פירוש על שופטים 5:15

Yesochar's nobles. The noblemen of Yesochar. This refers to members of the Sanhedrin who were engrossed in Torah study, and who knew and understood the times.³⁰Divrei Hayamim (1, 12:32) lists, among King Davids followers, “Of the sons of Yesachar, who knew and understood the times.” They understood the nature of the events taking place in their times, and were, therefore, qualified to serve as King David’s advisors. (Rashi to Divrei Hayamim, there). Or, they were expertly versed in the calculations used in fixing the months and years of the Jewish calendar. They knew and understood the determination of the times of the calendar. (Yalkut, here, 52. See Rashi to Bereishis, 49:15) They constantly accompanied Devorah, teaching the Yisroelites the laws and precepts.

And Yissachar’s leaders: That is to say, even as the leaders of Yissachar sat with Devorah all the time to teach laws and statutes to Israel - as it is written (I Chronicles 12:33), "And of the children of Yissachar who had understanding of the times, etc." Yet if so, they had never experienced going to war. Nevertheless, Yissachar did so, just like Barak, and came down to war like him.

As in princes

And sarai: It is like sarim (leaders); as (Jeremiah 22:14), "and he cuts him out chalonai," is like chalonim; and like (Isaiah 20:4), "and the chasufai of buttocks"; and those that are similar to them. And so too did the whole tribe of Yissachar go out, and so too did Barak go out with Devorah.

Yesochar's nobles. The "י" in שׇׂרַי [lit. "my" nobles] is ancillary, fulfilling no grammatic function. It is similar to the "י" in "the animals in the field,"³¹Tehilim, 8:8. שׇׂדַי, lit. “my” field, is translated as שׇׂדֶה, “the field.” or "he cut open, for himself, a window."³²Yermiyahu, 22:14. חַלּוֹנַי, lit. “my windows,” is translated as חַלּוֹן, “the window.”

Dispatched to the valley, at his heels: As earlier, it is stated (Judges 4:14) that Devorah said to Barak to go down from the mountain to the valley to confront the war; and Barak listened to her and they went down. Accordingly, she said that also with this, Yissachar did like Barak. For in the valley into which he was dispatched to go down by the word of the Lord through Devorah, they followed at Barak's heels - that is to say, with his going and after him - and were not afraid to go down into the valley. (And the word, dispatched, refers back to Yissachar. Since the word of the Lord that was through Devorah was for the whole nation; but due to [his] honor, she directed the speech to Barak, since he was the general of the army.)

They went with him on foot. And earlier in 4:1 they went up on foot

Dispatched to the valley, at his heels/with his feet: As he did not request an animal to ride upon, due to his great desire for the war. But about the separation of Reuven - who separated and split [to] the other side of the Jordan and did not come to the war - great are the decisions of the heart and the searchings of the heart about him.

Yesochar with Barak. The remainder of Yesochar's constituency were likewise at Barak's disposal whenever he issued orders.

With the divisions of Reuven: That is to say, if all of these tribes did not fear from coming down to war - not in the past, present, nor future - accordingly, with the divisions of Reuven, meaning that which Reuven detached and separated [itself], great decisions of the heart [are called for]. That is to say, behold it is suitable to contemplate many thoughts of the heart to understand this thing - what was with them, such that they did detached [themselves] from the war.

A matter of division as in Genesis 10:25 "the earth was divided."

Dispatched to the valley at his heels. He dispatched them on all of his missions—to mobilize the people, and for all military needs.

from the language of legislation. And we answered a thought

However, in Reuven's equivocation. However, in Reuven's ambiguity was great cunning. "Craftiness of heart,"³³ This is Targum Yonasan’s translation. cunning. In what way was he cunning? He straddled the battle lines to learn who would emerge the victor so that he could join them.