Judges 5:5-17

5and the mountains shook in the presence of the Lord God of Sinai, in the presence of the Lord God of Israel.

6In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, roads were deserted. Those who traveled took back roads.

7Villages in Israel were deserted— deserted until I, Deborah, took a stand— took a stand as a mother of Israel.

8When the people chose new gods, war broke out inside the city gates. Not a weapon was seen among 40,000 in Israel.

9My heart goes out to Israel’s commanders, to those people who volunteered. Praise the Lord!

10You people who ride on brown donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and who walk on the road—think.

11Listen to the voices of those singing at the wells. Over and over again they repeat the victories of the Lord, the victories for his villages in Israel. Then the Lord’s people went down to the city gates.

12Get up! Get up, Deborah! Get up! Get up and create a song! Barak, attack! Take your prisoners, son of Abinoam.

13Then those mighty men who were left came down. The Lord’s people went into battle for me against the mighty soldiers.

14Those who had settled in Amalek’s country came down from Ephraim. Benjamin came with its troops after Ephraim. Commanders from Machir went into battle. The officers from Zebulun also went.

15Issachar’s commanders were with Deborah. They were also with Barak, sent into the valley under his command. Among Reuben’s divisions important men had second thoughts.

16Why did you sit between the saddlebags? Was it to listen to the shepherds playing their flutes? Reuben’s divisions of important men had second thoughts.

17Gilead remained east of the Jordan River. And Dan … Why did he stay by the ships? Asher sat on the seashore and remained along the inlets.