Judges 5:17 kjv
Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.
Judges 5:17 nkjv
Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, And why did Dan remain on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, And stayed by his inlets.
Judges 5:17 niv
Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his coves.
Judges 5:17 esv
Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he stay with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, staying by his landings.
Judges 5:17 nlt
Gilead remained east of the Jordan.
And why did Dan stay home?
Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,
remaining in his harbors.
Judges 5 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jdg 5:15-16 | "...the divisions of Reuben were great searching of heart...Gilead abode beyond Jordan..." | Rebuke of Reuben's and Gilead's inaction |
| Jdg 5:23 | "Curse Meroz," said the angel of the Lord, "Curse its inhabitants bitterly, because they did not come to the help of the Lord..." | Condemnation of those who refuse God's call to aid |
| Jdg 4:1-3 | The Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin...who had nine hundred chariots of iron, and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. | Context of Canaanite oppression needing tribal unity |
| Jdg 4:10 | Barak had summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. | Contrast: Tribes that answered the call to battle |
| Jdg 7:2-3 | "...the Lord said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me...whoever is fearful and afraid, let him return...'" | Divine emphasis on willing, not numerous, participants |
| Deu 20:5-8 | Rules for those exempted from war (new house, vineyard, fiancée, fear). | Implicit critique as tribal excuses seem more self-serving |
| Num 32:20-22 | Moses required Reuben and Gad to fight first with their brethren across Jordan. | Earlier covenant commitment by Transjordanian tribes to fight |
| Josh 22:1-6 | Joshua dismisses Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh's half-tribe after their fulfillment of their commitment to aid in conquest. | Shows earlier Transjordanian fidelity, highlighting the lapse here |
| Pro 24:11-12 | "Deliver those who are drawn toward death...if you say, 'Surely we did not know this,' does not He who weighs hearts consider it?" | Implies accountability for inaction, especially when others suffer |
| Jer 48:10 | "Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed." | Direct condemnation for withholding aid in God's cause |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "...to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." | Principle of obedience to divine commands over self-preference |
| Matt 25:41-43 | "Depart from Me...for I was hungry and you gave Me no food..." | NT parallel to consequences of failing to act for others in need |
| Jas 4:17 | "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." | Spiritual principle of accountability for conscious inaction |
| Rev 3:15-16 | "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot...because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out..." | Warning against apathy and half-hearted commitment to God's work |
| Gen 49:13 | "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; He shall be for a haven of ships..." | Shows some coastal tribes were engaged in maritime life and participated (Zebulun Jdg 5:18), contrasting Dan/Asher's inaction |
| Gen 49:20 | "Asher’s food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal dainties." | Suggests prosperity and comfort, potentially leading to complacency |
| Deu 33:18-19 | "Of Zebulun and Issachar he said...for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas..." | Indicates the sea was a source of blessing for some tribes, yet did not deter them from war (Issachar also fought in Jdg 5:15) |
| Deu 33:24-25 | "And of Asher he said: 'Asher is most blessed...May he dip his foot in oil...'" | Reinforces Asher's prosperous and comfortable allocation, potentially contributing to their settled inaction |
| Phil 2:3-4 | "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition...but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." | Christian principle of prioritizing communal well-being over personal interests |
| 1 Cor 12:12-27 | Description of the Body of Christ, emphasizing interdependence and mutual support. | Spiritual principle of unified action, where inaction of one part harms the whole |
| Heb 10:24-25 | "...and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." | Call to communal encouragement and participation in righteous endeavors |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." | Accountability for stewarding gifts for the benefit of others/God's work, applicable to physical aid too |
Judges 5 verses
Judges 5 17 Meaning
Judges chapter 5 verse 17 laments the lack of participation from several Israelite tribes in the crucial battle against Sisera, highlighting their prioritisation of self-interest or geographic comfort over national and spiritual solidarity. It specifically singles out Gilead for remaining in their Transjordanian territory, Dan for dwelling among ships, and Asher for settling comfortably by the seacoast, all neglecting the urgent call to arms by the Lord. This serves as a stark contrast to the tribes who courageously fought for Israel's deliverance.
Judges 5 17 Context
Judges 5 is known as the Song of Deborah and Barak, a powerful poetic recounting and celebration of Israel's victory over the Canaanite forces led by Sisera. It stands in direct contrast to the prose account in Judges 4, offering a divine perspective and artistic expression of the same events. The era of Judges was a turbulent period in Israel's history, marked by cycles of disobedience, foreign oppression, cries for help, and deliverance through God-appointed judges. The Song vividly praises God's intervention and the valor of the tribes that answered the call to arms (like Zebulun, Naphtali, and Issachar, who "risked their lives"), while simultaneously casting rebuke upon those who shirked their duty. Verse 17, in particular, contributes to this pattern of praise and reproach by exposing the self-absorbed disunity among certain tribes, highlighting their failure to uphold their covenant obligations to God and to their brethren, leaving them vulnerable to ongoing oppression.
Judges 5 17 Word analysis
- Gilead: (Heb. גִּלְעָד, Gil'ad) This refers to the territory of the Transjordanian tribes (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh). Their location east of the Jordan River physically separated them from the main conflict, yet the song criticizes their isolation.
- stayed: (Heb. בָּרְמַת, bārāh) From a root meaning "to abide," "to dwell," or "to rest." It conveys a sense of settledness, perhaps even complacency, implying they remained in their comfort zone rather than joining the perilous struggle.
- beyond the Jordan: (Heb. בַּיַּרְדֵּן, ba-Yarden) Literally "in the Jordan." This geographical designation emphasizes their physical distance and separation from the conflict, underscoring their choice to remain detached.
- Dan, why did he remain: (Heb. דָּן לָמָּה יָגוּר, Dan lāmāh yāgūr) A rhetorical question, conveying surprise, disappointment, and a strong sense of reproach. "Yāgūr" means "to sojourn," "to dwell," or "to be afraid." In this context, it suggests settling down in complacency or hesitating out of fear, rather than responding to the crisis.
- in ships: (Heb. אֳנִיּוֹת, 'ŏniyyôt) This points to the tribe of Dan's engagement in maritime commerce or fishing activities. Their livelihood seemingly preoccupied them, making them unresponsive to the communal emergency. It highlights prioritizing economic gain over covenant responsibility.
- Asher: (Heb. אָשֵׁר, Asher) Another Israelite tribe whose territory stretched along the Mediterranean coast. Like Dan, their focus on coastal life led to their inaction.
- sat still: (Heb. יָשַׁב, yāshav) Means "to sit," "to dwell," "to remain." Similar to Gilead and Dan, it indicates a settled, inactive state, lacking initiative to engage in the battle. It points to their inaction in a time of dire need.
- at the seashore: (Heb. לְחוֹף יַמִּים, ləḥōf yammîm) "At the shore of seas." Like Dan's association with "ships," this highlights Asher's connection to coastal living and maritime interests, which seemingly superseded their duty to fight.
- and stayed by its landings: (Heb. וְעַל מִפְרָצָיו יִשְׁכּוֹן, wə'al mifratsaw yiškkōn) "And by its inlets/bays he dwelt." "Mifrātsāyw" refers to "inlets," "bays," or "creeks"—natural harbors ideal for trade. This reinforces the idea that Asher's focus was on commercial interests, thriving in peaceful trade rather than fighting a war for their people. It underlines their disengagement and contentment in their commercial pursuits.
Judges 5 17 Bonus section
The rhetorical questions and sarcastic tone employed in Deborah's Song regarding the non-participating tribes ("why did he remain in ships?") emphasize the moral and theological gravity of their inaction. It's not merely a historical record of who fought and who didn't, but a prophetic declaration of divine displeasure. The passage highlights that even comfortable geographic location or economic prosperity does not exempt one from communal and covenantal duties. The specific naming of these tribes (along with Reuben in v. 15-16 and the direct curse on Meroz in v. 23) underscores the importance of tribal accountability and the expectation for unity among God's people. This account deeply challenges the idea of neutrality or complacency when the Lord's cause, or the well-being of the fellow faithful, is at stake.
Judges 5 17 Commentary
Judges 5:17 serves as a poignant illustration of tribal disunity and the spiritual danger of self-interest overriding communal responsibility within God's covenant people. The verse directly calls out Gilead, Dan, and Asher, contrasting their inaction with the sacrificial bravery of other tribes. Gilead, already geographically separated, chose to remain in their settled territory "beyond the Jordan," implying a self-imposed isolation and lack of solidarity with their brethren to the west. Dan and Asher, both possessing territories with coastal access, are condemned for their preoccupation with maritime pursuits—be it trade or fishing— symbolized by "ships" and "landings." Their settledness and focus on their prosperous livelihood are portrayed as hindrances to responding to the Lord's call for deliverance. Deborah's song implicitly critiques prioritizing personal comfort and economic gain over the desperate need of the covenant community, implying that their complacency contributed to the prolonged oppression. This serves as a timeless reminder that faithful service to God often requires sacrifice of personal comfort and active engagement in His redemptive purposes, urging believers not to be detached spectators in spiritual battles.