Judges 5:8

They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

They chose new gods. This clause has been variously rendered. But we shall notice only two. х Yibchar (H977) 'ªlohiym (H430) chªdaashiym (H2319).] Some, as the Peshito version and the Vulgate, taking the middle word for the nominative, translate 'God chose new things'-namely, the government and agency of a woman. But the generality of ancient versions and of modern scholars view the passage in the same light as our translators, and consider 'Israel' (understood, though not expressed) to be the proper subject. [Thus, the Septuagint, exelexanto theous kainous, they chose new gods; namely, Baal and Ashtaroth-Syrian or Phoenician idols, different from those of Egypt (see the note at Deuteronomy 32:17). The Alexandrine version (as in Tischendorf's notes), eeretisan theous kenous hoos arton krithinon, as barley bread.]

Then was war in the gates, ['aaz, then] - from that time, or therefore, namely, on account of that idolatry х laachem (H3901) shª`aariym (H8179)], was siege of the gates; i:e., their cities were besieged. The word "gates" is used in a sense to denote doors of a house or temple, the entrance into a camp, the approaches of a city, or the passes into a country through which an enemy can invade the interior. This latter signification is the most apposite here, as descriptive of the insidious assaults, and grinding oppression of the Canaanites. [The Septuagint has: tote epolemeesan poleis archontoon, then the cities of the rulers made war. This is an erroneous translation; because the rulers were universally inactive until Deborah roused them.]

Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel? х maageen (H4043) differed from tsinaah (H6793) (1 Kings 10:16; 2 Chronicles 9:16) in that it was a short small buckler, intended solely for defence, and of great service in the warfare of ancient times; romach (H7420), a lance or spear, used by heavy-armed troops (Numbers 25:7; Nehemiah 4:7). It is commonly coupled with tsinaah (H6793), the long shield (1 Chronicles 12:8; 1 Chronicles 12:24; 2 Chronicles 11:12; 2 Chronicles 14:7; 2 Chronicles 25:5). The particle 'im (H518), though an interrogative, is frequently used to express a strong negation; so that this sentence, "was there a shield or spear?" is virtually a strong affirmation that 'there was not a shield or spear'-an affirmation which, though perhaps not intended to be taken in its literal strictness, yet implies that the Israelites were sadly deficient in military weapons, and were for the most part totally unprepared for war.] The number 40,000 is used according to Oriental usage-a definite for an indefinite number (Genesis 7:17; Jonah 3:4).