Judges 4

Judges 4 tells the story of Israel’s deliverance from the oppression of King Jabin of Canaan, led by Deborah the prophetess and Barak the military leader. The chapter highlights the role of women in Israel's deliverance and God's sovereignty in overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. It also emphasizes God's deliverance of His people when they cry out to Him in repentance.

Judges 4:1-3 (NKJV)
1 When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD.
2 So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim.
3 And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel.

After Ehud's death, Israel fell back into sinful practices, prompting the Lord to allow them to be oppressed by Jabin, king of Canaan. Jabin's military might, with Sisera as his commander and 900 iron chariots, overwhelmed Israel for 20 years. The oppression was severe, causing the Israelites to cry out in desperation to God for deliverance.

Judges 4:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Deborah, a prophetess and the only female judge of Israel, was recognized for her wisdom and leadership. She held court under a palm tree, where people would come to her for guidance and justice. Her position as a prophetess shows that God spoke through her, giving her authority in both spiritual and civil matters.

Judges 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, "Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, 'Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun;
7 and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand'?"

Deborah summoned Barak, reminding him of God's command to gather an army of 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun. God had promised to draw out Sisera and his forces to the Kishon River, where He would deliver them into Barak's hands. This reflects God’s sovereignty and His ability to orchestrate events to fulfill His purposes.

Judges 4:8-9 (NKJV)
8 And Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!"
9 So she said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Barak responds to Deborah’s command from God by saying he will only go to battle if she goes with him, showing a lack of faith in God’s ability to deliver Israel through him alone. Because of this hesitation, Deborah tells Barak that the honor of defeating the enemy will not be his, but will instead go to a woman. This indicates that since Barak showed reluctance and doubt in God's plan, God chose to use someone else, specifically Jael, to ultimately kill Sisera, ensuring that Barak would not receive the glory for the victory. This highlights the importance of trusting God fully when He calls.

Judges 4:10-13 (NKJV)
10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; he went up with ten thousand men under his command, and Deborah went up with him.
11 Now Heber the Kenite, of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Zaanaim, which is beside Kedesh.
12 And they reported to Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor.
13 So Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth Hagoyim to the River Kishon.

Barak gathered the army, and Deborah went with him. Meanwhile, the narrative introduces Heber the Kenite, who had distanced himself from his people and settled near Kedesh, indicating that the Kenites were neutral or allied with Israel. When Sisera heard of Barak’s movements, he gathered his army, confident in the superiority of his iron chariots.

Judges 4:14-16 (NKJV)
14 Then Deborah said to Barak, "Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.
15 And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot.
16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth Hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.

Deborah's encouragement prompted Barak to act, trusting that the Lord had gone before them. God intervened, causing chaos among Sisera's forces, leading to a complete rout. Sisera’s chariots, which had seemed invincible, were rendered useless. Sisera fled on foot, abandoning his men, all of whom were killed.

Judges 4:17-20 (NKJV)
17 However, Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, "Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear." And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket.
19 Then he said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him.
20 And he said to her, "Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, 'Is there any man here?' you shall say, 'No.'"

Sisera sought refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber, believing he was safe due to the alliance between Jabin and the Kenites. Jael appeared to offer hospitality, providing milk and a place to rest. Sisera, exhausted and trusting in Jael’s apparent kindness, asked her to protect him from pursuers, unaware of her true intentions.

Judges 4:21-22 (NKJV)
21 Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
22 And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, "Come, I will show you the man whom you seek." And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple.

Jael acted decisively, taking a tent peg and killing Sisera while he slept. Her action fulfilled Deborah’s prophecy that a woman would defeat Sisera. When Barak arrived, Jael showed him the body of the fallen commander, signifying the complete fulfillment of God's plan for Israel's deliverance.

Judges 4:23-24 (NKJV)
23 So on that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel.
24 And the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

With Sisera dead, Israel’s victory over Jabin’s forces was secured. God’s hand was evident in subduing the Canaanite king, and the Israelites continued to grow in strength, ultimately destroying Jabin and liberating themselves from his oppressive rule. This victory affirmed that God is the true deliverer of His people.