Judges 5:16
Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart. Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
In Deborah and Barak's song of triumph, the verse rebukes Reuben for lingering among the sheepfolds listening to the flocks while their brethren fought for deliverance, caring more for sheep than for their oppressed brothers, and its great searchings of heart mean hesitation, divided resolve and deliberation instead of action. It celebrates Israel's deliverance from twenty years of oppression under Sisera and Jabin king of Canaan, a victory that subdued the Canaanites and gave the land forty years of peace, with all glory ascribed to God for His wonderful works. The question why they abode by the sheepfolds stands as a warning against remaining idle instead of helping in the Lord's work, for strong inward impressions and great thoughts of heart by themselves accomplish nothing unless carried into action. That battle at Megiddo in the days of Deborah and Barak serves as an object lesson for Armageddon to be studied in connection with the sixth and seventh plagues.
Historical Setting and Meaning
The verse belongs to the triumphant song of Deborah and Barak celebrating Israel's deliverance from Jabin king of Canaan after twenty years of oppression. That deliverance came in the overthrow of Sisera and his forces, a victory that effectually subdued the Canaanites and gave the land forty years of peace. It is part of Israel's earliest poetry, which arose among the Galilean hills after Barak of Naphtali triumphed over the Canaanites, displaying the intellectual vigor, freshness and force of the Galilean people from the earliest times. It stands within Judges 3 to 17 as part of one composite record of backsliding from God followed by suffering, oppression, captivity and servitude, then returning to God followed by forgiveness and deliverance. That record shows Israel's perversity and unbelief amid awful moral surroundings and the demoralizing influences of the tribes permitted to remain in the land of promise, and it shows God's long-suffering goodness in always using the best He has, those willing to be used.
The verse rebukes Reuben for abiding among the sheepfolds and listening to the bleatings of the flocks while fellow Israelites suffered under oppression and needed help in battle. Concern for sheep outweighed concern for brothers. The great searchings of heart denote hesitation and deep indecision, deliberation rather than action, and divided resolve while brothers went to fight. Reuben remained in its dwellings in the southeastern division of Israel while the battle was fought in the northwestern part of the land. It did not join the ten thousand warriors of Zebulun and Naphtali under Barak, but stayed at a distance among its sheepfolds, sending strong cries heavenward to the Lord with great searchings of heart in that anxious hour of decision.
The same heart-searching is also understood as repentant self-examination while Israel prepared for battle. In it Reuben's people remembered disobedience to God and broken vows, and recognized that obedience would have spared many troubles. They made resolutions to be faithful in the future, and were blessed by God.
God's Deliverance and Prophecy
The verse belongs to Deborah's most sublime and impassioned song celebrating the triumph of Israel and deliverance from Sisera. The song ascribes to God all the glory of the deliverance and bids the people praise Him for His wonderful works. It calls upon the kings and princes of the surrounding nations to hear what God wrought for Israel and to take warning not to do them harm, showing that honor and power belong to God and not to men or to their idols. It portrays the awful exhibitions of divine power and majesty displayed at Sinai, and it sets before Israel their helpless and distressed condition under the oppression of their enemies while relating the history of their deliverance. The destruction of Sisera and his forces effectually subdued the Canaanites and gave the land peace forty years, but prosperity did not bring Israel nearer to God.
The verse is part of the account of the battle of Megiddo in the days of Deborah and Barak. That battle serves as an object lesson for Armageddon. It is important to study in connection with the sixth and seventh plagues.
As part of the song in Judges 5:1-31 following Deborah's work as prophetess and judge in Judges 4, the verse proves that God has used women publicly in all ages to His glory. It shows that women may bear testimony for Christ, help in His work, and proclaim His truth in womanly, Christian ways, for Deborah's song is a public proclamation of God's truth. The command for women to keep silence in the churches does not forbid such faithful public service, but corrects blameworthy disorder by women out of place in assuming authority to teach and rule.
Warning Against Inaction
The question about lingering among the sheepfolds belongs to the song of Deborah and Barak over how the tribes answered the call to battle, and it stands as a warning against remaining idle instead of helping in the Lord's work. The divisions of Reuben stopped at strong inward impressions and did not go on to action, for searchings of heart by themselves accomplish nothing. When the call came to fight the Canaanites under Sisera, neglect had allowed them to increase and fortify themselves until brave soldiers were needed. The men of Reuben felt a desire to respond, yet they abode by their sheepfolds with only great thoughts of heart instead of going to the help that was needed. It is the same today with those who have great thoughts about entering the canvassing work but never go.