Judges Chapter 5 verse 28 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(28) The mother of Sisera.--With a bold poetic impetuosity the scene is changed, and the prophetess, with a few broad touches, sets before us the last scene of the strange eventful history. The mother of Sisera and her attendant princesses had looked for the triumph and return of the host as confidently as the ladies of Spain expected the return of the Armada, or as the ladies of Aberdeen sat, "with their fans into their hand," looking out for the sails of Sir Patrick Spens. We have a similar scene in the Persians of 'schylus, where the great Atossa wails over the miserable flight of her defeated son Xerxes. In that, however, there is more of pity and less of derision, though, no doubt, the spectacle was meant to be pleasing to the victorious Athenians. This exulting description of the cruel but blighted hopes of the women of Sisera's family is an inimitable touch of genuineness; it shows a woman's authorship (Ewald).Looked out at a window.--Watching for the first glimpse of her son's return. In Eastern courts the queen-mother is a more important person than the wife.And cried.--Rather, wailed (Vulgate, ululavit, an onomatop?ia, like the Hebrew yabhabh). It is the wail of impatience passing into anxiety.Parallel Commentaries ...HebrewSisera’sסִֽיסְרָ֖א (sî·sə·rā)Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 5516: Sisera -- a general of the king of Hazor, also the father of some returning exilesmotherאֵ֥ם (’êm)Noun - feminine singular constructStrong's 517: A mother, )lookedנִשְׁקְפָ֧ה (niš·qə·p̄āh)Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularStrong's 8259: To overhang, look out or downthroughבְּעַד֩ (bə·‘aḏ)PrepositionStrong's 1157: In up to, over against, at, beside, among, behind, forthe window;הַחַלּ֨וֹן (ha·ḥal·lō·wn)Article | Noun - common singularStrong's 2474: A windowshe peered throughבְּעַ֣ד (bə·‘aḏ)PrepositionStrong's 1157: In up to, over against, at, beside, among, behind, forthe latticeהָֽאֶשְׁנָ֑ב (hā·’eš·nāḇ)Article | Noun - masculine singularStrong's 822: A latticed windowand lamented:וַתְּיַבֵּ֛ב (wat·tə·yab·bêḇ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularStrong's 2980: To cry in a shrill voice‘Whyמַדּ֗וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)InterrogativeStrong's 4069: Why? for what reason?is his chariotרִכְבּוֹ֙ (riḵ·bōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularStrong's 7393: A vehicle, a team, cavalry, a rider, the upper millstoneso longבֹּשֵׁ֤שׁ (bō·šêš)Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularStrong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayedin coming?לָב֔וֹא (lā·ḇō·w)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructStrong's 935: To come in, come, go in, goWhatמַדּ֣וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)InterrogativeStrong's 4069: Why? for what reason?has delayedאֶֽחֱר֔וּ (’e·ḥĕ·rū)Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralStrong's 309: To loiter, to procrastinatethe clatterפַּעֲמֵ֖י (pa·‘ă·mê)Noun - feminine plural constructStrong's 6471: A beat, foot, anvil, occurrenceof his chariots?’מַרְכְּבוֹתָֽיו׃ (mar·kə·ḇō·w·ṯāw)Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singularStrong's 4818: A chariotJump to PreviousCarriage Chariot Chariots Clatter Cried Crieth Cry Crying Delay Delayed Delaying Lattice Mother Noise Sisera Sis'era Sisera's Steps Tarried Tarry Wait Wheels Wherefore Window