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“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
    and in the days of Jael,
people avoided the main roads,
    and travelers stayed on winding pathways.
There were few people left in the villages of Israel[a]
    until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.
When Israel chose new gods,
    war erupted at the city gates.
Yet not a shield or spear could be seen
    among forty thousand warriors in Israel!

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Footnotes

  1. 5:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,(A)
    in the days of Jael,(B) the highways(C) were abandoned;
    travelers took to winding paths.(D)
Villagers in Israel would not fight;
    they held back until I, Deborah,(E) arose,
    until I arose, a mother in Israel.
God chose new leaders(F)
    when war came to the city gates,(G)
but not a shield or spear(H) was seen
    among forty thousand in Israel.

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