John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel , etc.] The injuries done to Israel by any of their enemies, and particularly what wrongs had been done them by Jabin, king of Canaan, for twenty years past; though some understand it of the vengeance God took on Israel for their sins; and though praise is not given directly for that, yet inasmuch as, when that was the case, there were some whose spirits were stirred up to engage voluntarily in the deliverance of them from the oppression of their enemies, it was matter of praise: when the people willingly offered themselves : to go and fight for Israel against their enemies, particularly those of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, ( Judges 5:18); though not excluding others that joined, who could not have been forced to it, had they not freely offered themselves; and which was owing to the secret influence of divine Providence on their hearts, moving and drawing them to this service; and therefore praise was due to the Lord on this account, who works in the hearts of men both to will and to do, as in things spiritual and religious, so in things natural and civil.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - No time should be lost in returning thanks to the Lord for his mercies for our praises are most acceptable, pleasant, and profitable, when they flow from a full heart. By this, love and gratitude would be mor excited and more deeply fixed in the hearts of believers; the event would be more known and longer remembered. Whatever Deborah, Barak, or the army had done, the Lord must have all the praise. The will, the power, and the success were all from Him.
Original Hebrew בפרע6544 פרעות6546 בישׂראל3478 בהתנדב5068 עם5971 ברכו1288 יהוה׃3068
