Judges 4

God plagueth Israel for their sins by King Jabin, whose Captain General was Sisera, v. 1,2, etc. Afterward God raiseth up the Prophetess Debora, who from the lord commandeth Barak to march forth against Sisera, promising him the victory, in so doing, and she her self marcheth forth with him, 4, etc. The host of Sisera is hereby beaten, 15. Jael hideth Sisera in his flight, and killeth him in her tent, King Jabin is Destroyed, 24.

1. But the children of Israel went on to do that which was evil in the evil in the eyes of the LORD: when Ehud was dead.

2. So the LORD sold them [See above chapter 2. on v. 14.] into the hand of Jabin, [see of another Jabin, jos.11. 1.] King of the Canaanites, [hereby is sometimes in general understood all the heathen Nations which dwelt in Canaan, sometimes, as here, a particular Nation amongst them all, which dwelt on the North-borders of Canaan] who reigned at Hazor: [see jos. chapter 11.ver.10,11. And 19.36. Also jer.49.28.] And his chief Captain was Sisera: the same [viz. Sisera, or, (as some) Jabin] now dwelt at Haroseth, of the Gentiles. [A city situate at the waters of Merom, of which see jos.11.5,7. It may be, that divers remaining Heathenish Nations pitched their habitations here, to be secured under Jabin and Sisera’s power against Israel. Heb. Charoseheth.]

3. Then the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred iron charets, and he bad had violently oppressed the children of Israel twenty years.

4. Now Debora, a woman, which was a Prophetess, [Heb. a women a Prophetess: so below chap.6.8. a man a Prophet] the wife of Lappidoth, [a man’s name, whereof the Scripture no where else maketh mention: some take Lappidoth for the name of Debora’s birth-place] this (said woman) judged Israel at that time.

5. And she dwelt under the Palm-tree of Debora, [So called from Debora] between Bethel, or mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel went up to her for judgment. [To inquite of her (being a Prophetess) the will of the Lord, in things, wherein they knew not how to find out the issue of themselves; or by the ordinary ways of instruction, or Judicature]

6. And she sent forth, and called Barak, the son of Abinoam, from Rodes Naphtali: [A city in the tribe of Naphtali, jos.19.32, 37. Appointed for a city of refuge, jos. 20.7. Also given to the Levites, jos. 21.32. See also 2 King .15.29. It lay upon hill between the waters of Merom, and the sea of Genesareth. There was another Rodes in the tribe of Issachar, 1 Chron.6.72.] And she said him: hath not the LORD the God of Israel command? [As if he said, judged, or certainly he hath commanded thee: such kind of queries strongly confirm that which is spoken by way question. So below v.14. chap.6, 14,&c.] go forth and draw [Understand, draw unto thee, i.e. assemble unto thee, bring together, cause to come unto thee, using for that purpose the reasons and arguments, wherewith I have made thee Acquainted, and the help of the chiefest, or heads of the tribes. Compare below chapter 5. On v.14. As on the contrary, the Lord saith in the following verse, I will draw Sisera unto thee.] On mount Tabor, [lying in the tribe of Zebulon, toward the west, by the brook Kison. See Psal. 89.13. and 1Sam.10.3, 19. Jeremiah 46:18. Hosea 5:1.] And take with thee ten thousand men, of the children of Naphtali, and of the children of Zebulon.

7. And I will draw unto thee at the brook Kison, Sisera, jabins chief Captain, [i.e. I will by my Divine Power and ordering, cause him to meet thee there. The brook or river of Kison, ran out of the sea of Gennesareth, toward the west by Mount Carmel into the midland sea, being as a partition between Issachar and Zebulon] with his charets, and his multitude: and I will give him into thine hand.

8. Then said Barak unto her, if thou wilt go with me, I will go forth: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

9. And she said, I will certainly go with thee, [Heb. going go, or marching march] saving that the honour shall not be thine, on this way which thou walkest: [or, in this expedition which thou makest. Oth. because of the way which thou goest; i.e. because thou art so weak in confidence, that thou without me wilt not follow the command of the Lord, therefore a woman shall go away with the honour thereof] for the LORD shall sell Sisera [i.e. deliver him up. See above chap.2. on ver.14.] Into the hand of a women: [this may be meant of Israel, or also of Debora herself] so Debora arose, and went with Barak to Kedes.

10. Then Barak called Zebulon and Naphtali together unto Kedes, and he went up on his feet (with) ten thousand men: [Oth. caused ten thousand men to march up before him: Heb. together with, beside, or at his feet; i.e. which followed him, and trod after his footsteps. See Exod.11.8. & 1 Kings 20:10.] Also Debora went up with him.

11. Now Heber [The husband of Jail, of whom below ver.17, etc. Heb. Cheber] the Kenite, [See Num.24.21, 22. and above chap.1.16. and the Annot. there] had severed himself from Kain; [i.e. from the Kenites, which had their dwelling place in the wilderness of Juda. See above chap 1.16.] (of the children of Hobab, [See Num.10. ver.29. Otherwise called Jethro] Moseh his father in law;) and he pitched his tents unto the oak in Zaanaim, which is by Kedes.

12. Then they brought word to Sisera, that Barak the son of Abinoam, was gone up to mount Tabor.

13. Then Sisera called all his charets together, [i.e. he caused them by proclamation to come together, or summoned them] nine hundred iron charets, and all the people that were with him, from Heroseth of the Gentiles, unto the brook Kison.

14. Then Debora said unto Barak, Arise, for this is the day wherein the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone forth before thy face? [As the chief and supreme General of the army, to fight for thee, and to appoint the victory on thy side. See of this kind of questions above on ver.6.] So Barak went down from mount Thabor, and ten thousand men after him.

15. And the LORD discomfited Sisera, with all his charets, and all the host, [See chap.5.20.] by the edge of the sword, [Heb. by, or at the mouth of the sword: So in the following verse] before the face of Barak: [Oth. affrighted, & c. before the & c. whereof the sense would be, that God terrified and dismayed them in a special manner, that they might fall by the sword of the Israellites without resistance] so that Sisera lighted down off the charet, and fled (away) on his feet.

16. And Barak pursued after them, after the charets, and after the host, unto Haroseth of the gentiles: and all the camp of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword, so that there remained not unto one. [i.e. so that there remained not so much as one; or, there was not one left. Compare Psal.14.3. and 53.3. Rom.2 12, etc.]

17. But Sisera fled on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber, the Kenite. for there was peace between Jabin in the King of Hazor, and between the house of Heber the Kenites.

18. Now Jael went forth to meet Sisera, and said unto him, turn in, my Lord, turn into me, fear not: and he turned to her into the tent, and she covered him with a coverled. [Or, course rough covering spread upon him]

19. Afterward he said unto her, give me (I pray) a little water to drink, for I am thirsty: then she opened a milk-bottle, and gave him to drink, and covered him close.

20. Also he said unto her, stand in the door of the tent: and it shall be, if any man shall come, and ask thee, and say, is any man here? that thou shalt say, no man. [Or, No]

21. Then Jael the wife of Heber took a nail of the tent, [Which they used in spreading and fastening their tents, being of such a length, that it could pierce through Sisera’s head to the ground; and so also was the hammer proportioned. See below chap.5.25.] and caught a hammer in her hand, and went softly into him, and drove the nail into his temples, that it stuck fast in the ground, [or, forced it self in, or, she fastened (it) in the ground: this act of Jael is highly commended by the Spirit of God in the following chap.5 23, etc. as being done out of a special zeal infused by God, and as his command published by Debora and Barak] now he was fallen into a deep sleep, and (was) tired, and died.

22. And behold, Barak pursued Sisera, and Jael went forth to meet him, come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou sleekest; so he came into her, and behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

23. So God on that day subdued Jabin, the King of Canaan, before the face of the children of Israel.

24. And the hand of the children of Israel went still on, [Heb. went going: i.e. their might still increased, so that they over powered Jabin] and became hard (or waxed strong) against Jabin the King of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin the King of Canaan.