Judges 5:6 - “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.
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What does "Judges 5:6" mean?
Judges 5:6 paints a picture of extreme insecurity and chaos in Israel. Let's break it down:
"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath...": This refers to a period when Shamgar was a judge or leader in Israel. He's known for striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad (Judges 3:31), indicating a time of Philistine oppression.
"...in the days of Jael...": This refers to the time after Jael killed Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army (Judges 4). While Jael's action was a victory for Israel, the verse suggests the threat of violence and the disruption of societal norms persisted even after this.
"...the highways were unoccupied.": The highways were the main roads, normally busy with merchants, travelers, and trade. The fact that they were "unoccupied" suggests that people were afraid to use them. The enemy (likely Canaanites and perhaps other groups) posed a constant threat of robbery, violence, or even death.
"The travelers walked through byways.": Instead of using the safe, well-maintained highways, people were forced to take hidden, dangerous, and less-traveled routes (byways or backroads). This implies:
Fear of attack: Travelers were trying to avoid detection by potential enemies.
Disruption of trade and communication: Essential movement of goods and information was severely hampered, impacting the economy and social stability.
Lack of security: The central government or local authorities were unable to guarantee the safety of its citizens on the main roads.
In essence, the verse describes a period of lawlessness and oppression in Israel. People lived in fear, unable to travel freely or conduct normal business. It highlights the failure of leadership and the breakdown of order, setting the stage for the need for judges (like Deborah and Barak, whose story is being told in Judges 4-5) to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. The verse emphasizes the desperate conditions that made deliverance so important.
Judges 5:6 - “In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.
What does "Judges 5:6" mean?
Judges 5:6 paints a picture of extreme insecurity and chaos in Israel. Let's break it down:
"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath...": This refers to a period when Shamgar was a judge or leader in Israel. He's known for striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad (Judges 3:31), indicating a time of Philistine oppression.
"...in the days of Jael...": This refers to the time after Jael killed Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army (Judges 4). While Jael's action was a victory for Israel, the verse suggests the threat of violence and the disruption of societal norms persisted even after this.
"...the highways were unoccupied.": The highways were the main roads, normally busy with merchants, travelers, and trade. The fact that they were "unoccupied" suggests that people were afraid to use them. The enemy (likely Canaanites and perhaps other groups) posed a constant threat of robbery, violence, or even death.
"The travelers walked through byways.": Instead of using the safe, well-maintained highways, people were forced to take hidden, dangerous, and less-traveled routes (byways or backroads). This implies:
Fear of attack: Travelers were trying to avoid detection by potential enemies.
Disruption of trade and communication: Essential movement of goods and information was severely hampered, impacting the economy and social stability.
Lack of security: The central government or local authorities were unable to guarantee the safety of its citizens on the main roads.
In essence, the verse describes a period of lawlessness and oppression in Israel. People lived in fear, unable to travel freely or conduct normal business. It highlights the failure of leadership and the breakdown of order, setting the stage for the need for judges (like Deborah and Barak, whose story is being told in Judges 4-5) to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. The verse emphasizes the desperate conditions that made deliverance so important.