Villagers in Israel would not fight;
they held back until I, Deborah, arose,
until I arose, a mother in Israel.
Judges 5:7
Judges 5:7 is part of a song of victory sung by Deborah and Barak after they defeated the Canaanite king Jabin and his army.
In this verse, Deborah is celebrating the victory and the restoration of peace in Israel. The first part of the verse, “The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be,” likely refers to the fact that under Jabin’s rule, the Israelite villages were likely attacked, destroyed, or forced to pay tribute to the Canaanite king. But now, with their victory, the Israelites are no longer oppressed and the villages can return to their normal way of life.
The second part of the verse, “until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel,” is a reference to Deborah’s leadership role in the victory. Deborah is not only celebrating the fact that she was able to lead the Israelites to victory, but she also identifies herself as a “mother in Israel,” suggesting that she had a nurturing and protective role in leading her people.
Overall, Judges 5:7 is a celebration of victory and the restoration of peace in Israel, and it highlights the important role that Deborah played in leading her people to freedom.