Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Commentary for Judges 4:9

וַתֹּ֜אמֶר הָלֹ֧ךְ אֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֗ךְ אֶ֚פֶס כִּי֩ לֹ֨א תִֽהְיֶ֜ה תִּֽפְאַרְתְּךָ֗ עַל־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה הוֹלֵ֔ךְ כִּ֣י בְֽיַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה יִמְכֹּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָ֑א וַתָּ֧קָם דְּבוֹרָ֛ה וַתֵּ֥לֶך עִם־בָּרָ֖ק קֶֽדְשָׁה׃

And she said: ‘I will surely go with thee; notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thy honour; for the LORD will give Sisera over into the hand of a woman.’ And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Metzudat David on Judges

However: As glory is given to the general of the army in one of two ways. Either he shows courage in his heart and he goes to war without fear; or he or one of his people is victorious and kills the leader of the opposing force. And that is why she was saying, "Will not Sisera be killed by a woman" - and that was Yael, wife of Chever the Kenite, as it will be stated concerning this matter (Judges 4:21). If so, everyone will know that 'this was from the hand of the Lord.' Because its not by strength that a woman is victorious. And if so - if you are also afraid to go to war without me; if so, in the way that you are going, there will no longer be a path of glory that is appropriate for you, given that you are the general of the army. As there will be nothing [else] to glorify you.
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Metzudat Zion on Judges

only
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Radak on Judges

Into the hands of a woman: Some explain it as Yael, since Sisera was delivered into her hands; and that Devorah said this prophetically. But it is not correct with relation to the verse, when it stated, "However, there will be no glory for you." Rather its explanation is like this: If I go, there will be no glory for you, but rather the glory will be for me, since the salvation will be through me and they will say that the Lord delivered Sisera into the hands of Devorah. So this salvation will not be called by your name.
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Metzudat Zion on Judges

your praise
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Metzudat Zion on Judges

will give over
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