Judges 4

Judges 4:1-3

1. Israel recalls from God, ver. 1. 2. Is oppressed by Jubin, ver. 2, 3. 3. Judged by Deborah, ver. 4, 5. 4. Their deliverance is converted between Deborah and Hamid, ver. 6—9. 5. Shroud takes the field, ver. 10. 6. Sifra, Jubin’s general, meets him, ver. 12, 13. 7. Deborah endowment him, ver. 14. 8. Sifra’s army is rested, ver. 15, 16. 9. The general fleet, and is slain by Joel, ver. 17—21. 10. This complaint Israel’s deliverance, ver. 23, 24.

2. AND the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was deaf. 2. And the LORD told them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Ham: the captain of whole host war Sifra, which dwelt in Hammeth of the Gentiles. 3. And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

During the life of Ehud their deliverer, the people it seems behaved well; but no former is he dead, than, like a broken bow, they start aside, and return to their former abominations. This provoked a heavier scourge than either of the former, under Jabin, king of Canaan, whose royal hat was Haen, formerly destroyed by Jaffna, but now re-built and restored, through the negligence and theft of the Israelites. His captain, Sifra, also dwelt in Hammeth of the Gentiles, another fort is probably, where the fugitives of the several nations who had fled collected themselves, and now were become so strong, as mightily to oppress their former conquerors. The numerous hosts, and nine hundred chariots of iron, which he maintained, left no hope of redress, and in despair and anguish Israel is once more driven unto God. Note, (1.) When Israel variations do not answer their purpose, we may expect heavier. (2.) They who abide prosperity, shall know the cries of adversity. (3.) Whilst there is a tongue in the sinner to speak, God hath still an ear to hear.

4. And Deborah a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, the judged Israel at that time. 5. And the dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 6. And the sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam, out of Kedech-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go, and draw towards mount Tabor, 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, to the river: Kithon, Sifra the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots, and his multitude; and I will deliver him into these hand. 8. And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 9. And the said, I will surely go with thee; notwithstanding, the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour: for the LORD shall sell Sifra into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedech.

Judges 4:4-9

Twenty years the iron yoke of Jabin lay heavy upon them, when now at last God hears his people’s cry, and comes to deliver them.

T t t Deborah, deborah