*Judges 4:4-24
Prophetess Deborah leads Barak in a military victory over Canaanite king Sisera, but predicts a woman will get the honor.
- Leadership of Deborah:
- Deborah, a prophetess and judge in Israel, holds court under a palm tree in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites come to her for judgment.
- She is described as a wise and respected leader, serving as a spiritual and judicial authority among the Israelites.
- Oppression by Jabin and Sisera:
- The Israelites have been oppressed for twenty years by Jabin, the king of Canaan, who reigns from Hazor, and his commander, Sisera.
- Sisera commands a powerful army equipped with nine hundred chariots of iron, posing a formidable threat to the Israelites.
- Deborah’s Call to Barak:
- Deborah receives a message from God instructing her to summon Barak, the son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali.
- She delivers God’s command for Barak to gather ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them to Mount Tabor.
- Barak’s Request for Deborah’s Presence:
- Barak expresses reluctance to go into battle against Sisera’s army without Deborah accompanying him, seeking her reassurance and guidance.
- Deborah agrees to go with Barak, but she prophesies that the honor of victory will not be his but will belong to a woman.
- Preparation for Battle:
- Barak musters his forces, and they march to Mount Tabor, where they await the arrival of Sisera’s army.
- Meanwhile, Sisera learns of Barak’s mobilization and gathers his troops, including his nine hundred chariots, to confront the Israelites.
- Victory by God’s Hand:
- As the two armies clash, God intervenes on behalf of the Israelites, causing confusion among Sisera’s forces and throwing them into disarray.
- Sisera flees on foot from the battlefield, seeking refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, who is at peace with Jabin.
- Jael’s Deception and Victory:
- Jael welcomes Sisera into her tent, offering him milk to drink and a place to rest, concealing her true intentions.
- While Sisera sleeps, Jael drives a tent peg through his temple, killing him instantly and fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy of victory through a woman.
- Barak’s Pursuit and Triumph:
- Barak arrives at Jael’s tent in pursuit of Sisera and discovers him dead, slain by Jael’s hand.
- The Israelites defeat Sisera’s army, and Barak’s forces gain the upper hand, routing the Canaanites completely.
- Conclusion and Song of Deborah:
- Deborah and Barak celebrate their victory over Jabin and Sisera with a song of praise and thanksgiving to God.
- The song commemorates God’s faithfulness, His intervention in battle, and the courage of those who fought for the freedom of Israel.
4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
4:5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
4:6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
4:10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
4:12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
4:13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
4:14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
4:15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
4:16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
4:17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
4:18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
4:19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
4:20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
4:21 Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
4:22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
4:23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
4:24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.