American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Judges 4
2
And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelled in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Reference
📍 Harosheth-hagoyim
People
Kingdom
Joshua 11:1
1 Samuel 12:9
Parallel theme
Judges 4:16
Judges 4:13
Psalm 83:9
References Lord
Judges 10:7
3
And the children of Israel cried to the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
Reference
5
And she dwelled under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
6
And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said to him, Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Reference
📍 Locations
People
Parallel theme
Hebrews 11:32
Judges 8:18
Joshua 19:37
Psalm 89:12
Joshua 19:32
Joshua 21:32
References God
Joshua 1:9
References Lord
Acts 13:47
Psalm 7:6
Jeremiah 46:18
7
And I will draw to you to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into your hand.
Reference
📍 Kishon
8
And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go: but if you will not go with me, then I will not go.
9
And she said, I will surely go with you: notwithstanding the journey that you take shall not be for your honor; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Reference
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.
Reference
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 to the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
Reference
People
12
And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
Reference
📍 Mount Tabor
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 to the river of Kishon.
📍 Locations
14
And Deborah said to Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand: is not the LORD gone out before you? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Reference
📍 Mount Tabor
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.
Reference
References Lord
Joshua 10:10
16
But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, to Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell on the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
📍 Harosheth-hagoyim
17
However, 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.
Reference
People
18
And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in to her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
19
And he said to her, Give me, I pray you, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
20
Again he said to her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man does come and inquire of you, and say, Is there any man here? that you shall say, No.
21
Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
Reference
22
And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 17:3
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.
Summary of Judges 4
Judges 4 contains the story about Deborah, Barak, Sisera, and Jael. Here, the Bible recounts another story about the Israelites doing evil in the sight of the Lord, who allowed them to be delivered by a powerful enemy. This chapter is notable as it features a prophetess and a judge and two women play leading roles in the events.
After Ehud died, Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. Once again, following the pattern seen in the opening verses of the Book of Judges, the Israelites fell into sin. The Israelites were delivered by Ehud, the son of Gero, from the Moabites. This victory brought about a prolonged period of peace, which came to an end with Ehud’s death.
As a result, the Lord delivered Israel into the hands of Jabin, King of Canaan, who ruled from Hazor. His general, Sisera, took up residence in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
The enemy general had at his disposal 900 iron chariots, which greatly contributed to his success against the Israelites. The Lord allowed him to dominate Israel for 20 years. Finally, the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help, and He raised up a deliverer for them.
At the time, Deborah, the prophetess, was the judge over Israel. She was married to a man named Lapidoth. The people brought their complaints to her under the shade of a palm tree in the territory of Ephraim, between Ramah and Bethel. Deborah summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him that the Lord had commanded him to raise up an army of 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them to Mount Tabor. There, the Lord would deliver Sisera, the commander of the army of Jabin, and his troops at the river Kishon.
Barak replied that he would not go unless Deborah went with him. She agreed, but told Barak that the glory of the victory would not be his, but rather the Lord’s. Further, she told Barak that the Lord would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.
Deborah accompanied Barak, who mustered his troops at Mount Tabor. Upon hearing of the Israelites’ preparations, Sisera brought his 900 iron chariots and met Barak’s army at the banks of the Kishon. On seeing the heavily armed forces of his enemy, Barak should have realized that he faced greater odds than he expected.
Deborah told Barak to arise, for the Lord had delivered Sisera into his hands. Barak and his troops rushed down Mount Tabor and, with the help of the Lord, fought the vastly superior enemy force and routed it. Further, Sisera, leaving his chariot, fled on foot. Barak pursued the fleeing general and the entire enemy army was cut off at Harosheth of the Gentiles. But Sisera escaped from the pursuing Israelites.
He sought shelter at the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. The family was related to Jabin but they belonged to a tribe that had retained its independence. Sisera thought that the wife of Heber would receive him as a guest. Jael, pretending to welcome the fugitive general, invited him into her tent.
Further, she assured the terrified general that no one would hurt him. Once inside the tent, Sisera asked for water. Jael deceived him by giving him milk instead. Then, covering him with a blanket, she said he would feel better.
She told Sisera to remain there until he was refreshed, and promised to keep watch over him. Believing her words, the enemy general fell asleep. While he slept, Jael drove a tent peg into his temple, killing him.
When Barak came in pursuit of Sisera, Jael presented his dead body to him. Thus, the prophecy made by Deborah was fulfilled, as Sisera fell not by the hands of men, but a woman. With the death of Sisera, Israel fought the forces of Jabin and delivered the Israelites.
Judges 4 conclude with a reference to the fact that the Lord had subdued Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the children of Israel.
This story is notable for the fact that the victory of Israel was not achieved by their own efforts. Sisera had 900 iron chariots and he had subjugated Israel for 20 years, but when the time of the Lord came, the might of the enemy was of no avail.
Further, the role of Deborah is notable in that she is judged by the Lord. This is the only instance in the entire Book of Judges when a woman holds the position of a judge. Further, she plays an active role in the events, as she accompanies Barak. Her involvement in the war effort underscores the special position of Deborah.
The figure of Barak is also worthy of note due to the fact that he played one of the leading roles in the victory of Israel over the enemy. Deborah proclaimed the word of the Lord to Barak and assured him of victory, but the general was hesitant. He did not believe that the victory would be his if he did not follow Deborah.
She agreed to accompany Barak, but told him the victory would not belong to him, but to a woman. Barak fulfills the prophecy of Deborah when the general falls by the hand of Jael.
Finally, the figure of Jael is one of the most remarkable elements of the story. She belonged to a tribe that was not entirely subject to Jabin. Sisera thought that he was in the camp of friends when he entered the tent of Jael, but the wife of Heber killed him while he slept. It is worth noting that the Bible does not portray her actions in a positive light.
This story is not an endorsement of the killing of people in their sleep. The Israelites are shown to have lived in times of violence and bloodshed. The story of Jael and Sisera is a continuation of the saga about the wars between Israel and her neighbors.
A particularly remarkable element of this story is the fact that the Lord allowed the small nation of Israel to fight against the heavily armed forces of her enemies. Sisera had 900 iron chariots, but they failed to save him when the time of his punishment came. The river Kishon proved to be an obstacle that the enemy general could not overcome.
Further, despite the superiority of his forces, the arrogant general abandoned his chariot and ran away when he learned of the approach of Barak’s forces.
Judges 4 continues the narrative thread that was begun in the opening chapters of the Book of Judges. Once again, the Israelites fell into sin and the Lord allowed them to be delivered by an enemy. But the victories of the enemies of Israel always led to their destruction at the hands of the Lord. In the story of Deborah, Barak, Sisera, and Jael, the Lord demonstrates once again that He is faithful to His covenant with Israel.
Further, this chapter sets the stage for the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), which recounts the events of the victory over the enemy. If the story in Judges 4 represents the historical record, the Song of Deborah represents the poetic interpretation of the events.
At the heart of the story is the deliverance of Israel from the enemy. Thus, after 20 years of the tyranny of Jabin and his general Sisera, the Israelites were freed from their foreign oppressors. The chapter closes with a reference to the fact that the Lord subdued Jabin before the children of Israel. Once again, the Israelites saw the faithfulness of the Lord in bringing them victories over enemies who had conquered them.
In conclusion, the story of Judges 4 shows that the Israelites were blessed by the Lord. The Lord brought about the victory of Barak and the Israelites over the large and powerful army of Sisera. This was because they turned to the Lord in their distress.
After Ehud died, Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. Once again, following the pattern seen in the opening verses of the Book of Judges, the Israelites fell into sin. The Israelites were delivered by Ehud, the son of Gero, from the Moabites. This victory brought about a prolonged period of peace, which came to an end with Ehud’s death.
As a result, the Lord delivered Israel into the hands of Jabin, King of Canaan, who ruled from Hazor. His general, Sisera, took up residence in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
The enemy general had at his disposal 900 iron chariots, which greatly contributed to his success against the Israelites. The Lord allowed him to dominate Israel for 20 years. Finally, the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help, and He raised up a deliverer for them.
At the time, Deborah, the prophetess, was the judge over Israel. She was married to a man named Lapidoth. The people brought their complaints to her under the shade of a palm tree in the territory of Ephraim, between Ramah and Bethel. Deborah summoned Barak, the son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him that the Lord had commanded him to raise up an army of 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them to Mount Tabor. There, the Lord would deliver Sisera, the commander of the army of Jabin, and his troops at the river Kishon.
Barak replied that he would not go unless Deborah went with him. She agreed, but told Barak that the glory of the victory would not be his, but rather the Lord’s. Further, she told Barak that the Lord would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.
Deborah accompanied Barak, who mustered his troops at Mount Tabor. Upon hearing of the Israelites’ preparations, Sisera brought his 900 iron chariots and met Barak’s army at the banks of the Kishon. On seeing the heavily armed forces of his enemy, Barak should have realized that he faced greater odds than he expected.
Deborah told Barak to arise, for the Lord had delivered Sisera into his hands. Barak and his troops rushed down Mount Tabor and, with the help of the Lord, fought the vastly superior enemy force and routed it. Further, Sisera, leaving his chariot, fled on foot. Barak pursued the fleeing general and the entire enemy army was cut off at Harosheth of the Gentiles. But Sisera escaped from the pursuing Israelites.
He sought shelter at the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. The family was related to Jabin but they belonged to a tribe that had retained its independence. Sisera thought that the wife of Heber would receive him as a guest. Jael, pretending to welcome the fugitive general, invited him into her tent.
Further, she assured the terrified general that no one would hurt him. Once inside the tent, Sisera asked for water. Jael deceived him by giving him milk instead. Then, covering him with a blanket, she said he would feel better.
She told Sisera to remain there until he was refreshed, and promised to keep watch over him. Believing her words, the enemy general fell asleep. While he slept, Jael drove a tent peg into his temple, killing him.
When Barak came in pursuit of Sisera, Jael presented his dead body to him. Thus, the prophecy made by Deborah was fulfilled, as Sisera fell not by the hands of men, but a woman. With the death of Sisera, Israel fought the forces of Jabin and delivered the Israelites.
Judges 4 conclude with a reference to the fact that the Lord had subdued Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the children of Israel.
This story is notable for the fact that the victory of Israel was not achieved by their own efforts. Sisera had 900 iron chariots and he had subjugated Israel for 20 years, but when the time of the Lord came, the might of the enemy was of no avail.
Further, the role of Deborah is notable in that she is judged by the Lord. This is the only instance in the entire Book of Judges when a woman holds the position of a judge. Further, she plays an active role in the events, as she accompanies Barak. Her involvement in the war effort underscores the special position of Deborah.
The figure of Barak is also worthy of note due to the fact that he played one of the leading roles in the victory of Israel over the enemy. Deborah proclaimed the word of the Lord to Barak and assured him of victory, but the general was hesitant. He did not believe that the victory would be his if he did not follow Deborah.
She agreed to accompany Barak, but told him the victory would not belong to him, but to a woman. Barak fulfills the prophecy of Deborah when the general falls by the hand of Jael.
Finally, the figure of Jael is one of the most remarkable elements of the story. She belonged to a tribe that was not entirely subject to Jabin. Sisera thought that he was in the camp of friends when he entered the tent of Jael, but the wife of Heber killed him while he slept. It is worth noting that the Bible does not portray her actions in a positive light.
This story is not an endorsement of the killing of people in their sleep. The Israelites are shown to have lived in times of violence and bloodshed. The story of Jael and Sisera is a continuation of the saga about the wars between Israel and her neighbors.
A particularly remarkable element of this story is the fact that the Lord allowed the small nation of Israel to fight against the heavily armed forces of her enemies. Sisera had 900 iron chariots, but they failed to save him when the time of his punishment came. The river Kishon proved to be an obstacle that the enemy general could not overcome.
Further, despite the superiority of his forces, the arrogant general abandoned his chariot and ran away when he learned of the approach of Barak’s forces.
Judges 4 continues the narrative thread that was begun in the opening chapters of the Book of Judges. Once again, the Israelites fell into sin and the Lord allowed them to be delivered by an enemy. But the victories of the enemies of Israel always led to their destruction at the hands of the Lord. In the story of Deborah, Barak, Sisera, and Jael, the Lord demonstrates once again that He is faithful to His covenant with Israel.
Further, this chapter sets the stage for the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), which recounts the events of the victory over the enemy. If the story in Judges 4 represents the historical record, the Song of Deborah represents the poetic interpretation of the events.
At the heart of the story is the deliverance of Israel from the enemy. Thus, after 20 years of the tyranny of Jabin and his general Sisera, the Israelites were freed from their foreign oppressors. The chapter closes with a reference to the fact that the Lord subdued Jabin before the children of Israel. Once again, the Israelites saw the faithfulness of the Lord in bringing them victories over enemies who had conquered them.
In conclusion, the story of Judges 4 shows that the Israelites were blessed by the Lord. The Lord brought about the victory of Barak and the Israelites over the large and powerful army of Sisera. This was because they turned to the Lord in their distress.