A Root Against Amalek - Judges 5:14

In the book of Judges we learned, “Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, praise you the LORD for the avenging of Israel,  … Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead your captivity captive, you son of Abinoam. Then he made him that remains have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty”, and in chapter five and verse fourteen of Judges, we learn how Deborah and Barak sung, “Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek” where we read,

Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after you, Benjamin, among your people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.

The verse reads, “Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after you, Benjamin, among your people;” The writer began with the words, “Out of Ephraim” which means “from Ephraim whose name means ‘double ash-heap or I shall be doubly fruitful’ and was the second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh”: “was there a root of them” or “there existed a bottom, deep and lowest stratum pertaining to the remnant” “against Amalek” which means “in opposition to Amalek whose name means ‘dweller in a valley’ and was a son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah, grandson of Esau, and progenitor of a tribe of people in southern Canaan”: “after you, Benjamin” or “following or coming forth behind you, Benjamin whose name means ‘son of the right hand’ and was Jacob's and Rachel's youngest son, Joseph's full brother and the progenitor of the tribe of Benjamin” “among your people” which means “in the midst and middle of your, Benjaimin’s, human beings”. The writer shared how a remnant of the people of “Ephraim” rose up in opposition to “Amalek”, and others came from the tribe of “Benjamin” who were in the midst of the people of Israel. 

The verse goes on to say, “out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.” The writer goes on to say the words, “out of Machir” which means “from Machir whose name means sold and was the eldest son of Manasseh by an Aramite or Syrian concubine and progenitor of a large family” “came down governors” or “descended and went forth lawmakers, engravers and ones who enact decrees”, “and out of Zebulun” which means “and from Zebulun whose name means ‘exalted’ and was the tenth of the sons of Jacob, sixth and last of Leah and the male progenitor of Zebulun” “they that handle the pen of the writer” or “they, the lawgivers from Zebulun, draw, lead along and proceed with the scepter, truncheon and branch belonging to the ones who count, recount, relate and reckon. The writer shared how “Deborah and Barak” also sung of the lawmakers who descended from “Machir” and the counters and reckoners who were from “Zebulun”.  

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how there were various people who helped with the conquering of “Jabin” by “Israel”. People from “Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir and Zebulun” joined in the battle with various positions and strengths. God uses all types of people in His Kingdom, and He calls for everyone to relate to Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we  believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the abilities and talents that are necessary to be useful in His Kingdom wherever and whenever He decides to use us. (See John 3:16; 16;13; Acts 1;8 Mark 10:44; Romans 12)

Next time we learn how Deborah and Barak sing, “the princes of Issachar were with Deborah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".