Praise ye the Lord, &c. This verse seems to be no more than the exordium, or preface to the song, expressing the subject or occasion of it, namely, the avenging of Israel, or the deliverance of them from Canaanitish slavery, and the people's willingly offering themselves to battle. Houbigant renders the verse thus
“Because the leaders of Israel undertook the war,
Because the people willingly offered themselves,
Praise ye the Lord.”
And Dr. Kennicott supposes that the first line was sung by Deborah: that Barak answered her in the second, and that they both joined in the last, which, according to the Hebrew, he more properly translates, Bless ye Jehovah.