The Targum to Prophets was composed, according to talmudic tradition, by the tanna Jonathan ben Uziel (first century B.C.E.–first century C.E.). He was likely the author of an early translation which appears in later edited form with later aggadic additions. The difficult poetry of Judges 5 prompted the translation to provide numerous embellishments and non-literal translations.

1 Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam gave praise at that time saying:129

2 When the house of Israel rebelled against the Torah, the nations came upon them and banished them from their cities. And when they returned to do the Torah, they prevailed over their enemies and drove them out from the area of the Land of Israel. Therefore, on account of the punishment of Sisera130 and his entire camp, and on account of the miraculous event and redemption that was done to them, to Israel, the sages again sat publicly in the houses of assembly and taught the nation the words of Torah, and so bless and offer thanks before the Lord.

3 “Hear, kings, listen rulers” says Deborah in prophecy before the Lord, “I am praising, thanking and blessing before the Lord, God of Israel.”

4 Lord—your Torah which you gave to Israel—when they transgressed it, nations overpowered them. And when they turned to it, they prevailed over their enemies. Lord, on the day in which you revealed yourself to teach from Seir with appearance of your Presence in the territory of Edom the earth trembled and the heavens lowered and the clouds spread raindrops.

5 The mountains trembled from before the Lord. Thus Sinai was shaken up; its smoke rose like the smoke of a furnace because the Lord, God of Israel, was revealed upon it.

6 When they sinned in the days of Shamgar the son of Anat, in the days of Jael, they stopped traveling on the roads and those who were walking on the paths returned to go on roads that were concealed.

7 The ruin of the unwalled cities where they were dwelling in the Land of Israel was captured and their inhabitants were exiled until I was sent—Deborah—was sent to prophesy within the Children of Israel.

8 When the house of Israel chose to worship new gods, idols that were made recently—that their fathers had not engaged themselves in—the nations came upon them and banished them from their cities. But when they returned to the Torah, they could not overcome them; such that when the enemies came upon them with him [were men] holding shields and spears with forty thousand heads of the military camps, they were not able to wage war in Israel.

9 Says Deborah in prophecy: “I was sent to give praise to the scholars of Israel who, when that trouble occurred, did not stop studying Torah, and who—as it was appropriate for them—were sitting publicly in the houses of assembly and teaching the nation the words of Torah and blessing and giving thanks before the Lord.”

10 Those who suspended their affairs and were riding on donkeys, they were saddled with kinds of embroideries and are chosen to sit for judgment; they will be going out all around the Land of Israel and are chosen to sit for judgment, and taking the way and telling about the mighty deed that was done for them.

11 From the place where they were attacking them and the residue was in their hands—the place of the publicans’ seats and the rest of the robbers in back of the water-troughs—there they will offer thanks for the righteousness of the Lord, for the righteousness of them dwelling in the unwalled cities in the Land of Israel. They then go down from the strong fortified cities to dwelling in the unwalled cities and offer thanks before the people of the Lord.

12 Sing praise, sing praise Deborah, sing praise and offer thanks, speak praise. Arise Barak and capture your captives, son of Abinoam.

13 Then one from the camp of Israel went down and shattered the strength of the mighty ones of the nations. Behold! It was not from their might, but rather the Lord shattered before His nation the strength of the mighty ones of their enemies.

14 From the house of Ephraim arose Joshua, son of Nun, the first to wage war against the house of Amalek. After him King Saul arose from those of the house of Benjamin. He killed those of the house of Amalek, Machir, those who were marked with the rest of the nations. From those of the house of Zebulun, they were writing with a reed pen of a scribe.

15 And the officers of Issachar were listening to the words of Deborah, and the rest of the tribe of Issachar were serving to Barak; being sent from the cities of the valley to every place where it was necessary for him to send them. In the families of Reuben, there were many of deceitful heart.

16 Why did you sit apart from the camps of war? To sit between the borders to hear the good news, to know which camp was victorious, to be with it! Was it right for you to do—those of the house of Reuben—did you not know that before Him are revealed thoughts of the heart?

17 Those of the house of Gilead camped across the Jordan and those of the house of Dan passed over, crossed over the Jordan, put their possessions in ships. Those of the house of Asher camped on the shore of the sea; cities of the nations that they destroyed—they restored, built them and dwelled in them.

18 Those of the house of Zebulun—opposite the nations that blasphemed—gave their life over to killing. They and those of the house of Naphtali—all inhabitants of the land praised them.

19 The kings came, waged war. Then they fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach. They were camping and pitching their tents by the waters of Megiddo. Silver money they did not take.

20 From the heavens, war was waged with them—from the place where the stars come out of their path of motion—there the war was waged with Sisera.

21 The Wadi Kishon broke them, the wadi in which miracles and mighty acts were done for Israel in ancient times—that Wadi Kishon—there my soul trampled their mighty ones killed with strength.

22 Then the hooves of their horses slipped, the driving that drives before the chariots of his mighty ones.

23 “Curse Meroz,” said the prophet of the Lord, “Curse and shatter the inhabitants because they did not come to the assistance of the nation of the Lord when it waged war with mighty ones.”

24 May Jael—the wife of Hever the Shalmaite—be blessed with the blessing of good women. As one of the women who serve in the houses of study, may she be blessed.

25 He asked her for water, she gave him milk to drink—to know if his desire was for the drinking bowls of the mighty ones, she brought before him cream cheese.

26 She stretched her hand out to the tent peg and her right hand to the hammer to destroy wicked ones and oppressors. She struck it down into Sisera, she broke his head, she crushed his brain, she caused it to pass through his temple.

27 Between her legs he bent down, he fell, he lay down. Between her legs, he bent down, he fell. In the place where he bent down, there he fell—Sisera—disgraced.

28 From the window, the mother of Sisera looked out and was waiting attentively from between the laths. She was saying, “Why are the chariots of my son slow to come? Why are the runners who are bringing me the victory letter delayed?”

29 The wisest of her chambermaids was answering her. Even she was answering her by her wisdom, saying to her:

30 “Are they not dividing up what they are finding, giving as loot a womb and his household to each and every one? There is a lot of loot before Sisera—loot of colored embroideries on his neck, rich possessions and precious gifts before his mighty ones who looted.”

31 Like Sisera, so shall perish all enemies of your nation, O Lord. May His mercies be ready to give light with the light of His glory seven times over, as the sun coming out in its might. And the Land of Israel was quiet for forty years.

128. Trans. Leah D. Schiffman

129. Italicized phrases indicate the words of Exodus which the Targum weaves into its commentary.

130. A Canaanite general.

131. One of the judges who was famed for his exploits against the Philistines.

132. Literally, “errors.”

133. Their fathers had not worshipped them.

134. Where the tax collectors operated.

135. According to Is. 30:26, the light of the sun in the end of days will be seven times seven, that is, forty-nine. This factor multiplied by the seven yields the number 343.