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SURVEY OF BIBLE HISTORY
(THE JUDGES TO THE KINGS)
Deborah and Barak

Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

Copyright - Lester Hutson - 1998
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.

Lesson 13

Judges 4-5

VII. THE THIRD CYCLE OF OPPRESSION: OPPRESSION AT THE HAND OF JABIN AND THE CANAANITES: JUDGES 4:1-5:31.

A. If indeed the events of Judges 17-21 occurred during the eight years mentioned in Judges 3:30, it is obvious that Israel was ripe for bondage and oppression by the time the eighty years ended. Such wickedness as we've considered would surely bring the heavy hand of God upon any people.

1. As indicated previously (Point VI, A, 1.), even though the land had rest for eighty years, Judges 3:3 , the text does not specifically say Ehud lived the entire eighty years after delivering Israel from Moab. My opinion is that he did not. I think he died short of the eighty-year period-, and that at his death, Israel turned to evil on a wholesale scale. Thus, it is my opinion that Judges 4:1 records what happened toward the end of the eighty years, probably including the events of Judges 17:21. At the end of the full eighty years, captivity came as stated in Judges 4:2.

2. In keeping with God's cycle of following sin with judgment, He brought them into the hand of Jabin, King of the Canaanites. Jabin's chief military officer was Sisera, Judges 4:2.

The activity recorded in Judges 4 & 5 turns northward and involves mainly the six northern tribes of Israel. Jabin lived in Hazor. Almost 100 years earlier, Joshua 11:1-11 records the fact that Joshua had met "Jabin King of Hazor, " killed him with a sword and burned the city of Hazor. Skeptics have thought Joshua 11 and Judges 4 to be in conflict and an error in scripture. Not so! Jabin was the title given to the Canaanite kings who ruled from Hazor, just as the terms Pharaoh, Abimelech, president, king, etc. are terms often used as titles; not proper names. Thus, the Jabin of Hazor who Joshua killed was a different ruler than the Jabin of Hazor in Judges 4.

Hazor was indeed burned by Joshua; although not being occupied by Israel, the Canaanites had rebuilt the city. Hazor, located four to five miles southwest of Lake Huleh, was an ideal spot for a strong military city. The elevated site of almost 200 acres could accommodate a population of as many as 40,000, a large city in that day. Hazor had once again regained its power and position of dominance. Like Megiddo on the other end of the Esdraelon Valley, Hazor dominated the trade routes between Egypt and the western Asian empires.

Though Jabin was king, he does not hold the place of prominence in this story that Sisera holds. Jabin had a strong army, including 900 "chariots of iron," verse 3. The army was commanded by Sisera, without whom Jabin was virtually powerless. For twenty years Jabin, with his strongman Sisera, kept Israel in rigorous oppression, Verse 3 Note: The use of chariots was especially suited to the Hazor area. The trade routes passed through the huge Jezreel and Esdraelon Valley, which has a basically flat floor. At most seasons, the dry floor would be excellent for chariot activity. Thus, the entire area could be commanded by chariots.

B. The third and fourth stages of the cycle are seen in Verses 3 & 4. After sin followed by bondage "Israel cried unto the Lord." Repentance It is vital to recovery. Once repentance occurred, deliverance was on its way.

1. Deborah was the person God was using to judge Israel at the time. Though normally women were in subordinate positions in the Israeli culture, occasionally one would rise to a national position of leadership. She is the only lady listed in this group of prestigious judges. Her use says God is no respecter of sexes. He can use male or female to accomplish His purposes. Only mention is made of Lapidoth, her husband. The emphasis here is clearly on Deborah and what God would do through her.

2. The geographical points mentioned here are diverse and distant, and suggest the magnitude of this oppression. It was apparently nationwide, with special oppression in the north. Though Deborah lived 50 miles from the scene of the decisive battle, she was well aware of the situation. Furthermore, these northern tribes were aware of Deborah's reputation, and they came to her for help, Verse 5.

Furthermore, the unity of the tribes stands out here. There was obviously good communication between the tribes, evidenced by the fact that Deborah called Barak to command the military operations. He lived in KadeshNaphtali, which was located about five miles to the northwest of Lake Huleh, an area especially oppressed by the Canaanites.

3. In the name of God, Deborah sent for Barak, explaining that God had revealed that Israel would be delivered. She commanded him to gather an army of 10,000 men out of Naphtali and Zebulun and proceed toward Mount Tabor. (Judges 5:14-15 says four other tribes joined in the battle also, probably coming up as reinforcements after the initial strike.) The Kishon River is the primary river of the Jezreel Valley. It is normally low, but during heavy rains, it becomes a mighty torrent, capable of flooding large areas of the valley. Deborah explained to Barak that God would draw Sisera and his 900 chariots plus footmen to the banks of the Kishon River where God would miraculously deliver them into Barak's hand. Consider Judges 4:6-7.

4. Barak's lack of faith and confidence in God is seen in Judges 4:8. He was reluctant to go, agreeing to go only if Deborah was at his side. Humanly speaking, his reaction is understandable. The disparity between the opposing armies was considerable. Barak realized his inadequacy which is commendable. But, what is not commendable is his failure in confidence in what God can do. II Cor. 12:9 says God's strength is made perfect in weakness. We are not sufficient of ourselves, II Cor. 3:5 but through Christ, we can do "all" things, Phil. 4:13. Believer, don't ever underestimate what God can do; nor the fact that He could do it through you.

5. In response to Barak's lack of faith, Deborah expressed her scorn and rebuke in these prophetic words, "And she said, 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. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kadesh," Judges 4: . The prophecy was fulfilled by the death of Sisera at the hand of Jael.

6. Deborah and Barak called the 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun and went up onto Mount Tabor. which is a beautiful, symmetrical, cone shaped mountain rising to approximately 1,300 feet off the level floor of the northeast Esdraelon Valley. The Kishon River flows near its foot. See Judges 4:10.

7. The Kenites were a nomadic group associated with Judah, who had moved north. Obviously from Verse 17 their tents lay on Sisera's escape route. These Kenites saw what Deborah, Barak, and company did; and in turn told Sisera, Verses 11-12. Sisera then gathered his chariots and soldiers, and advanced on Tabor to the banks of the Kishon River, Verse 13. (Note well how God is moving players into position on His stage according to His revelation to Deborah.)

8. And, with precision timing, the Lord struck. Sisera and his chariots rolled in on dry ground. Apparently it was not the rainy season of the year, and they expected no problems with their chariots bogging. Judges 5:14-22 explains what happened. With the men of Naphtali and Zebulun on Mount Tabor with Deborah and Barak, men from Ephraim, Benjamin, Issachar and Reuben began to advance. Then a catastrophic, unseasonal rain storm burst upon the scene. Listen to Verses 20-22, "They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera. The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. 0 my soul, thou host trodden down strength. Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the prancings, their mighty ones." The river Kishon suddenly became a raging torrent, the earth became a muddy quagmire, the chariots got stuck, and Canaanite soldiers were drowning.

Sensing the moment of opportunity, Deborah commanded Barak and his men to attack, Judges 4:14. He and the men of Naphtali and Zebulun rushed down the mountain, while the men of the other four tribes moved it, so that Verses 15-16 says, "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. 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." As they fled to the pass, the valley narrowed and the chariots were trapped by panic stricken men.

9. With his chariot buried in mud, "Sisera fled away on his feet the tent of Joel the wife of Heber the Kenite:for there was peace between Jabin the King of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite, " Judges 4:17. Jael encouraged him to come in for safety, which he did. He being thirsty asked for water; although she gave him milk, a natural relaxant. Weary of battle and thinking himself safe, he lay down to rest and fell sound asleep. (Woe to men who sleep in battle!)

In his false security, Sisera thought himself safe; but the fact is he was in the tent of an enemy. The Kenites, being the family of Moses' wife, had strong ties with the Israelites. She covered this tired, dirty, sweaty man with a mantle and he fell asleep.

Being nomadic, her expertise with tent stakes and a hammer is understandable. Quietly she placed the tent stakes to his sleeping temple, and drove the stake through his head and into the ground. Listen to Judges 4:21 "Then Joel 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. " Judges 5:26 says she "smote off his head."

10. A rare look into the heart of Sisera's mother is recorded in Judges 5:28-31. She was so confident of his victory, but just the opposite occurred. Scorn and disgrace was his lot; and Deborah concludes her song of praise with these words, "So let all thine enemies perish 0 Lord- but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might And -the land had rest forty years, Verse 31.

11. Barak pursued Sisera, only to find him dead in Jael's tent with her stake in his head. Thus in fulfillment of the prophecy of Deborah, Barak was denied the honor of slaying Sisera; and as the commanding soldier, was somewhat embarrassed by the fact that a woman of no military status, took his life. Overshadowed, Barak was upstaged. Here is a warning against faithlessness. God honors those who trust Him; those who follow Him in faith.

12. Judges 5 is Deborah's song of exaltation and praise unto the Lord. Music! It is man's highest form of verbal expression. Music captures the mood: the emotion of life. When men can find no other way to express the deepest feelings of their soul, they burst forth in verse. Deborah's is a praise and credit to the Lord for deliverance.

13. The end of Jabin is recorded in Judges 4:23-24. The back of the Canaanite domination was decisively broken. Over the next months, the hand of the Israelites bore down harder and harder on the Canaanites until finally there was no more kingdom of Jabin.

14. After the victory by Deborah and Barak, the land had rest forty years, Judges 5:31.

QUESTIONS ON "DEBORAH & BARAK"

1. Locate Hazor on your map.

2. Who was Jabin, King of Hazor?

3. In view of Hazor's destruction by Joshua, how does one account for Hazor in Judges 4?

4. Name the four parts in the cycles repeated in Judges.

5. Why was Hazor such an important city?

6. Who was Sisera?

7. Why were the chariots of iron such formidable weapons particularly in the Esdraelon Valley?

8. Who was Deborah?

9. How big was this Canaanite conflict?

10. How did God reveal his plans for Israel's deliverance?

11. Locate Naphtali & Zebulun on your map.

12. How did Barak express his lack of faith?

13. Locate Lake Huleh on your map.

14. Locate Mount Tabor on your map.

15. Describe and locate the Kishon River.

16. How did God take away some of Barak's honor because of his weak faith?

17. Who were the Kenites?

18. Explain how the rainstorm destroyed the Canaanites.

19. Describe the death of Sisera.

20. What is the nature of Deborah's song?

 "It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"