Verse-by-Verse Commentary (Judges 5:17 – 6:6)
Judges 5:17
Verse: Gilead abode beyond Jordan and why did Dan remain in ships Asher continued on the sea shore and abode in his breaches English Explanation: Deborah rebukes the tribes who chose commerce and safety over national duty. Gilead stayed across the river, Dan stayed with their trading ships, and Asher remained in their harbors, ignoring the call to battle. Urdu Explanation: دبورہ ان قبیلوں کی ملامت کرتی ہے جنہوں نے جنگ کے وقت مدد نہ کی۔ جلعاد کے لوگ دریائے یردن کے پار رہے، دان اپنے جہازوں میں رہا اور آشر سمندر کے کنارے اپنے قلعوں میں بیٹھا رہا اور اپنے بھائیوں کی پکار کو نظر انداز کیا۔
Judges 5:18
Verse: Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field English Explanation: In contrast to the indifferent tribes, Zebulun and Naphtali are praised for their extreme bravery, risking their lives on the dangerous heights of the battlefield. Urdu Explanation: زبولون اور نفتالی ایسے بہادر لوگ تھے جنہوں نے میدانِ جنگ کی بلندیوں پر اپنی جانوں کی پرواہ نہ کی اور موت کا خطرہ مول لے کر بہادری سے لڑے۔
Judges 5:19
Verse: The kings came and fought then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo they took no gain of money English Explanation: The Canaanite kings allied together to fight Israel. Despite their power, they gained no plunder or silver; their defeat was total. Urdu Explanation: کنعان کے بادشاہ تاناک میں مجدد کے پانیوں کے پاس لڑنے آئے، لیکن انہیں کوئی مالِ غنیمت یا چاندی حاصل نہ ہوئی بلکہ وہ ناکام رہے۔
Judges 5:20
Verse: They fought from heaven the stars in their courses fought against Sisera English Explanation: This poetic verse suggests divine intervention. Even the elements of nature (metaphorically the stars) were aligned against the Canaanite general Sisera. Urdu Explanation: آسمان سے جنگ ہوئی؛ ستاروں نے اپنی گردشوں میں سیسرا کے خلاف جنگ لڑی۔ یہ اس بات کی علامت ہے کہ خدا خود اپنے لوگوں کی طرف سے لڑ رہا تھا۔
Judges 5:21
Verse: The river of Kishon swept them away that ancient river the river Kishon O my soul thou hast trodden down strength English Explanation: A sudden flood in the River Kishon incapacitated Sisera’s heavy iron chariots, sweeping away the enemy. Deborah encourages herself, celebrating the crushing of the enemy’s strength. Urdu Explanation: قیشون کے قدیم دریا نے دشمن کو بہا دیا۔ سیسرا کے بھاری رتھ سیلاب میں پھنس گئے۔ اے میری جان! تو نے طاقتوروں کو پامال کر دیا۔
Judges 5:22
Verse: Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings the pransings of their mighty ones English Explanation: The imagery describes the chaos of retreat. The horses’ hooves were damaged as they galloped frantically in the mud to escape the rising waters. Urdu Explanation: دشمن کے گھوڑوں کے سم بھاگتے ہوئے ٹوٹ گئے کیونکہ وہ خوف اور افراتفری میں تیزی سے زمین پر ضربیں لگا رہے تھے۔
Judges 5:23
Verse: Curse ye Meroz said the angel of the LORD curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof because they came not to the help of the LORD to the help of the LORD against the mighty English Explanation: Meroz was likely a town nearby that refused to help in the battle. They are cursed for their neutrality and failure to support God’s cause against the oppressors. Urdu Explanation: خداوند کے فرشتے نے مروز کے باشندوں پر لعنت بھیجی کیونکہ جب خدا کے لوگوں کو ضرورت تھی، تو وہ ظالموں کے خلاف مدد کے لیے نہ آئے۔
Judges 5:24
Verse: Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be blessed shall she be above women in the tent English Explanation: Jael is hailed as a heroine. Though she was a nomad woman living in a tent, she accomplished what the army could not by finishing the enemy general. Urdu Explanation: یاعیل، جو حبر قینی کی بیوی تھی، عورتوں میں مبارک ٹھہرے گی۔ اس نے اپنے خیمے میں وہ بہادری دکھائی جو بڑے بڑے سورما نہ دکھا سکے۔
Judges 5:25
Verse: He asked water and she gave him milk she brought forth butter in a lordly dish English Explanation: Sisera asked for water to hide his identity and rest. Jael showed him extreme hospitality (milk and cream) to make him feel safe and sleepy. Urdu Explanation: سیسرا نے پانی مانگا لیکن یاعیل نے اسے دودھ اور مکھن ایک شاہانہ برتن میں پیش کیا تاکہ وہ سکون محسوس کرے اور سو جائے۔
Judges 5:26
Verse: She put her hand to the nail and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer and with the hammer she smote Sisera she smote off his head when she had pierced and stricken through his temples English Explanation: Using a tent peg and a hammer, Jael killed Sisera while he slept, fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy that a woman would defeat the general. Urdu Explanation: یاعیل نے خیمے کی میخ اور ہتھوڑا لیا اور سوتے ہوئے سیسرا کی کنپٹی میں میخ ٹھونک دی، جس سے اس کا سر پھٹ گیا اور وہ ہلاک ہو گیا۔
Judges 5:27
Verse: At her feet he bowed he fell he lay down at her feet he bowed he fell where he bowed there he fell down dead English Explanation: The verse poetically describes Sisera’s sudden and complete downfall at the feet of a woman. Urdu Explanation: وہ اس کے قدموں میں گرا اور وہیں ڈھیر ہو گیا۔ جہاں وہ جھکا، وہیں وہ مردہ حالت میں پایا گیا۔
Judges 5:28
Verse: The mother of Sisera looked out at a window and cried through the lattice Why is his chariot so long in coming why tarry the wheels of his chariots English Explanation: A dramatic shift to Sisera’s home, where his mother anxiously waits, unaware that her son is dead. Urdu Explanation: سیسرا کی ماں کھڑکی سے دیکھ رہی تھی اور پوچھ رہی تھی کہ اس کے بیٹے کے رتھ آنے میں اتنی دیر کیوں ہو رہی ہے؟
Judges 5:29
Verse: Her wise ladies answered her yea she returned answer to herself English Explanation: Her attendants try to soothe her anxiety with optimistic guesses about the delay. Urdu Explanation: اس کی دانشمند عورتوں نے اسے تسلی دینے کی کوشش کی اور وہ خود کو بھی یہی کہہ کر دلاسہ دیتی رہی۔
Judges 5:30
Verse: Have they not sped have they not divided the prey to every man a damsel or two to Sisera a prey of divers colours a prey of divers colours of needlework of divers colours of needlework on both sides meet for the necks of them that take the spoil English Explanation: They imagine the soldiers are busy dividing the loot—women and colorful embroidered fabrics. This highlights the irony, as Sisera himself has become the “spoil” of a woman. Urdu Explanation: وہ سوچ رہی تھیں کہ شاید وہ مالِ غنیمت تقسیم کرنے میں مصروف ہوں گے، جیسے رنگین کپڑے اور قیدی عورتیں، جبکہ حقیقت اس کے برعکس تھی۔
Judges 5:31
Verse: So let all thine enemies perish O LORD but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might And the land had rest forty years English Explanation: The song concludes with a prayer for the destruction of God’s enemies and the prosperity of His followers. Peace lasted for 40 years. Urdu Explanation: اے خداوند! تیرے تمام دشمن اسی طرح ہلاک ہوں، لیکن تیرے چاہنے والے سورج کی مانند چمکیں۔ اس کے بعد ملک میں چالیس سال تک امن رہا۔
Judges 6:1
Verse: And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years English Explanation: After the peace, Israel returned to sin. As judgment, God allowed the Midianites to oppress them for seven years. Urdu Explanation: بنی اسرائیل نے پھر خداوند کی نظر میں بدی کی، جس کی وجہ سے خدا نے انہیں سات سال کے لیے مدیانیوں کے قبضے میں دے دیا۔
Judges 6:2
Verse: And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains and caves and strong holds English Explanation: The Midianite oppression was so severe that Israelites fled their homes to live in mountain caves and dens for safety. Urdu Explanation: مدیانیوں کا غلبہ اتنا سخت تھا کہ بنی اسرائیل اپنی جان بچانے کے لیے پہاڑوں کے غاروں اور قلعوں میں چھپنے پر مجبور ہو گئے۔
Judges 6:3
Verse: And so it was when Israel had sown that the Midianites came up and the Amalekites and the children of the east even they came up against them English Explanation: Whenever Israel planted crops, the Midianites and their allies would invade to steal the harvest. Urdu Explanation: جب بھی بنی اسرائیل فصل بوتے، تو مدیانی، عمالیقی اور مشرقی لوگ ان پر حملہ کر دیتے۔
Judges 6:4
Verse: And they encamped against them and destroyed the increase of the earth till thou come unto Gaza and left no sustenance for Israel neither sheep nor ox nor ass English Explanation: The invaders destroyed all food and livestock, leaving Israel in a state of total starvation and poverty. Urdu Explanation: انہوں نے ملک کو تباہ کر دیا اور اسرائیل کے پاس نہ کوئی خوراک چھوڑی اور نہ ہی کوئی جانور (بھیڑ، بیل یا گدھا)۔
Judges 6:5
Verse: For they came up with their cattle and their tents and they came as grasshoppers for multitude for both they and their camels were without number and they entered into the land to destroy it English Explanation: The enemy arrived in massive numbers, like a plague of locusts, bringing their own livestock to consume what was left of the land. Urdu Explanation: وہ اپنے مویشیوں اور خیموں کے ساتھ ٹڈی دل کی طرح بڑی تعداد میں آتے تھے۔ ان کے اونٹ بے شمار تھے اور وہ ملک کو تباہ کرنے کے لیے داخل ہوتے تھے۔
Judges 6:6
Verse: And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD English Explanation: At the point of total desperation and poverty, the Israelites finally turned back to God and cried out for help. Urdu Explanation: مدیانیوں کی وجہ سے بنی اسرائیل نہایت کنگال ہو گئے، اور تب انہوں نے عاجزی کے ساتھ خداوند سے فریاد کی۔