Judges 4:1-24
Q.1. What were the consequences when Israel turned from God? How significant was their oppression? Who was Israel’s judge? Why did Deborah call for Barak? What promise did she give him? – (Jdgs.4:1-7)
Israel’s pattern of turning to the evil practices of the Canaanites continued (Jdgs.4:1). Once more the Lord gave them over to their enemies. This time it was Jabin, king of Canaan. The oppression came from the army commander, Sisera, for some twenty years. The Canaanites were an imposing force, boasting nine hundred iron chariots (Jdgs.4:2-3). Israel cried out for deliverance, during the time of the prophetess Deborah. She judged Israel from Ephraim (Jdgs.4:4-5). She summoned Barak to gather ten thousand troops from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun (Jdgs.4:6). Deborah spoke a promise from the Lord – 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 (Jdgs.4:7). It is always special when God spells out the victory before a sword is raised in battle (c.f. 2 Cor.10:3-5).
Q.2. What conditional response did Barak give? Who would gain the honour for Israel’s victory? Why was Heber the Kenite given special treatment? – (Jdgs.4:8-11)
In spite of the promise, Barak refused to go, without Deborah’s inspirational presence. She agreed to go with him but predicted that he would forfeit any honour for the victory – … for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman … (Jdgs.4:9). Who were the Kenites? The daughter of Hobab (also known as Jethro and Reuel – see notes on Q.3. of Exo.2:1-25) had married Moses, the great leader of Israel. They were from the nomadic line of the Kenites and came under the protection of Israel, because of all the bush skills that Moses had learned from them during his forty years of sojourn amongst them.
Q.3. How did the battle go? Why? What made Sisera seek refuge amongst the Kenites? What did Jael, the wife of Heber do to Sisera? What do we learn about God’s battle plans? – (Jdgs.4:12-24)
Sisera was not impressed by Barak’s plans to free the nation. He made ready with his army, complete with their nine hundred iron chariots (Jdgs.4:12-13). Deborah kept Barak’s eyes on God and predicted – … Arise! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the Lord has gone out before you … (Jdgs.4:14). Israel won decisively, because – The Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak … and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left (Jdgs.4:15-16). The general – 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 (Jdgs.4:17). She refreshed the exhausted Sisera, but while he slept – Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died (Jdgs.4:21). Joel informed Barak, and – God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel (Jdgs.4:23). The honour for the triumph belonged to Jael and Deborah. We learn that no two battles are alike, so we must stay connected to our God, and obey His direction.