Judges 4, Deborah, Barak and Jael!

Judges 4-5 presents a classic picture of God’s arrangement in all areas of life. It is the story of Deborah and Barak, and Jael.  Ch. 4 is the story, and it is a great read.  Then Ch. 5 is the song Deborah wrote about the event.  As a person who speaks for God (a prophetess, 4:4), her song gives the true “spin” on the story.  The theme, as given in 5:2, is this: those who lead need to lead, and those they lead need to “willingly offer themselves.”  That deserves a loud, BLESS THE LORD!

First, some context.  Jud. 5:6 says this happened in the days of Shamgar (3:31).  Second, note that Hazor has come back to life after being burned by Joshua at least 100 years before.  And not only is it back to life, it is the Canaanite capital in the northern part of the land (4:2).  Harosheth Hagoyim (4:2, literally means Harosheth of the Nations/Gentiles) is a city of the commander and its location is uncertain.  One idea is that it was on the west shore of Lake Meron (Lake Hula today).  The other more popular idea is that it was at the northern base of Mt. Carmel, at the entrance into the Jezreel Valley coming from the coast.  The point is that the area ruled by Jabin king of Canaan, on the map of the tribal allotment, would be north of a line drawn across the top of West Manasseh. 

Now, consider Deborah’s song.  The theme is in 5:2.  Her commitment to praise God in 5:3.  Why such praise?  Because God was doing something (5:4-5).  Remember: the forces of Barak faced 900 iron chariots (4:3).  And remember earlier that Israel couldn’t or wouldn’t stand up to such “modern warfare” (1:19).  Further…

·       5:6-9: Israel was in a bad way – empty roads, new gods – when I, Deborah, arose and when certain leaders offered themselves willingly with the people.

·       5:10-11: So how about it, you important people, who were nowhere around those telling stories from the battle, the righteous works of God?  5:12: sing it Deborah!

·       5:13-23: Deborah names names!  Who helped and who didn’t?  Jud. 4:10 told us Zebulun and Naphtali offered themselves willingly.  What we didn’t know was that recruiters went to many tribes:

ov14: Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (W. Manasseh).  Perhaps these tribes thought that since the problem was not in their areas they need not help.
o   v15: Issachar (leaders willing but the people not).
o   v15-16: Reuben had great searchings of heart (i.e. they didn’t help).
o   v17: Gilead (Gad, E Manasseh), Dan, Asher: these were otherwise occupied.
o   v18-22: 2 tribes engaged the enemy … Zebulun and Naphtali.  Taanach, in the Jezreel Valley, near Megiddo (4:12,14 – Barak gathered on Mt. Tabor, descended from there toward Megiddo) was where the battle was initially fought.
o   Meanwhile, Meroz, an unknown town but meaning “refuge,” was cursed!  Perhaps they stayed in their “refuge” (Gesenius).  But …

·       5:24-27: Blessed is Jael.  The woman whose name means “wild mountain goat” (as in Job 39:1; Ps. 104:18; 1 Sam. 24:2, in En Gedi), the wife of a Kennite (the descendants of Moses’ father in law Jethro, the people who found blessing by being in the land with Israel, she is the one God used.  She drove the spike in commander Sisera’s head and he was instantly dead!  This fulfilled Deborah’s prophecy that a woman would be the “hero” (4:9).  Oh, poor mother of Sisera (5:28-30).  The boy she’s so proud of isn’t coming home.

5:31: May it always be this way for the enemies of the LORD!  What a song of praise and encouragement for God’s people.  Even for us!

Mt. Tabor from east.

Wooded western hillside of Tabor.

From Tabot looking west across the Jezreel Valley.  
The battle would have begun at the base of Tabor, 
Israel against 900 iron chariots of Sisera, and ended
in the distance at Harosheth Hagoyim.