Lapidot: They said that he is Barak the son of Avinoam, since Barak (lightning] and Lapidot (torches) are close (in meaning). But in the Midrash, she is called eshet lapidot (in this sense, woman of torches), because she made wicks for the sanctuary.

She judged: It is a verb in the past tense in the main structure (binyan) ... or [present, as in the verb usage,] eating straw.

Tomer: It is like, tamar (date). And Yonatan translated the verse (in the Targum) like this, "And she sat in the town, etc." And it can be said, according to its plain sense, that she had a house under a date palm. And that which it said, Devorah, (again) is additional identification, for she was already mentioned. And it stated, "And she," [because] we knew that it was speaking about her, and [since] it mentioned, Devorah, after this for additional identification. As this is the way of the language, as in (Genesis 6:9), "These are the generations of Noach, Noach," and others beside it.

And they went up: And the Children of Israel would go up to her for judgement, since she judged Israel in those days. But her prophecy was [only] for her time; as we have not found a prophecy of hers for the future (in the Bible).

And she sent: If she was his wife, she was separated from the time of her becoming a prophetess and going to sit under the palm tree. And now she sent to call to him, telling him the prophecy that God spoke to her.

Did He not command: This is not the beginning of [her] words, but she rather said other words before these. However Scripture seized upon the essence to be found in the words that were required. And likewise (Ruth 2:8), "Have you not heard, my daughter"; and (Joshua 2:24), "Since the Lord gave the whole land into our hands," which the scouts said - as we explained. And this word also came to strengthen [the matter], like someone who warns his fellow; and cautions him and says, "Did I not tell you; be careful and watch yourself not to be negligent about the matter." And likewise (Judges 6:14), "have I not sent you," that He said to Gideon.

And draw: Draw Israel and entice them with words, until they come to Mount Tabor. As they were frightened of Sisera's army. Hence they needed enticement and many words.

And I will draw: He said that Sisera's astrologists saw that he would not leave that war, as he would be defeated if he came out [to it]; but the Holy One, blessed be He, drew his heart to go out. And this is [the meaning of] what He said, "And I will draw." But Yonatan translated it as ...

Into the hands of a woman: Some explain it as Yael, since Sisera was delivered into her hands; and that Devorah said this prophetically. But it is not correct with relation to the verse, when it stated, "However, there will be no glory for you." Rather its explanation is like this: If I go, there will be no glory for you, but rather the glory will be for me, since the salvation will be through me and they will say that the Lord delivered Sisera into the hands of Devorah. So this salvation will not be called by your name.

And he elevated behind him: He brought up.

Separated: It is vocalized with a kamatz. The explanation is that he separated from the Judean Desert, as the Children of the Kenites had settled there when they went up from the City of Dates.

Elon-bezaanim: So is it written; but it is read, bezaanannim. Yet it is all the same content, and that is the name of a place that was called for a matter known to them. But Yonatan (in the Targum) translated [it as], the plain of marshes (agaania). It appears that they got it from betzai of water - which in the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, are holes full of water in the fields that are like pits full of water. And they, may their memory be blessed, mentioned them, as they said (Bava Kamma 61), "they are called pools (agaani) of the land."

From Haroshet-hagoyim: We explained this above (Radak on Judges 4:2).

Has not the Lord gone out before you: It is like its translation (in the Targum) - "did not the angel of the Lord go out before you to make you successful."

And Sisera had fled: He did not flee to the place that his camp fled, as they fled towards their land, which was Haroshet-hagoyim; and Barak and his people chased after them and smote them with the edge of the sword. But Sisera knew that he could not escape by [just] fleeing, for they would catch up to him. So he fled to another place, in which they would not notice him and chase after him. So he fled to a different place close to the war's location, to escape to Yael's tent. For there was peace between them, so he thought that he could escape there and she would hide him until the war had passed.

Turn in, my lord, turn in: Both of these times, the accent is on the second syllable, which is not like the prevalent custom.

With a blanket: Yonatan translated (in the Targum), "With a gunkha"; and Rabbenu Hai, may his memory be blessed, explained [that] it is a gelofkera (coat), found in the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed (Gittin 35a). It is a cot in [Old French]. And in Arabic, it is a guabi, like the language of the Targum. And that is a thick garment from which fringes come out from the wool on the whole surface of the garment. And it appears that this is why it is called semikhah - since in their words (Talmudic Aramaic), semikhta is something thick. And in Vayikra Rabbah: "And she covered him with a semikhah": The Rabbis from there said, "With a shawl." The Rabbis from here said, "With a washing vessel." Reish Lakish said, "We have gone over all of Scripture and we have not found a vessel the name of which is, semikhah! Rather what is semikhah? It is written with a shin (as opposed to a sin), shemikhah. That is to say, My name is here (Shemi kan), to testify about Yael - that Sisera did not touch her.

And she gave him to drink and she covered him: She covered him again after she gave him to drink, so that he would fall asleep and not notice. And that which she gave him milk to drink was to make him [feel] heavy, in order that he fall asleep.

Stand: It is an infinitive: And he said to her to stand at the entrance of the tent.

And she fastened: The peg went through his temple and became stuck in the ground.

Asleep: It is [vocalized with a] patach, and it is past tense, passive.

And exhausted (veyaaf): The [letter] ayin is with a patach, to differentiate between [this word] and "veya'af alai" (Isaiah 6:6), which is a different matter. And [it means that] he was already tired. Hence he did not feel her striking him, and he died.