Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?
Haven't they succeeded? Haven't they divided up what they captured? Each man gets a girl or two; for Sisera there are colorful fabrics, beautifully embroidered cloth with colors on both sides, perfect for the necks of those who take the prizes of war.
This verse sarcastically imagines what Sisera's mother might be telling herself - that her son is simply delayed because he's busy dividing up the spoils of what she assumes was his victory.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the Song of Deborah in the Book of Judges, a poetic victory hymn sung after the Israelites defeated the Canaanite army led by Sisera in a battle orchestrated by God through Deborah and Barak. It mocks the anticipated spoils of war that Sisera's people might expect, such as captive women and luxurious embroidered textiles, reflecting the brutal customs of ancient Near Eastern conflicts where victors claimed people and goods as trophies. This highlights the cultural mindset of the time, where warfare often involved dehumanizing the enemy and dividing plunder.
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