Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer. (Judges 5:14)
Formerly only the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun were named as rallying behind Barak (ch. 4:10). Here it is shown that there were contingents from Ephraim in the central highlands and from Benjamin still farther to the south as well.
Machir.
Son of Manasseh (Gen. 50:23). Head of the chief family of the tribe. The family received its inheritance in Gilead, to the east of Jordan. Here, however, the name is thought to be used poetically for the whole tribe of Manasseh (see also Num. 32:40; Deut. 3:15).
Pen of the writer.
Literally, “the staff of the scribe.” Thought to refer to the insigne of the officer whose duty it was to muster the troops, keeping the count of how many men reported from each place.