1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth 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.
4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine 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 she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
12 And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet 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.
18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
24 And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Old Testament of the KJV Holy Bible. It is a historical account of the Israelites after the death of Joshua, during the time when they were ruled by a series of judges. These judges were chosen by God to lead and deliver the Israelites from their enemies. Chapter 4 of Judges is the story of Deborah, one of the only female judges mentioned in the Bible, and her role in defeating the Canaanites who had been oppressing the Israelites for twenty years.
There are several main themes that can be found in Chapter 4 of the Book of Judges:
The most prominent theme in Chapter 4 is the role of women in leadership and warfare. Deborah is introduced as a prophetess and a judge of Israel. At a time when women were not typically given positions of authority, Deborah’s role as a leader is significant. She is not only a judge, but she is also a military leader, giving orders and strategies to Barak, the commander of the Israelite army.
Deborah’s leadership and bravery are highlighted in verse 4, which says, “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.” Her gender is not seen as a hindrance to her role as a leader; instead, it is celebrated and embraced. This is a powerful message about the capabilities and importance of women in society and in the eyes of God.
Another example of the role of women in warfare is seen in the defeat of the Canaanite army. In verse 21, it is mentioned that the Israelites were able to defeat the Canaanites because “the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host.” It was not the strength and might of the Israelite army that brought victory, but the power of God. This shows that even in a male-dominated field like warfare, women can play a significant role in bringing about success through their faith and obedience to God.
Throughout Chapter 4, the importance of faith and obedience to God is emphasized. In verse 3, it is mentioned that the Israelites had been oppressed for twenty years because they “did evil in the sight of the Lord.” This shows that their suffering was a consequence of their disobedience to God’s commands. However, when Deborah is introduced, it is mentioned that she is a prophetess, which means she is a messenger of God. Her role as a leader is not just to judge and strategize, but also to remind the people of their faith and obedience to God.
When Deborah sends for Barak and tells him to gather an army to face the Canaanites, he hesitates and asks for her to come with him. However, Deborah responds in verse 9, “I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” This shows that even though Barak was hesitant and lacked faith in God’s power, Deborah was steadfast in her trust and obedience to God’s plan.
In the end, it was the faith and obedience of Deborah, Barak, and the Israelites that brought about their victory over the Canaanites. This serves as a reminder that even in the midst of difficult and seemingly impossible situations, having faith in God and being obedient to His commands can lead to success.
As mentioned earlier, the Israelites’ oppression by the Canaanites was a consequence of their disobedience to God. This is a recurring theme throughout the Book of Judges. Whenever the Israelites turned away from God and worshipped other gods, they would face consequences in the form of oppression and suffering from their enemies.
In Chapter 4, the consequences of disobedience are seen not only in the oppression of the Israelites but also in the actions of Jael, the wife of Heber. Jael is described as a woman who “went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not” (verse 18). However, after Sisera falls asleep, she kills him by driving a tent peg through his temple. This act of violence can be seen as a consequence of Sisera’s disobedience to God and his oppression of the Israelites.
This serves as a warning to the Israelites and to readers of the Bible that disobedience to God’s commands can have severe consequences, not only for themselves but also for those around them.
The ultimate message of Chapter 4 is the power of God to deliver and save His people. Throughout the chapter, it is mentioned that the Israelites were oppressed and suffering for twenty years, and they were unable to defeat the Canaanites on their own. It was only through the power of God that they were able to overcome their enemies.
In verse 14, it is mentioned that “the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak.” This shows that it was not the strength or might of the Israelites, but the power of God that brought about their victory. This serves as a reminder that even in the face of seemingly impossible situations, God is able to deliver and save His people.
Furthermore, the fact that God chose Deborah, a woman, to lead and deliver the Israelites shows that His power and authority are not limited by societal norms and expectations. This is a powerful message about the inclusivity and universality of God’s love and power.
Chapter 4 of the Book of Judges carries several meanings and lessons for readers. It serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and obedience to God, the consequences of disobedience, and the power of God to deliver and save His people. It also highlights the role of women in leadership and warfare and the inclusivity and universality of God’s love and power.
Overall, Chapter 4 of the Book of Judges is a powerful testament to the faithfulness and sovereignty of God and serves as an inspiration for readers to trust in His plan and power in the face of adversity. It also serves as a reminder to embrace and celebrate the capabilities and importance of women in society and in the eyes of God.
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