Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 5:1

"Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying," — Judges 5:1 (ASV)

Deborah, as “a prophetess,” both composed and sang this noble ode, which, for poetic spirit and lyric fire, is not surpassed by any of the sacred songs in the Bible. And, as Miriam took up the first verse of the song of Moses (Exodus 15:21), and sang it as an antiphony, so Barak, with the chorus of men, answered the song of Deborah by singing (Judges 5:2), which is also exactly suited for an antiphon, summing up as it does the subject matter of the whole ode. Compare David’s example (2 Samuel 6:15).