Judges 4:1 - 5:31

Outline :

Chapter 4 :
Deborah, Barak, and Sisera; Deborah (and Barak) lead Israel against Sisera, the commander of Jabin (king of Canaan).

Chapter 4 :

4:1-3

Israel Sins, is Oppressed, and Repents (background) The first three stages of the cylce; After Ehud dies, Israel again does evil. God allows Jabin, the King of Canaan, to oppress them 'severely' for twenty years before they call out for help. Jabin's army was under the command of Sisera, and had 900 iron chariots (which made them pretty tough).

2:4-10

Deliverence through Deborah (and Barak) Deborah was the judge of Israel, arbitrating disputes (with her palm tree) for Israel. She summons Barak, and informs him that he is the chosen one to deliver Israel (along with 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun [both northern tribes]). Barak agrees to go, but only if Deborah will hold his hand; Deborah agrees to go, but says that as a result Barak won't get the honor, since Sisera will be killed by a woman.

4:11

Heber...a necessary detail Before the story continues...a family of Kenites (the group descended from Moses' father-in-law; not a real tribe, but kind of a part of Israel) was living away from the rest of the Kenites, near Kedesh (where Barak and Deborah were gathering the troops). The Kenites, however, had hitherto been friendly with Sisera and Jabin...

4:12-16

Barak Defeats Sisera's Army Sisera hears that Barak has raised an army; he gets his gang together. Barak comes down from Mount Tabor and fights those turkeys, 'and the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army'. Sisera escapes on foot.
Note: Deborah's song makes mention of the role of water in this battle. In the song, v.4 and 21 (of chap 5) speak of water/rain in the battle. Obviously, chariots don't do a whole lot of good in the rain...

4:17-22

Jael kills Sisera Sisera flees on foot...he comes to the tent of Heber the kenite, and asks Jael, Heber's wife, to hide him. She agrees, and then kills him with a tent peg and hammer once he falls asleep.

4:23,24

Redux Israel continued to push on Jabin, until they defeated him.

5:1-31

Deborah's Song The song that Deborah and Barak sing after their victory...

4:1-3
Israel Sins, is Oppressed, and Repents (background)	The first three stages of the cylce; After Ehud dies, Israel again does evil. God allows Jabin, the King of Canaan, to oppress them 'severely' for twenty years before they call out for help. Jabin's army was under the command of Sisera, and had 900 iron chariots (which made them pretty tough).
2:4-10
Deliverence through Deborah (and Barak)	Deborah was the judge of Israel, arbitrating disputes (with her palm tree) for Israel. She summons Barak, and informs him that he is the chosen one to deliver Israel (along with 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun [both northern tribes]). Barak agrees to go, but only if Deborah will hold his hand; Deborah agrees to go, but says that as a result Barak won't get the honor, since Sisera will be killed by a woman.
4:11
Heber...a necessary detail	Before the story continues...a family of Kenites (the group descended from Moses' father-in-law; not a real tribe, but kind of a part of Israel) was living away from the rest of the Kenites, near Kedesh (where Barak and Deborah were gathering the troops). The Kenites, however, had hitherto been friendly with Sisera and Jabin...
4:12-16
Barak Defeats Sisera's Army	Sisera hears that Barak has raised an army; he gets his gang together. Barak comes down from Mount Tabor and fights those turkeys, 'and the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army'. Sisera escapes on foot. Note: Deborah's song makes mention of the role of water in this battle. In the song, v.4 and 21 (of chap 5) speak of water/rain in the battle. Obviously, chariots don't do a whole lot of good in the rain...
4:17-22
Jael kills Sisera	Sisera flees on foot...he comes to the tent of Heber the kenite, and asks Jael, Heber's wife, to hide him. She agrees, and then kills him with a tent peg and hammer once he falls asleep.
4:23,24
Redux	Israel continued to push on Jabin, until they defeated him.
5:1-31
Deborah's Song	The song that Deborah and Barak sing after their victory...