New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Judges 4
1
After Ehud died, the people of Israel once again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
Reference
2
So the Lord gave them over to the power of Jabin. He was a king in Canaan. He ruled in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera. Sisera lived in Harosheth Haggoyim.
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
Jabin used 900 chariots that had some iron parts. He treated the people of Israel very badly for 20 years. So they cried out to the Lord for help.
Reference
4
Deborah was a prophet. She was the wife of Lappidoth. She was leading Israel at that time.
Reference
People
5
Under The Palm Tree of Deborah she served the people as their judge. That place was between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The people of Israel came to her there. They came to have her decide cases for them. She settled matters between them.
6
Deborah sent for Barak. He was the son of Abinoam. Barak was from Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. Deborah said to Barak, "The Lord, the God of Israel, is giving you a command. He says, 'Go! Take 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun with you. Then lead the way to Mount Tabor.
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
I will draw Sisera into a trap. He is the commander of Jabin's army. I will bring him, his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River. There I will hand him over to you.' "
Reference
📍 Kishon
8
Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I'll go. But if you don't go with me, I won't go."
9
"All right," Deborah said. "I'll go with you. But because of the way you are doing this, you won't receive any honor. The Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman." So Deborah went to Kedesh with Barak.
Reference
10
There he sent for Zebulun and Naphtali. And 10,000 men followed him. Deborah also went with him.
Reference
11
Heber, the Kenite, had left the other Kenites. They came from the family line of Hobab. He was the brother-in-law of Moses. Heber set up his tent by the large tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.
Reference
People
12
Sisera was told that Barak, the son of Abinoam, had gone up to Mount Tabor.
Reference
📍 Mount Tabor
13
So Sisera gathered together his 900 chariots that had some iron parts. He also gathered all of his men together. He brought them from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.
📍 Locations
14
Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! Today the Lord will hand Sisera over to you. Hasn't the Lord gone ahead of you?" So Barak went down Mount Tabor. His 10,000 men followed him.
Reference
📍 Mount Tabor
15
As Barak's men marched out, the Lord drove Sisera away from the field of battle. He scattered all of Sisera's chariots. Barak's men struck down Sisera's army with their swords. Sisera left his chariot behind. He ran away on foot.
Reference
References Lord
Joshua 10:10
16
But Barak chased Sisera's chariots and army. He chased them all the way to Harosheth Haggoyim. All of Sisera's men were killed with swords. Not even one was left.
📍 Harosheth-hagoyim
17
But Sisera ran away on foot. He ran to the tent of Jael. She was the wife of Heber, the Kenite. Sisera ran there because Heber's family was friendly toward Jabin, the king of Hazor.
Reference
People
18
Jael went out to meet Sisera. "Come in, sir," she said. "Come right in. Don't be afraid." So he entered her tent. Then she covered him up.
19
"I'm thirsty," he said. "Please give me some water." So Jael opened a bottle of milk. The bottle was made out of animal skin. She gave him a drink of milk. Then she covered him up again.
20
"Stand in the doorway of the tent," he told her. "Someone might come by and ask you, 'Is anyone here?' If that happens, say 'No.' "
21
But Heber's wife Jael picked up a tent stake and a hammer. She went quietly over to Sisera. He was lying there, fast asleep. He was very tired. She drove the stake through his head right into the ground. So he died.
Reference
22
Barak came by because he was chasing Sisera. Jael went out to meet him. "Come right in," she said. "I'll show you the man you are looking for." So he went in with her. Sisera was lying there with the stake through his head. He was dead.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 17:3
24
Israel's power grew stronger and stronger against Jabin, a king in Canaan. They became so strong that they destroyed him.
Chapter Summary
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.