Judges 5:11 [They that are delivered] from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, [even] the righteous acts [toward the inhabitants] of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.
Ver. 11. In the places of drawing water.] The water bearers that erst could not draw water, but with the hazard of their lives or liberties, are now freed of that fear.
There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord.] Not sing filthy songs and ballads, the scurf of scald heads, as one caileth them, but spiritual songs to God's glory, and their mutual edification. In the primitive times, happy was he counted who could sing aliquid Davidicum, something of David's ditties. Tatianus telleth us that the boys and girls, as they sat at their work, were wont to speak of God's word. And Nicephorus writeth, that the Christians, even as they travelled and journeyed, were wont to sing psalms of praise to God. a
Then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates.] Where was wont to be war, Jdg 5:8 but no law and judgment. Inter arma silent leges. the noise of wars drowneth the voice of laws, Lam 2:9 the law is no more.
a Eccles. Hist. lib. iii., cap. 37.