And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.
He was sent on foot into the valley. The verb being in Pual, the sense is, 'he' (i:e., Barak) 'sent himself,' i:e., rushed down, on foot into the plain. Then comes a reproachful notice of the tribes which did not obey the summons to take the field against the common enemy of Israel. By the "divisions," - i:e., the water-courses which descended from the eastern hills unto the Jordan and Dead Sea. The next clause may be rendered:
By the streams of Reuben great were their resolves. This tribe felt the patriotic impulse, and determined at first to join the ranks of their western brethren; but resiled from their purpose, preferring their peaceful shepherd songs to the trumpet sound of war.