Shuphatym (Judges) — 5

The Song of Daburah 

1 On that day Daburah and Barak son of Abinuam sang this song:

2 Yashar'AL’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Yadah (Praise)  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH!

3 “Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. I will make music to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL.

4 For when 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, set out from Seir and marched across the fields of Adum, the Arath trembled, and the cloudy skies poured down rain.

5 The mountains quaked in the presence of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Mount Sinai, in the presence of  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of Yashar'AL.

6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Yaal, people avoided the main roads, and travelers stayed on winding pathways.

7 There were few people left in the villages of Yashar'AL until Daburah arose as a mother for Yashar'AL.

8 When Yashar'AL chose new idols, war erupted at the city gates. Yet not a shield or spear could be seen among forty thousand warriors in Yashar'AL!

9 My heart is with the commanders of Yashar'AL, with those who volunteered for war. Yadah 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH!

10 “Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys, you who sit on fancy saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road.

11 Listen to the village musicians gathered at the watering holes. They recount the righteous victories of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and the victories of his villagers in Yashar'AL. Then the people of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH marched down to the city gates.

12 “Wake up, Daburah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinuam!

13 Down from Tabur marched the few against the nobles, the people of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH  marched down against mighty warriors.

14 They came down from Aphraim a land that once belonged to the Amalakites; they followed you, Banyamin, with your troops. From Makir the commanders marched down; from Zabulun came those who carry a commander’s staff.

15 The princes of Issachar were with Daburah and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Rauban there was great indecision.

16 Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Rauban there was great indecision.

17 Gilaad remained east of the Yurdan, and why did Dan stay home? Ashar sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors.

18 But Zabulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.

19 “The kings of Canaan came and fought,    at Taanach near Magiddu’s springs, but they carried off no silver treasures.

20 The stars fought from Shamaym. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisara.

21 The Kishun River swept them away that ancient torrent, the Kishun. March on with courage, my soul!

22 Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground, the galloping of Sisara’s mighty steeds.

23 ‘Let the people of Maruz be cursed,’ said the Malak of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. ‘Let them be utterly cursed, because they did not come to help 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH against the mighty warriors.’

24 “Most Baraked among women is Yaal, the wife of Habar the Kanite. May she be Baraked above all women who live in tents.

25 Sisara asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a bowl fit for nobles, she brought him yogurt.

26 Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg, and with her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisara with the hammer, crushing his head. With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.

27 He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet, and where he sank, there he died.

28 “From the window Sisara’s mother looked out. Through the window she watched for his return, saying, ‘Why is his chariot so long in coming? To Why don’t we hear the sound of chariot wheels?’

29 “Her wise women answer, and she repeats these words to herself:

30 ‘They must be dividing the captured plunder with a woman or two for every man. There will be colorful robes for Sisara, and colorful, embroidered robes for me. Yes, the plunder will include colorful robes embroidered on both sides.’

31 “O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, may all your enemies die like Sisara! But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!”

Then there was peace in the land for forty years.