Haftarah of Beshalach

Shoftim 4:4 - 5:31

The story of Devorah and Barak takes place about two hundred years after the conquest of the Land of Israel. The conquest itself was imperfect, and had left pockets of Canaanites throughout the land. One of them, the House of Yavin of Hazor, recovered, re-armed, and reasserted its dominance in the region. Sisra, their military leader, wielded superior weapons: an entire division of iron chariots, which served the same purpose as tanks do now. In contrast, the Jews had no central government, no standing army, and no means of funding or producing comparable weapons. Sisra was free to raid throughout the north, cutting off the tribes of Naftali, Yissachar, and Zevulun from the rest of the country. Perhaps if all the different tribes had gotten together, their combined forces would have been sufficient to overcome Sisra, but as Devorah will tell us, they were not functioning as a nation; each tribe put their own interests first. If the threat was not in their own region of the country, they refused to join the fight. The northern tribes were thus limited to defensive measures: protective fences around their settlements, bypass roads, and appeasing the enemy. Into this mess comes Devorah, "a mother in Israel", and puts her foot down.

Devorah was the de-facto leader of the disunited Jewish People. Her location, in the center of the country just south of Beit El, made her accessible to all the different tribes, who trusted her to dispense justice. In addition to being the only female judge, she was the only judge besides Shmuel who was also a prophet.

4) Devorah was a woman prophetess, a woman of flames; she judged Israel at that time.	(ד) וּדְבוֹרָה אִשָּׁה נְבִיאָה אֵשֶׁת לַפִּידוֹת הִיא שֹׁפְטָה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּעֵת הַהִיא:
5) She sat under the Palm of Devorah, between Rama and Beit-El in Har Ephraim; the people of Israel would go up to her for judgment.	(ה) וְהִיא יוֹשֶׁבֶת תַּחַת תֹּמֶר דְּבוֹרָה בֵּין הָרָמָה וּבֵין בֵּית אֵל בְּהַר אֶפְרָיִם וַיַּעֲלוּ אֵלֶיהָ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לַמִּשְׁפָּט:

Devorah contacts Barak, the leader of the tribe of Naftali in the far north, and tells him to prepare for a battle at Har Tavor, where he would defeat Sisra and his chariots.

6) She sent and called for Barak ben Avinoam from Kedesh Naftali; She said to him: “Surely Hashem, the G-d of Israel, has commanded: ‘Go and get people to Har Tavor, and take with you 10,000 men from Naftali and from Zevulun.	(ו) וַתִּשְׁלַח וַתִּקְרָא לְבָרָק בֶּן אֲבִינֹעַם מִקֶּדֶשׁ נַפְתָּלִי וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו הֲלֹא צִוָּה ה’ אֱ-לֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵךְ וּמָשַׁכְתָּ בְּהַר תָּבוֹר וְלָקַחְתָּ עִמְּךָ עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ מִבְּנֵי נַפְתָּלִי וּמִבְּנֵי זְבֻלוּן:
7) And I will get to you, at Nachal Kishon, Sisra, the general of Yavin, and his cavalry and his infantry, and I will give them over into your hand.’ ”	(ז) וּמָשַׁכְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ אֶל נַחַל קִישׁוֹן אֶת סִיסְרָא שַׂר צְבָא יָבִין וְאֶת רִכְבּוֹ וְאֶת הֲמוֹנוֹ וּנְתַתִּיהוּ בְּיָדֶךָ:

Barak is understandably reluctant to attack chariots with untrained foot soldiers. He believes that he can only convince people to come if Devorah herself is present to guarantee that this will not be a suicide mission. Devorah is not impressed with his lack of courage, and predicts that the credit for the victory will go to a woman.

8) Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I’m going, if you won’t go with me, I’m not going.”	(ח) וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ בָּרָק אִם תֵּלְכִי עִמִּי וְהָלָכְתִּי וְאִם לֹא תֵלְכִי עִמִּי לֹא אֵלֵךְ:
9) She said, “I’ll go with you. But you will get no glory on this path that you are on! For by the hand of a woman Hashem will sell out Sisra!” Devorah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.	(ט) וַתֹּאמֶר הָלֹךְ אֵלֵךְ עִמָּךְ אֶפֶס כִּי לֹא תִהְיֶה תִּפְאַרְתְּךָ עַל הַדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה הוֹלֵךְ כִּי בְיַד אִשָּׁה יִמְכֹּר ה’ אֶת סִיסְרָא וַתָּקָם דְּבוֹרָה וַתֵּלֶךְ עִם בָּרָק קֶדְשָׁה:
10) Barak summoned Zevulun and Naftali to Kedesh; 10,000 men went up to follow him. Devorah went up with him.	(י) וַיַּזְעֵק בָּרָק אֶת זְבוּלֻן וְאֶת נַפְתָּלִי קֶדְשָׁה וַיַּעַל בְּרַגְלָיו עֲשֶׂרֶת אַלְפֵי אִישׁ וַתַּעַל עִמּוֹ דְּבוֹרָה:

The text now provides background that will be needed later in the story: the Keini people, descendents of Yitro, were nomads who lived among the Jewish People and were allied with them. Chever (with his wife Yael) had migrated north to the area of Naftali.

11) Chever the Keini had separated from Kain, from the descendents of Moshe’s father-in-law Chovav. He pitched his tent around Elon Tza'ananim which is near Kedesh.

(יא) וְחֶבֶר הַקֵּינִי נִפְרָד מִקַּיִן מִבְּנֵי חֹבָב חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּט אָהֳלוֹ עַד אֵלוֹן בְּצַעֲנַנִּים אֲשֶׁר אֶת קֶדֶשׁ:

Sisra hears that the Jews have gathered forces to attack him. He embarks on a decisive show of force, and takes his entire corps of chariots to this battle. They are camped in the valley to the west of Har Tavor, while the Jews are trapped on the mountain.

12) Sisra was told that Barak ben Avinoam had gone up to Har Tavor.	(יב) וַיַּגִּדוּ לְסִיסְרָא כִּי עָלָה בָּרָק בֶּן אֲבִינֹעַם הַר תָּבוֹר: ס
13) Sisra summoned his entire armored division, 900 iron chariots, and all the people that were with him, from Charoshet HaGoyim, to Nachal Kishon.	(יג) וַיַּזְעֵק סִיסְרָא אֶת כָּל רִכְבּוֹ תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל וְאֶת כָּל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ מֵחֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם אֶל נַחַל קִישׁוֹן:

The day of victory has come; Devorah tells Barak to make his move; Hashem has set up everything for them to win the battle. We later learn that there was an unseasonable rainstorm, and the entire valley turned to mud, trapping the chariots and causing panic among the horses and troops. Barak and his men attack Sisra's army and decimate the entire camp. Sisra himself is reduced to running for his life through the mud.

14) Devorah said to Barak, “Get up! This is the day that Hashem delivers Sisra to your hand! Surely, Hashem has gone out before you!” Barak went down from Har Tavor, with 10,000 men behind him.	(יד) וַתֹּאמֶר דְּבֹרָה אֶל בָּרָק קוּם כִּי זֶה הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן ה’ אֶת סִיסְרָא בְּיָדֶךָ הֲלֹא ה’ יָצָא לְפָנֶיךָ וַיֵּרֶד בָּרָק מֵהַר תָּבוֹר וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים אִישׁ אַחֲרָיו:
15) Hashem caused panic, of Sisra, and all the chariots, and the entire camp, by the sword, before Barak; Sisra got down from his chariot and ran away on foot.	(טו) וַיָּהָם ה’ אֶת סִיסְרָא וְאֶת כָּל הָרֶכֶב וְאֶת כָּל הַמַּחֲנֶה לְפִי חֶרֶב לִפְנֵי בָרָק וַיֵּרֶד סִיסְרָא מֵעַל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה וַיָּנָס בְּרַגְלָיו:
16) Barak chased the chariots and the camp, all the way to Charoshet HaGoyim; all of Sisra’s camp fell by the sword, not a one was left.	(טז) וּבָרָק רָדַף אַחֲרֵי הָרֶכֶב וְאַחֲרֵי הַמַּחֲנֶה עַד חֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם וַיִּפֹּל כָּל מַחֲנֵה סִיסְרָא לְפִי חֶרֶב לֹא נִשְׁאַר עַד אֶחָד:

Looking for refuge, Sisra heads for the tents of Chever, with whom he had an alliance. Yael, Chever's wife, beckons him inside, comforts him, and agrees to say, "He went that a-way" in case anyone asks. Relieved and exhausted, Sisra falls asleep.

17) And Sisra had run away on foot to Yael’s tent, the wife of Chever the Keini; for there was peace between Yavin, King of Hatzor, and the house of Chever the Keini.	(יז) וְסִיסְרָא נָס בְּרַגְלָיו אֶל אֹהֶל יָעֵל אֵשֶׁת חֶבֶר הַקֵּינִי כִּי שָׁלוֹם בֵּין יָבִין מֶלֶך חָצוֹר וּבֵין בֵּית חֶבֶר הַקֵּינִי:
18) Yael came out toward Sisra; she said to him, “This way, sir, this way to me, do not fear!” He turned toward her to her tent; she covered him with a comforter.	(יח) וַתֵּצֵא יָעֵל לִקְרַאת סִיסְרָא וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו סוּרָה אֲדֹנִי סוּרָה אֵלַי אַל תִּירָא וַיָּסַר אֵלֶיהָ הָאֹהֱלָה וַתְּכַסֵּהוּ בַּשְּׂמִיכָה:
19) He said to her, “Give me a bit of water, for I’m thirsty”. She opened the milk skin, gave him a drink, and covered him.	(יט) וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ הַשְׁקִינִי נָא מְעַט מַיִם כִּי צָמֵאתִי וַתִּפְתַּח אֶת נֹאוד הֶחָלָב וַתַּשְׁקֵהוּ וַתְּכַסֵּהוּ:
20) He said to her, “Stand by the tent flap, if a man comes and asks you, and says, ‘Is there a man in here?’ you should say, ‘No.’ ”	(כ) וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ עֲמֹד פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהָיָה אִם אִישׁ יָבוֹא וּשְׁאֵלֵךְ וְאָמַר הֲיֵשׁ פֹּה אִישׁ וְאָמַרְתְּ אָיִן:

While Sisra is asleep, Yael bashes his head in with a tent peg. Barak now catches up, and Yael shows him the enemy he has been chasing - dead on the ground, killed by the hand of a woman.

21) Yael, the wife of Chever, took the peg of the tent, she placed the hammer in her hand, she came to him quietly, she stuck the peg into his temple, and drove it into the ground; and he had been sleeping – he was tired – and he died.	(כא) וַתִּקַּח יָעֵל אֵשֶׁת חֶבֶר אֶת יְתַד הָאֹהֶל וַתָּשֶׂם אֶת הַמַּקֶּבֶת בְּיָדָהּ וַתָּבוֹא אֵלָיו בַּלָּאט וַתִּתְקַע אֶת הַיָּתֵד בְּרַקָּתוֹ וַתִּצְנַח בָּאָרֶץ וְהוּא נִרְדָּם וַיָּעַף וַיָּמֹת:
22) Just then came Barak chasing Sisra; Yael went out toward him; she said to him, “Go, and I’ll show you the man you’re looking for.” He came to her, and there’s Sisra - fallen, dead, with a tent peg in his temple.	(כב) וְהִנֵּה בָרָק רֹדֵף אֶת סִיסְרָא וַתֵּצֵא יָעֵל לִקְרָאתוֹ וַתֹּאמֶר לוֹ לֵךְ וְאַרְאֶךָּ אֶת הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מְבַקֵּשׁ וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ וְהִנֵּה סִיסְרָא נֹפֵל מֵת וְהַיָּתֵד בְּרַקָּתוֹ:

Having destroyed their chariots and killed their general, the people of Israel now have the upper hand. This was the beginning of the end of Canaanite aggression.

23) G-d subdued on that day, Yavin King of Canaan, before the people of Israel.	(כג) וַיַּכְנַע אֱ-לֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אֵת יָבִין מֶלֶךְ כְּנָעַן לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:
24) The arm of the people of Israel grew harder and harder, over Yavin King of Canaan, until they vanquished Yavin King of Canaan.	(כד) וַתֵּלֶךְ יַד בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלוֹךְ וְקָשָׁה עַל יָבִין מֶלֶךְ כְּנָעַן עַד אֲשֶׁר הִכְרִיתוּ אֵת יָבִין מֶלֶךְ כְּנָעַן: פ

A decisive victory of this sort is a miracle on the order of the Splitting of the Sea, deserving of an epic poem, which Devorah composed for herself and Barak.

Devorah introduces the topic of the poem: a deliverance based on the combination of Hashem's power over nature and the self-sacrifice of the people. She references Har Sinai as a symbol of G-d's commitment to Jewish history.

1) Devorah sang with Barak ben Avinoam, on that day, as follows:	(א) וַתָּשַׁר דְּבוֹרָה וּבָרָק בֶּן אֲבִינֹעַם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר:
2) When there was terror in Israel, when people volunteered, bless Hashem!	(ב) בִּפְרֹעַ פְּרָעוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּהִתְנַדֵּב עָם בָּרֲכוּ ה’:
3) Listen, kings! Pay attention, princes! I am for Hashem, I sing, I compose to Hashem, the G-d of Israel.	(ג) שִׁמְעוּ מְלָכִים הַאֲזִינוּ רֹזְנִים אָנֹכִי לַה' אָנֹכִי אָשִׁירָה אֲזַמֵּר לַה' אֱ-לֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:
4) Hashem, as You went out from Seir, as You marched from the field of Edom, earth trembled and the heavens dripped, even the clouds dripped with water.	(ד) ה’ בְּצֵאתְךָ מִשֵּׂעִיר בְּצַעְדְּךָ מִשְּׂדֵה אֱדוֹם אֶרֶץ רָעָשָׁה גַּם שָׁמַיִם נָטָפוּ גַּם עָבִים נָטְפוּ מָיִם:
5) The mountains melted before Hashem, this is Sinai, before Hashem, the G-d of Israel.	(ה) הָרִים נָזְלוּ מִפְּנֵי ה’ זֶה סִינַי מִפְּנֵי ה’ אֱ-לֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

Devorah describes the terror that they had lived with for over a generation: inability to travel freely or to live securely on their farms. Devorah, calling herself a "mother in Israel", places the blame for this condition on the Jewish People: they "chose new gods", therefore they got war. They did not even have weapons for their troops, such as they were.

6) In the days of Shamgar ben Anat, in the days of Yael, the roads were abandoned, and travellers would walk on bypass roads.	(ו) בִּימֵי שַׁמְגַּר בֶּן עֲנָת בִּימֵי יָעֵל חָדְלוּ אֳרָחוֹת וְהֹלְכֵי נְתִיבוֹת יֵלְכוּ אֳרָחוֹת עֲקַלְקַלּוֹת:
7) They stopped living in open villages, until I, Devorah, arose, arose a mother in Israel.	(ז) חָדְלוּ פְרָזוֹן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל חָדֵלּוּ עַד שַׁקַּמְתִּי דְּבוֹרָה שַׁקַּמְתִּי אֵם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל:
8) They chose new gods, so there was war at the gates. Was a shield seen, or a spear, among the forty thousand of Israel?	(ח) יִבְחַר אֱלֹהִים חֲדָשִׁים אָז לָחֶם שְׁעָרִים מָגֵן אִם יֵרָאֶה וָרֹמַח בְּאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל:

She calls out to the leaders and scholars of Israel to join in her praise of Hashem

9) My heart goes to the lawmakers of Israel, who volunteered for the people, bless Hashem!	(ט) לִבִּי לְחוֹקְקֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַמִּתְנַדְּבִים בָּעָם בָּרֲכוּ ה’:
10) Those who ride on white donkeys, those who sit on their robes, and those who walk on the road, speak of it!	(י) רֹכְבֵי אֲתֹנוֹת צְחֹרוֹת יֹשְׁבֵי עַל מִדִּין וְהֹלְכֵי עַל דֶּרֶךְ שִׂיחוּ:

Devorah praises those who answered the call to fight for the security of Israel, and mocks the tribes who dawdled and made excuses while their brothers risked their lives.

11) Among the sound of the sergeants among the wells, there they speak of Hashem’s justice; His justice of living securely in Israel, then the people of Hashem descend to the gates of battle.	(יא) מִקּוֹל מְחַצְצִים בֵּין מַשְׁאַבִּים שָׁם יְתַנּוּ צִדְקוֹת ה’ צִדְקֹת פִּרְזֹנוֹ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אָז יָרְדוּ לַשְּׁעָרִים עַם ה’:
12) Awake, awake, Devorah! Awake, awake, speak your song! Arise, Barak, capture your prisoners, ben Avinoam.	(יב) עוּרִי עוּרִי דְּבוֹרָה עוּרִי עוּרִי דַּבְּרִי שִׁיר קוּם בָּרָק וּשֲׁבֵה שֶׁבְיְךָ בֶּן אֲבִינֹעַם:
13) Then the survivors descended, noble and commoners, Hashem descended for me among the warriors.	(יג) אָז יְרַד שָׂרִיד לְאַדִּירִים עָם ה’ יְרַד לִי בַּגִּבּוֹרִים:
14) Out of Ephraim, with roots in Amalek, following you, Binyamin, with your kinsmen. Out of Machir, came down lawgivers, from Zevulun, those who bear the scribes’ staff.	(יד) מִנִּי אֶפְרַיִם שָׁרְשָׁם בַּעֲמָלֵק אַחֲרֶיךָ בִנְיָמִין בַּעֲמָמֶיךָ מִנִּי מָכִיר יָרְדוּ מְחֹקְקִים וּמִזְּבוּלֻן מֹשְׁכִים בְּשֵׁבֶט סֹפֵר:
15) The princes in Yissachar were with Devorah, as Yissachar, so was Barak; into the valley were sent on foot, but in the divisions of Reuven, there was great soul-searching.	(טו) וְשָׂרַי בְּיִשָּׂשכָר עִם דְּבֹרָה וְיִשָּׂשכָר כֵּן בָּרָק בָּעֵמֶק שֻׁלַּח בְּרַגְלָיו בִּפְלַגּוֹת רְאוּבֵן גְּדֹלִים חִקְקֵי לֵב:
16) Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, listening to the bleating of the flocks? Among the divisions of Reuven, there was great soul-searching.	(טז) לָמָּה יָשַׁבְתָּ בֵּין הַמִּשְׁפְּתַיִם לִשְׁמֹעַ שְׁרִקוֹת עֲדָרִים לִפְלַגּוֹת רְאוּבֵן גְּדוֹלִים חִקְרֵי לֵב:
17) Gilead dwells beyond the Yarden, Dan, why did he remain by the ships? Asher sits at the sea shore, and in his bays he dwells.	(יז) גִּלְעָד בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן שָׁכֵן וְדָן לָמָּה יָגוּר אֳנִיּוֹת אָשֵׁר יָשַׁב לְחוֹף יַמִּים וְעַל מִפְרָצָיו יִשְׁכּוֹן:
18) Zevulun, a people who risked their lives, and Naftali, on the high reaches of the field.	(יח) זְבֻלוּן עַם חֵרֵף נַפְשׁוֹ לָמוּת וְנַפְתָּלִי עַל מְרוֹמֵי שָׂדֶה:

Devorah mentions battles that took place later in the war, as the remaining Canaanite kings were defeated by the combined forces of the tribes mentioned above. This was made possible by the defeat of Sisra; nature itself fought him and swept him away, and all his allies fled.

19) The kings came and fought, then the kings of Canaan fought, at Ta’anach and the waters of Megiddo, they took no profit.	(יט) בָּאוּ מְלָכִים נִלְחָמוּ אָז נִלְחֲמוּ מַלְכֵי כְנַעַן בְּתַעְנַךְ עַל מֵי מְגִדּוֹ בֶּצַע כֶּסֶף לֹא לָקָחוּ:
20) From the heavens fought the stars in their paths, they fought against Sisra.	(כ) מִן שָׁמַיִם נִלְחָמוּ הַכּוֹכָבִים מִמְּסִלּוֹתָם נִלְחֲמוּ עִם סִיסְרָא:
21) Nachal Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, Nachal Kishon, let me tread them down with strength!	(כא) נַחַל קִישׁוֹן גְּרָפָם נַחַל קְדוּמִים נַחַל קִישׁוֹן תִּדְרְכִי נַפְשִׁי עֹז:
22) Then the horse’s hoofs hammered, from the galloping, galloping of the mighty.	(כב) אָז הָלְמוּ עִקְּבֵי סוּס מִדַּהֲרוֹת דַּהֲרוֹת אַבִּירָיו:

Devorah unleashes a bitter curse at a nearby town that refused to fight against their own oppressors, that refused to step up when they were needed.

23) Curse Meroz! says the angel of Hashem. Curse, cursed are her residents, for they did not come to Hashem’s aid, to Hashem’s aid against the mighty.

(כג) אוֹרוּ מֵרוֹז אָמַר מַלְאַךְ ה’ אֹרוּ אָרוֹר יֹשְׁבֶיהָ כִּי לֹא בָאוּ לְעֶזְרַת ה’ לְעֶזְרַת ה’ בַּגִּבּוֹרִים:

Devorah blesses Yael and relates how she single-handedly vanquished Sisra.

24) Yael is blessed among women, the wife of Chever the Keini, above the women in the tent she is blessed.	(כד) תְּבֹרַךְ מִנָּשִׁים יָעֵל אֵשֶׁת חֶבֶר הַקֵּינִי מִנָּשִׁים בָּאֹהֶל תְּבֹרָךְ:
25) He asked for water, she gave him milk; in a lavish bowl she brought him cream.	(כה) מַיִם שָׁאַל חָלָב נָתָנָה בְּסֵפֶל אַדִּירִים הִקְרִיבָה חֶמְאָה:
26) Her hand reached for a tent peg, her right hand, for a workman’s hammer; she hammered Sisra, crushed his head, split and pierced his temple.	(כו) יָדָהּ לַיָּתֵד תִּשְׁלַחְנָה וִימִינָהּ לְהַלְמוּת עֲמֵלִים וְהָלְמָה סִיסְרָא מָחֲקָה רֹאשׁוֹ וּמָחֲצָה וְחָלְפָה רַקָּתוֹ:
27) Between her legs, he kneeled, fell, lay; between her legs, he kneeled and fell, where he kneeled, there he fell down dead.	(כז) בֵּין רַגְלֶיהָ כָּרַע נָפַל שָׁכָב בֵין רַגְלֶיהָ כָּרַע נָפָל בַּאֲשֶׁר כָּרַע שָׁם נָפַל שָׁדוּד:

Now Devorah describes the imagined reaction of Sisra's mother, at the window of her palace, waiting for her son to come home. The noblewoman, surrounded by ladies-in-waiting, tries to reassure herself that he is simply busy raping and pillaging Jewish women as usual, and soon would bring her slave-girls and stolen garments to enjoy.

28) At the window, she peered out, Sisra’s mother sobbed by the window sill; “Why is his chariot delayed in coming? Why are they late, the bells of his carriage?”	(כח) בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן נִשְׁקְפָה וַתְּיַבֵּב אֵם סִיסְרָא בְּעַד הָאֶשְׁנָב מַדּוּעַ בֹּשֵׁשׁ רִכְבּוֹ לָבוֹא מַדּוּעַ אֶחֱרוּ פַּעֲמֵי מַרְכְּבוֹתָיו:
29) Her wise ladies-in-waiting answer her, and she answers herself.	(כט) חַכְמוֹת שָׂרוֹתֶיהָ תַּעֲנֶינָּה אַף הִיא תָּשִׁיב אֲמָרֶיהָ לָהּ:
30) “They must be dividing the spoil, a womb, a pair of wombs for each man’s head, spoil of colored cloth for Sisra, spoil of colored and embroidered cloth, colored, embroidered scarves, for spoil.”	(ל) הֲלֹא יִמְצְאוּ יְחַלְּקוּ שָׁלָל רַחַם רַחֲמָתַיִם לְרֹאשׁ גֶּבֶר שְׁלַל צְבָעִים לְסִיסְרָא שְׁלַל צְבָעִים רִקְמָה צֶבַע רִקְמָתַיִם לְצַוְּארֵי שָׁלָל:

Lest we think that as a woman, Devorah has any sympathy for Sisra or his mother, she ends with an unambiguous curse to all the enemies of Hashem, and an unambiguous blessing to all those who are on His side.

31) Thus should all Your enemies be lost, Hashem! And those who love Him, like the rising sun in its might! And the land was quiet for forty years.

(לא) כֵּן יֹאבְדוּ כָל אוֹיְבֶיךָ ה’ וְאֹהֲבָיו כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבֻרָתוֹ וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה: פ

Copyright © Kira Sirote

In memory of my father, Peter Rozenberg, z"l לעילוי נשמת אבי מורי פנחס בן נתן נטע ז''ל