the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that while Issachar bravely rushed into battle alongside Barak, the tribe of Reuben experienced "great searchings of heart." This phrase suggests deep internal debate and indecision, indicating they were wrestling with the call to arms but ultimately remained separated from their brethren, stuck in their own deliberations rather than active courage.
the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Song of Deborah is recounting the call to arms against the Canaanite oppressors, celebrating the tribes that bravely answered and subtly shaming those who did not. While Issachar, along with their princes and General Barak, rushed eagerly into the fray, the tribe of Reuben, dwelling by their fertile river valleys, experienced deep internal debate and ultimately stayed home, causing great concern among the other tribes.
Some tribes rushed headlong into the fray, ready for battle. What does it mean to be 'with' Deborah and Barak, and why was Issachar so commended?
The song of Deborah and Barak doesn't just recount who fought, but how they fought. The tribe of Issachar is highlighted for its wholehearted commitment:
Not every tribe joined the fight. What happened among the clans of Reuben, and what does 'great searchings of heart' truly reveal?
While Issachar surged forward, the tribe of Reuben is portrayed in stark contrast, experiencing deep internal conflict:
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Understand the original words
Yissaskar · Hebrew Proper Noun
A tribe of Israel whose tribal identity was often defined by their leadership and cooperative spirit in the nation's historical turning points.
Re'uben · Hebrew Proper Noun
One of the twelve tribes of Israel, often noted for their independent spirit and their hesitation to participate in the collective military efforts of the nation.
This verse highlights the contrast between the tribes who courageously answered God's call to battle and the tribe of Reuben, whose internal debates and indecision kept them from participating in the victory.
c. 11th-10th century BC
Period of Israelite Oppression
Following Joshua's death, the Israelites repeatedly fell into sin, leading to oppression by surrounding nations, including Canaanites under Sisera.
c. 11th-10th century BC
Deborah's Leadership
Deborah, a prophet and judge, held authority and dispensed justice to the Israelites, presiding over a period of relative peace and spiritual revival.
c. 11th-10th century BC
Call to Arms
Deborah summoned Barak, a military leader, to confront Sisera's forces, urging him to gather troops from the northern tribes of Israel.
c. 11th-10th century BC— this verse
Issachar Joins the Battle
The princes and people of Issachar, along with Barak and his forces, rallied to Deborah's call and marched into the valley to face the enemy.
c. 11th-10th century BC
Reuben's Hesitation
The tribe of Reuben, dwelling east of the Jordan, debated and deliberated but ultimately did not join the battle, causing dismay among the other tribes.
c. 11th-10th century BC
Battle of the Kishon River
Israel's forces, empowered by God, decisively defeated Sisera's army, with the river Kishon flooding and sweeping away many enemy soldiers.
c. 11th-10th century BC
Victory Song and Aftermath
Deborah and Barak composed a victory song celebrating God's deliverance and recounting the events, including the bravery of some tribes and the inaction of others.
This passage echoes the sentiment in Judges 5:15 by highlighting God's tendency to use the seemingly weak and overlooked to confound the strong, mirroring how some tribes contributed while others hesitated.
Philippians 2:3The 'great searchings of heart' among Reuben can be contrasted with the call in Philippians to consider others better than ourselves, suggesting a potential self-interest or indecision that kept them from joining the righteous cause.
2 Chronicles 30:11This verse describes people who were 'princes of Issachar' in spirit, readily responding to a call to unity and service, much like Issachar's willing participation in contrast to Reuben's hesitation.
James 1:8Reuben's 'great searchings of heart' and indecision align with the description of a 'double-minded' person, unstable in all their ways, who cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Luke 9:62The people of Issachar, by actively joining the battle, demonstrate a commitment that Jesus speaks of when He says no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God, unlike the hesitant Reubenites.
jfbJudges 5:15: "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."
- 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 thedivisions—that is, the watercourses which descend from the eastern hills unto the Jordan and Dead Sea.For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart…
bensonJudges 5:15: "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."
Jdg 5:15 . He was sent on foot — Or, when he was sent, with his foot, into the valley. This is not an immaterial remark of the prophetess. It expresses that the tribe or people of Issachar, following the counsel and example of their princes, were as hearty and valiant in the cause as Barak their general;…
The verse highlights that while Issachar bravely rushed into battle alongside Barak, the tribe of Reuben experienced "great searchings of heart." This phrase suggests deep internal debate and indecision, indicating they were wrestling with the call to arms but ultimately remained separated from their brethren, stuck in their own deliberations rather than active courage.
The Song of Deborah is recounting the call to arms against the Canaanite oppressors, celebrating the tribes that bravely answered and subtly shaming those who did not. While Issachar, along with their princes and General Barak, rushed eagerly into the fray, the tribe of Reuben, dwelling by their fertile river valleys, experienced deep internal debate and ultimately stayed home, causing great concern among the other tribes.
The Song of Deborah is recounting the call to arms against the Canaanite oppressors, celebrating the tribes that bravely answered and subtly shaming those who did not. While Issachar, along with their princes and General Barak, rushed eagerly into the fray, the tribe of Reuben, dwelling by their fertile river valleys, experienced deep internal debate and ultimately stayed home, causing great concern among the other tribes.
"the princes of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart." — The verse highlights that while Issachar bravely rushed into battle alongside Barak, the tribe of Reuben experienced "great searchings of heart." This phrase suggests deep internal debate and indecis…
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Last reviewed October 2026