John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes , etc.] Not only the neighbouring ones, but all the kings and princes of the earth, far and near, then and in succeeding ages; Deborah desires and wishes that all potentates might hear of the wonderful works of God done for his people, that they might learn to know there is one that is higher than they, to whom all the amazing things done in the world are to be ascribed; and be cautious how they oppressed the people of God, since sooner or later he would avenge them on them. The Targum restrains this to the kings that came with Sisera and the governors with Jabin; but if there were any such, as it is not improbable there were, (see Judges 5:19); yet it is most likely that they were slain with them: there are some, as Kimchi observes, who think this respects the people of Israel, who were all the sons of kings; but the first sense is best: I, [even] I, will sing unto the Lord, I will sing [praise] to the Lord God of Israel : which are the words of Deborah particularly, and the repetitions serve to express how cordial, earnest, and vehement she was in her praise and thankfulness to God; thereby setting an example to others, encouraging them to the same practice, and directing persons of every rank and quality to give praise only to Jehovah, the self-existing, everlasting, and unchangeable Being; to him who is the Lord and God of Israel in a peculiar manner, and not to any of the gods of the Gentiles.
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 שׁמעו8085 מלכים4428 האזינו238 רזנים7336 אנכי595 ליהוה3068 אנכי595 אשׁירה7891 אזמר2167 ליהוה3068 אלהי430 ישׂראל׃3478
