוּבֵ֔ן גְּדוֹלִ֖ים חִקְרֵי־לֵֽב	16	B	Why did you sit between the ash-heaps to hear the hissing of troops, of the streams of Reuben, great ones examining a heart?.	3e	4C	19 12
גִּלְעָ֗ד בְּעֵ֤בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ שָׁכֵ֔ן וְדָ֕ן לָ֥מָּה יָג֖וּר אֳנִיּ֑וֹת אָשֵׁ֗ר יָשַׁב֙ לְח֣וֹף יַמִּ֔ים וְעַ֥ל מִפְרָצָ֖יו יִשְׁכּֽוֹן	17		Gilead dwelt across the Jordan, and why did Dan reside in ships? Asher was seated at the sea port, and dwelt on his breaches.	3e	4C	19 15
זְבֻל֗וּן עַ֣ם חֵרֵ֥ף נַפְשׁ֛וֹ לָמ֖וּת וְנַפְתָּלִ֑י עַ֖ל מְרוֹמֵ֥י שָׂדֶֽה	18		Zebulun, a people, risked his group to die, and Naphtali on the high ground of the countryside.	3d	4B	14 6
בָּ֤אוּ מְלָכִים֙ נִלְחָ֔מוּ אָ֤ז נִלְחֲמוּ֙ מַלְכֵ֣י כְנַ֔עַן בְּתַעְנַ֖ךְ עַל־מֵ֣י מְגִדּ֑וֹ בֶּ֥צַע כֶּ֖סֶף לֹ֥א לָקָֽחוּ	19	C	Kings had come fighting. Then the kings of Canaan fought in Taanak by the waters of Megiddo. Gain of silver they did not receive.	3e	4C	25 8
מִן־שָׁמַ֖יִם נִלְחָ֑מוּ הַכּֽוֹכָבִים֙ מִמְּסִלּוֹתָ֔ם נִלְחֲמ֖וּ עִם־סִיסְרָֽא	20		From the heavens, fought the stars. From their highway, they fought with Sisera.	3e	4A	6 14
נַ֤חַל קִישׁוֹן֙ גְּרָפָ֔ם נַ֥חַל קְדוּמִ֖ים נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֑וֹן תִּדְרְכִ֥י נַפְשִׁ֖י עֹֽז	21	C	The wadi of Kishon punched them, the wadi of antiquity, the wadi of Kishon. My integrity, you tread strongly.	3e	4C	16 6
אָ֥ז הָלְמ֖וּ עִקְּבֵי־ס֑וּס מִֽדַּהֲר֖וֹת דַּהֲר֥וֹת אַבִּירָֽיו	22	f	Then were smitten the heels of the horse, from prancing, the prancing of his mighty ones.	3e	4A	6 10
א֣וֹרוּ מֵר֗וֹז אָמַר֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֔ה אֹ֥רוּ אָר֖וֹר יֹשְׁבֶ֑יהָ כִּ֤י לֹֽא־בָ֙אוּ֙ לְעֶזְרַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה לְעֶזְרַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה בַּגִּבּוֹרִֽים	23	B	Curse Meroz, says the messenger of Yahweh, Curse. Curse her inhabitants, for they have not come to the help of Yahweh, to the help of Yahweh among the valiant.	3e	4C	17 17
תְּבֹרַךְ֙ מִנָּשִׁ֔ים יָעֵ֕ל אֵ֖שֶׁת חֶ֣בֶר הַקֵּינִ֑י מִנָּשִׁ֥ים בָּאֹ֖הֶל תְּבֹרָֽךְ	24		Bless among women, Jael the wife of Xeber the Kenite, Blessed more than the women in the tent.	3e	4B	15 9
מַ֥יִם שָׁאַ֖ל חָלָ֣ב נָתָ֑נָה בְּסֵ֥פֶל אַדִּירִ֖ים הִקְרִ֥יבָה חֶמְאָֽה	25	f	Water he asked for. Milk she gave him. In a tureen fit for a king, she approached with clotted cream.	3e	4B	8 11
יָדָהּ֙ לַיָּתֵ֣ד תִּשְׁלַ֔חְנָה וִֽימִינָ֖הּ לְהַלְמ֣וּת עֲמֵלִ֑ים וְהָלְמָ֤ה סִֽיסְרָא֙ מָחֲקָ֣ה רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וּמָחֲצָ֥ה וְחָלְפָ֖ה רַקָּתֽוֹ	26		Her hand to the tent peg she extended, and her right hand to the miserable mallet, and she smote Sisera. She bashed his head and wounded and renewed his temple.	3e	4C	17 20
בֵּ֣ין רַגְלֶ֔יהָ כָּרַ֥ע נָפַ֖ל שָׁכָ֑ב בֵּ֤ין רַגְלֶ֙יהָ֙ כָּרַ֣ע נָפָ֔ל בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּרַ֔ע שָׁ֖ם נָפַ֥ל שָׁדֽוּד	27	B	Between her feet he bowed down. Fallen, he lay down. Between her feet, bowing down, fallen, where he bowed down, there he fell, devastated.	3e	4C	10 18
בְּעַד֩ הַחַלּ֨וֹן נִשְׁקְפָ֧ה וַתְּיַבֵּ֛ב אֵ֥ם סִֽיסְרָ֖א בְּעַ֣ד הָֽאֶשְׁנָ֑ב מַדּ֗וּעַ בֹּשֵׁ֤שׁ רִכְבּוֹ֙ לָב֔וֹא מַדּ֣וּעַ אֶֽחֱר֔וּ פַּעֲמֵ֖י מַרְכְּבוֹתָֽיו	28		Through the window she leaned to look, and the mother of Sisera shrieked through the casement, Why is his chariot so reticent to come? Why delayed are the times of his chariots.	3c	4C	19 22
חַכְמ֥וֹת שָׂרוֹתֶ֖יהָ תַּעֲנֶ֑ינָּה אַף־הִ֕יא תָּשִׁ֥יב אֲמָרֶ֖יהָ לָֽהּ	29		Her shrewd princesses answered her. Indeed, she, she returned her pronouncement to herself.	3e	4A	10 9
הֲלֹ֨א יִמְצְא֜וּ יְחַלְּק֣וּ שָׁלָ֗ל רַ֤חַם רַחֲמָתַ֙יִם֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ גֶּ֔בֶר שְׁלַ֤ל צְבָעִים֙ לְסִ֣יסְרָ֔א שְׁלַ֥ל צְבָעִ֖ים רִקְמָ֑ה צֶ֥בַע רִקְמָתַ֖יִם לְצַוְּארֵ֥י שָׁלָֽל	30		Have they not found? Have they divided the spoil, to nurture a womb or two per head? The valour of spoil, coloured cloths for Sisera, the spoil of coloured cloths, embroidery, coloured cloth, embroideries for the necks of a spoiler.	3e	4C	35 11
כֵּ֠ן יֹאבְד֤וּ כָל־אוֹיְבֶ֙יךָ֙ יְהוָ֔ה וְאֹ֣הֲבָ֔יו כְּצֵ֥את הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ בִּגְבֻרָת֑וֹ וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָאָ֖רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה	31	~	So will perish all your enemies Yahweh, but let one loving him go out as the sun in his valour. And the land was quiet a forty year span.	3e	4C	22 11

Verse 2, פרע, nowhere this stem is used has it anything to do with vengeance (KJV). What is interesting about this doubled stem is that two differing senses are used adjacent to each other,

• the role of leader, an office for which I used the gloss premier when it is not Pharaoh. 
• and the practice of disheveling the hair before a battle. NIV misses it.

The two senses are somewhat related. Was it first a character trait, negligence, and then a leadership role? Or vice versa, that Pharaohs and premiers can be negligent since they have slaves to do the chores?

Judges 5		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
בִּפְרֹ֤עַ פְּרָעוֹת֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּהִתְנַדֵּ֖ב עָ֑ם בָּרֲכ֖וּ יְהוָֽה	2		Disheveled were the premiers in Israel. The people willingly offered themselves. Bless Yahweh.	3e	4C	15 5
		בפרע disheveled were פרעות the premiers בישׂראל in Israel בהתנדב willingly offered עם the people ברכו bless יהוה Yahweh

The words in the verse (the counts are limited to what I have completed)

ברך bless (342) knee (18) blessing (13) blessing pool (10) kneel (1) knelt (1) went out way (1) (intensive repetition)
יהוה Yahweh (6,637) Lord (1) (for an acrostic)
ישׂראל Israel (2,397) Israelite (4) Israel (3)
נדב prince (19) freewill offer (14) Nadab (13) willing (13) freewill offering (7) willingly offer (5) freewill (2) willingly (2) offer willingly (1) willing offer (1)
עם people (1,643) beside (3) is-with-us (2) untranslated (2)
פרע pharaoh (245) neglect (8) negligent (4) dishevel (3) premier (2) negligence (1) (Poti)phera (1) shun (1) (Proverbs 4:15)

The unique glosses all have a reasonable explanation. I do not know to what extent I can explore these unique twists in the shape of puzzle pieces. At least I can expose them.