Bible Strands
Judges 5:15
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text records the military alignment of Israelite tribes during the campaign against Canaanite forces. It notes that Issachar’s leaders joined Deborah and followed Barak into the valley, while Reuben’s clans remained hesitant.
The words — The verse highlights בְּיִשָּׂשְׂכָר (bə-yiśśāḵār, "in Issachar") and בָּעֵמֶק (bā-ʿēmeq, "in the valley"). These terms anchor the tribe’s location and the specific terrain where the battle unfolded.
The thread — The text contrasts Issachar’s movement with Reuben’s hesitation, a theme repeated in Judges 5:16. This tribal alignment recalls Deborah’s earlier summons of fighting men in Judges 4:10 and her command for Barak to advance in Judges 4:14.
Why it lands — The text states the factual presence of Issachar and the absence of Reuben before drawing the implied contrast in tribal commitment. It asks a reader to observe how specific groups responded or withheld response to a commanded military action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
Cross-references
- Judges 4:14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise, for this is the day that the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?” So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.
- Judges 4:6 She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.
- Judges 4:10 where he summoned Zebulun and Naphtali. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah also went with him.
- 1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.
- Proverbs 22:13 The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
- Acts 15:39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
- Acts 20:13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot.
- 2 Corinthians 11:2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.