41 Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord , after Ehud died . 2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan , who reigned in Hazor ; and the commander of his army was Sisera , who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim e . 3 The sons of Israel cried to the Lord ; for he had nine hundred iron chariots , and he oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years .
4 Now Deborah , a prophetess , the wife of Lappidoth , was judging Israel at that time . 5 She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim ; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment . 6 Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali e , and said to him, "Behold , the Lord , the God of Israel , has commanded , 'Go and march to Mount Tabor , and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun . 7 'I will draw out to you Sisera , the commander of Jabin's army , with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon , and I will give him into your hand .' " 8 Then 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 She said , "I will surely go with you; nevertheless e , the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take , for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman ." Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh .
10 Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh , and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him. 11 Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites , from the sons of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses , and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim , which is near Kedesh . 12 Then they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor . 13 Sisera called together all his chariots , nine hundred iron chariots , and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim e to the river Kishon . 14 Deborah said to Barak , "Arise ! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands ; behold , the Lord has gone out before you." So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 15 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 e , and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword ; not even one was left .
17 Now Sisera fled away on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite , for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 4:1-17
Commentary on Judges 4:1-3.
(Read Judges 4:1-3.)
The land had rest for eighty years, which should have confirmed them in their religion; but it made them secure, and indulge their lusts. Thus the prosperity of fools destroys them. Jabin and his general Sisera, mightily oppressed Israel. This enemy was nearer than any of the former. Israel cried unto the Lord, when distress drove them to him, and they saw no other way of relief. Those who slight God in prosperity, will find themselves under a necessity of seeking him in trouble.
Commentary on Judges 4:4-9
(Read Judges 4:4-9)
Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she would not go herself. Those who in God's name call others to their duty, should be ready to assist them in it. Barak values the satisfaction of his mind, and the good success of his enterprise, more than mere honour.
Commentary on Judges 4:10-16.
(Read Judges 4:10-16.)
Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots would have advantage against him: he quitted the mountain in dependence on the Divine power; for in the Lord alone is the salvation of his people, Jeremiah 3:23. He was not deceived in his confidence. When God goes before us in our spiritual conflicts, we must bestir ourselves; and when, by his grace, he gives us some success against the enemies of our souls, we must improve it by watchfulness and resolution.
Commentary on Judges 4:17-24
(Read Judges 4:17-24)
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Isaiah 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse she was afterwards led to consider him as the determined enemy of the Lord and of his people, and to destroy him. All our connexions with God's enemies must be broken off, if we would have the Lord for our God, and his people for our people. He that had thought to have destroyed Israel with his many iron chariots, is himself destroyed with one iron nail. Thus the weak things of the world confound the mighty. The Israelites would have prevented much mischief, if they had sooner destroyed the Canaanites, as God commanded and enabled them: but better be wise late, and buy wisdom by experience, than never be wise.