Judges 4

A Woman’s Hand Ended the War

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Jabin and Sisera Oppress Israel

4:1The sons of Israel again did evil before the Lord.

4:2The Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. His army commander was Sisera, who dwelt in Arisoth of the Nations.

4:3The sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, because he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he oppressed Israel mightily for twenty years.

Deborah Summons Barak

4:4Deborah, a woman who was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

4:5She sat beneath Deborah’s palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The sons of Israel went up to her there to be judged.

4:6Deborah sent and called Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go to Mount Tabor and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and the sons of Zebulun?

4:7I will lead away to you at the Kishon torrent Sisera, Jabin’s army commander, his chariots, and his multitude, and I will hand him into your hand.’”

4:8Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you do not go with me, I will not go, because I do not know the day on which the Lord gives the messenger success with me.”

4:9Deborah said to him, “I will certainly go with you. But know that the advantage will not be yours on the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into a woman’s hands.” Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.

4:10Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. Ten thousand men went up at his feet, and Deborah went up with him.

Sisera Draws Up at the Kishon

4:11The neighbors of the Kenite had separated from the sons of Jobab, Moses’ in-law. He pitched his tent near the Oak of the Resters, near Kedesh.

4:12They told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up Mount Tabor.

4:13Sisera summoned all his chariots—nine hundred iron chariots—and all the people with him, from Arisoth of the Nations to the Kishon torrent.

4:14Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! This is the day on which the Lord has handed Sisera into your hand. Look, will not the Lord go before you?” Barak went down Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

4:15The Lord threw Sisera, all his chariots, and all his camp into confusion before Barak at the edge of the sword. Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.

4:16Barak pursued the chariots and the camp as far as the Woodland of the Nations. All Sisera’s camp fell by the edge of the sword; not even one remained.

Jael and the Tent Peg

4:17Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

4:18Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord; turn aside to me. Do not fear.” He turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with her hide covering.

4:19Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered his face.

4:20He said to her, “Stand at the tent entrance. If anyone comes and asks you, ‘Is there a man here?’ say, ‘No.’” And she covered him with her hide covering.

4:21Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and put the mallet in her hand. She came to him quietly and drove the peg into his jaw, and it passed through into the ground. He convulsed between her knees, breathed his last, and died.

4:22Now Barak was pursuing Sisera. Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man you are seeking.” He entered with her, and there lay Sisera, dead, with the peg in his jaw.

Jabin Subdued

4:23On that day the Lord God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the sons of Israel.

4:24The hand of the sons of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they destroyed him.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V2 · working draft awaiting specialist review.