Judges 4:4-10

4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading[a] Israel at that time.
5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.
6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor.
7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’ ”
8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
9 “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.
10 There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.

Judges 4:4-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 4

This chapter shows how that Israel sinning was delivered into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, by whom they were oppressed twenty years, Jud 4:1-3; and that Deborah and Barak consulted together about their deliverance, Jud 4:4-9; and that Barak, encouraged by Deborah, gathered some forces and fought Sisera the captain of Jabin's army, whom he met, and obtained a victory over, Jud 4:10-15; who fleeing on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber, was received into it, and slain by her while asleep in it, Jud 4:16-22; which issued in a complete deliverance of the children of Israel, Jud 4:23,24.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Jdg 5:1,7,12,15
  • 2. S Exodus 15:20
  • 3. 1 Samuel 14:2; 1 Samuel 22:6
  • 4. S Joshua 18:25
  • 5. S Joshua 12:9; Genesis 35:8
  • 6. Jdg 5:1,12,15; 1 Samuel 12:11; Hebrews 11:32
  • 7. S Joshua 12:22
  • 8. S Genesis 30:8
  • 9. Judges 5:18; Judges 6:35
  • 10. S Joshua 19:22
  • 11. S Joshua 11:1
  • 12. ver 13; Judges 5:21; 1 Kings 18:40; Psalms 83:9
  • 13. S Judges 1:2
  • 14. S Joshua 12:22; ver 21; Judges 2:14
  • 15. 2 Chronicles 36:23; Ezra 1:2; Isaiah 41:2; Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 45:3; Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 48:15; ver 14; Judges 5:15,18

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Traditionally "judging"
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