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 .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 4:6-15
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.