Commentary for Judges 5:4

Adonoy, when You went forth from Seir, This refers to the giving of Torah, as it is said, "…and shone forth from Seir to them."⁵Devarim, 33:2. Adonoy first offered the Torah to Eisov’s descendants at Seir. When they refused, He shone forth from there to Yisroel at Sinai. (Rashi to Devarim, there). Why is this relevant here? This is what Devorah said: "The Torah is severe when forsaken, but rewarding when adhered to, as it was given in awesomeness and power.⁶As indicated by the quaking of the earth and the dripping of heaven in v.4, and the dissolving of the mountain in v.5. Thus, the Yisroelites were handed over to their enemies for forsaking it; and, when they offered to engross themselves in it, they were saved." All this we learn from Targum Yonasan's rendition.⁷“Adonoy, the Torah which you have given to Yisroel: When they violate it, their enemies dominate them, and when they return to it, they are empowered over their antagonists”. (Targum Yonasan)

When You came forth from Seir: When you came forth in front of Israel, when they passed Mount Seir - because they then started to fight with Sichon and Og.

from the language of marching and walking

O Lord, when You came forth from Seir: Most of the commentators explained this matter to be about the giving of the Torah, since the mountains trembled and dripped with water. And likewise did they explain, "this Sinai" (verse 5) - that it trembled, as it is stated (Exodus 19:18), "and the entire mountain trembled greatly." Likewise did the other mountains tremble - like Mount Seir and Mount Paran - even though it is only written, "and the entire mountain trembled." And this is also the opinion of the translator (Targum Yonatan). But the sage, Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, explained that it is a hint to the wars that the Holy One, blessed be He, fought for Israel. And likewise (Deuteronomy 33:2), "He radiated forth to them from Seir"; as well as (Habakuk 3:3), "God is coming from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran"; and also (Psalms 68:8), "O God, when You went at the head of Your army, when You marched through the desert, Selah."

Dripped. They dripped dew of revival.⁸As the Yisroelites glowed with a heavenly fire, Adonoy instructed the clouds of glory to drip dew of revival to restore them. (Yalkut, 48)

When you marched out from the field of Edom: It mentioned the matter twice with different words, as is the nature of verse.

from the language of dripping and pouring

The earth quaked: And likewise (II Samuel 22:8), "Then the earth rocked and quaked" - it is all a hint to the wars. And the explanation of, "when You came forth from Seir; when you marched out from the field of Edom," is because it was there that Israel started to fight with the nations - when they passed Mount Seir and fought with Sichon and Og. And God, may He be blessed, came forth before them and defeated [their enemies]. And it is with His power that they prevailed in all of those wars. And likewise, "the heavens dripped, also the clouds dripped water."

The earth quaked: He made all the kings of the land tremble and quake .

Clouds

The heavens also dripped: Terror and shaking seized the supernal ministering angels of the nations, like a man who trembles and the sweat drips from him.

Water dripped to make the nations tremble and become confusef with the sound of much rain.