What does Judges 5:11 mean?

Deborah has called out to the rich and the poor on the roadways to tell the story of her song (Judges 5:1), celebrating the Lord's salvation of Israel from the Canaanites (Judges 4:12–16). Now she adds that they should tell it to the sound of the musicians or singers at the watering places.

Scholars say the exact meaning of this phrase is difficult to translate. Even so, there is no doubt about the intent. Places with easily accessible water were key points along roadways. Travelers would stop and rest there, trading news and telling stories. Entire communities would gather at these spots.

Deborah is telling those who hear her song to sing it themselves to others, to keep passing on the story of God's victory everywhere they go. This is her distribution model for this amazing news in Israel. She tells her listeners to repeat the righteous triumphs of both the Lord and His villagers in Israel, meaning those who volunteered to follow Barak into battle against the Canaanites (Judges 4:10; 5:9).

This verse ends with a sentence introducing the next passage. Deborah celebrates those people of the Lord who willingly marched down from the hill country to do battle at the gates of their oppressors.