And the princes of Issachar— Mr. Green, transposing the concluding word of the last verse, seper, to the beginning of this, reads, The princes of Issachar were numbered with Deborah and Barak, when Barak was sent on foot into the valley. See ch. Judges 4:10. After having commended those who gloriously engaged in this war, Deborah proceeds to express her disapprobation of those who withheld themselves from it. She in a beautiful manner apostrophises the Reubenites, (Judges 5:16.) whose unhappy divisions prevented them from joining with their brethren in the common cause, and, as she finely repeats, occasioned great searchings of heart. Gilead, i.e. the Gadites, Joshua 5:17 abode inactive beyond Jordan; those of Dan continued intent upon their merchandises, while their brethren hazarded their lives in the field: Asher too (which tribe, like that of Dan, was situated on the sea shore,) refused to join their brethren in the common cause, intent upon their mercantile affairs, and buried in their several ports and havens; while Zebulun and Naphtali, with a most heroic courage, engaged as one man to hazard their lives and fortunes for the recovery of their liberty.
Related Commentaries of Judges 5:15
Judges 5:15-18
15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foote into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore,f and abode in his breaches.
18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeopardedg their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.