King James Version
Judges 4
24 verses with commentary
Deborah and Barak
And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works through these imperfect human instruments to accomplish His purpo...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **Again did evil in the sight of the Lord.**—“They turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers, starting aside like a broken bow” (Psalm 78:57); see Judges 3:12.
**When Ehud was dead.**—See Judges 3:31.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 21 Jos 21:1-8. Eight and Forty Cities Given by Lot Out of the Other Tribes unto the Levites.
**1-3. Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites--**The most venerable and distinguished members of the three Levitical families, on behalf of their tribe, applied for the special provision that had been promised them to be now awarded (see on Nu 35:2). Their inheritance lay within th...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
Israel again revolts, and is oppressed by Jabin.(1-3)
Deborah concerts their deliverance with Barak.(4-9)
Sisera defeated.(10-16)
Sisera put to death by Jael.(17-24)
**Verses 1-3**
The land had rest for eighty years, which should have confirmed them in their religion; but it made them secure, and indulge their lusts. Thus the prosperity of fools ...
Read full commentary →And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, ye...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **Sold them.**—See Judges 2:14.
**Jabin.**—The name means, “he is wise.” It may have been a dynastic name, like Abimelech, Melchizedek, Pharaoh, Hadad, Agag, &c.
**King of Canaan**—*i.e., *of some great tribe or nation of the Canaanite8. In Joshua 11:1 Jabin is called king of Hazor, and sends messages to all the other Canaanite princes.
**Reigned in Hazor.**—See Joshua 11:1. Hazor was in the t...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-8. the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites--**The Levites were divided into Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the priests, to whom thirteen cities were grante...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
Israel again revolts, and is oppressed by Jabin.(1-3)
Deborah concerts their deliverance with Barak.(4-9)
Sisera defeated.(10-16)
Sisera put to death by Jael.(17-24)
**Verses 1-3**
The land had rest for eighty years, which should have confirmed them in their religion; but it made them secure, and indulge their lusts. Thus the prosperity of fools ...
Read full commentary →And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Cried unto the Lord.**—Judges 3:9; Judges 3:15; Psalm 107:13.
**Nine hundred.**—Josephus magnifies the number to 3,000.
**Chariots of iron.**—Judges 1:19; Joshua 17:10. We may notice that as the children of Israel *burnt *these chariots at Misrephoth-maim (Joshua 11), they could not have been of solid iron throughout.
**Mightily oppressed.**—The word “mightily” is rendered “sharply” in Judge...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-8. the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites--**The Levites were divided into Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the priests, to whom thirteen cities were grante...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
Israel again revolts, and is oppressed by Jabin.(1-3)
Deborah concerts their deliverance with Barak.(4-9)
Sisera defeated.(10-16)
Sisera put to death by Jael.(17-24)
**Verses 1-3**
The land had rest for eighty years, which should have confirmed them in their religion; but it made them secure, and indulge their lusts. Thus the prosperity of fools ...
Read full commentary →And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works through these imperfect human instruments to accomplish His purposes. Th...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Deborah.**—The name means “bee,” like the Greek Melissa. The names of Jewish women were often derived from natural objects, as Rachel, “a lamb,” Tamar,”a palm,” &c. It has been sometimes regarded as a title given to her as a prophetess, just as the priestesses of Delphi were called Bees (Pindar, *Pyth. iv.* 106); and priests were called by the title Malebee (*Essēn*)*. *But the fact that Rac...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-8. the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites--**The Levites were divided into Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the priests, to whom thirteen cities were grante...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she wou...
Read full commentary →And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works through ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **She dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah.—**Similarly Abraham is said to have lived under the oak of Mamre (Genesis 14:13), and Saul under the pomegranate of Migron (1Samuel 14:2). “Such tents the patriarchs loved “(Coleridge). Dean Stanley (*Jewish Chron. *i. 318) draws a fine contrast between the triumphant “mother of Israel” (Judges 5 under her palm, full of the fire of faith and energy,a...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-8. the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites--**The Levites were divided into Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the priests, to whom thirteen cities were grante...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she wou...
Read full commentary →And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **Barak.**—The name means “lightning” (Jos., *Antt.*)*, *as does Barca, the family name of Hannibal and Hasdrubal. So in Virgil, the Scipios are called “two lightnings of war.” (Comp. Boanerges, Mark 3:17.)
**Kedesh-naphtali.**—The name “Kedesh” means a *holy *city. There were, therefore, many towns of the name, as Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 20:1; Joshua 15:23), and Kedesh in Issachar (Joshua 12:2...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-8. the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites--**The Levites were divided into Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Among the former the family of Aaron were exclusively appointed to the priesthood, and all the rest were ranked in the common order of Levites. The first lot was drawn by the Kohathites; and the first of theirs again by the priests, to whom thirteen cities were grante...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she wou...
Read full commentary →And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **To the river Kishon.**—This word rendered “river” is *nachal, *which means rather “a torrent-bed” or “water-course,” the Arabic *wady, *the Italian *fiumara—*such as the bed of the Kedron and the Rhinocolura. (LXX. *cheimarrous, *Vulg. *torrens.*) The river is always prominently mentioned in connection with this great victory (Psalm 83:9), because the overwhelming defeat of Canaan was due in...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she wou...
Read full commentary →And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works through these imperfect human inst...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **If thou wilt go with me.**—The enterprise seemed so daring and so hopeless, that if not for his own sake, yet for the sake of his army, Barak felt how much would be gained by the presence of the inspired prophetess. The LXX. has the remarkable addition, “Because I know not the day in which the Lord prospers the angel with me.” This is a sort of excuse for his want of perfect faith. He depend...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she wou...
Read full commentary →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 Kedesh.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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 Kedesh.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themsel...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **I will surely go with thee.**—Literally-*Going, I will go.*
**Shall not be for thine honour.**—Literally, *thy pre-eminence *(LXX. *“proterēma”; *Luther, “*der Preis *“) *shall not be on the path which thou enterest.*
**Of a woman.**—To enter into the force of this we must remember the humble and almost down-trodden position of women in the East, so that it could hardly fail to be a humiliat...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 4-9**
Deborah was a prophetess; one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them; correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak insisted much upon her presence. Deborah promised to go with him. She would not send him where she wou...
Read full commentary →And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works through these imperfect ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **Called.**—The word used is the technical word for summoning an army (2Samuel 20:4-5). Naturally Zebulun and Naphtali would be more difficult to arouse than the central tribes, because, though they felt the oppression most, they would have to bear the brunt of the vengeance in case of defeat. Ephraim and Benjamin (Judges 5:14), being more strong and secure, could raise their contingents with...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-16**
Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots wo...
Read full commentary →Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of fai...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) **Heber the Kenite.**—See Judges 1:16; Judges 3:31; Numbers 10:29.
**Which was of the children of Hobab.**—Rather, *had separated himself from Kain,from the children of Hobab. *Nomadic settlements are constantly liable to send off these separate colonies. The life and movements of the Kenites resembled those of gipsies, except that they had flocks and herds. To this day a small Bedouin settle...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-16**
Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots wo...
Read full commentary →And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works through these imperfect human instruments to accomplish His purposes. Th...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(12) **They shewed Sisera.**—The previous verse has been introduced by way of anticipation, that the reader—who has last heard of the Kenites in the south of Judah (Judges 1:16)—may not be surprised at Judges 4:17 to find them in Naphtali. It is not, therefore, necessary to suppose that the “they” means the Kenites. It may be an impersonal expression (as it is rendered in the LXX. and Vulg. “it wa...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-16**
Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots wo...
Read full commentary →And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. together: Heb. by cry, or, proclamation
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and chara...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(13) **All his chariots.**—He saw at once that this very sudden revolt had assumed formidable proportions, and he would need all his forces to dislodge Barak from his strongly entrenched position on Tabor.
**Harosheth of the Gentiles.**—This is simply the name of the town Harosheth-haggoîm. (See Judges 4:2.)
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-16**
Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots wo...
Read full commentary →And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves disp...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(14) **This is the day.**—See the addition of the LXX. to Judges 4:8. The ancients attached the utmost importance to fortunate and unfortunate days, and Barak was guided by a prophetess, not by idle auguries.
**Is not the Lord gone out before thee?**—“Then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle” (Zechariah 14:3; comp. Deuteronomy 9:3).
**Wen...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-16**
Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots wo...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith an...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(15) **Discomfited.**—The same word as in Exodus 14:24; Joshua 10:10. The LXX. *exestēse, *and the Vulg. *perterruit, *imply the element of immediate Divine aid in the battle.
**Sisera, and all his chariots.**—“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7; comp. Psalm 33:16-17; Proverbs 21:31).
**And all his host.**—“Do unto them . . . a...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-16**
Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots wo...
Read full commentary →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. a man: Heb. unto one
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and char...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(16) **There was not a man left.**—The massacre in all battles in which the fugitives have to escape over a river and contend with a storm is always specially fatal. The memory of this terrible carnage was preserved for years, together with the circumstance that the soil was enriched by the dead bodies (Psalm 83:10). Similarly at Waterloo, the year after the battle a blaze of crimson poppies burst...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 10-16**
Siser's confidence was chiefly in his chariots. But if we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we may go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for is not the Lord gone before thee? Follow him then fully. Barak went down, though upon the plain the iron chariots wo...
Read full commentary →Jael Kills Sisera
Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet 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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet 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.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(17) **Fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael.**—In a different direction from that taken by his army, which fled towards Harosheth (Kimchi). The expression is probably used by anticipation. He could hardly have meant to fly to Jael rather than to Heber, until Jael came to meet him, unless there are circumstances unknown to us. Women had separate tents (Genesis 18:6), and these were regarded as...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 17-24**
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Is 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse s...
Read full commentary →And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. mantle: or, rug, or, blanket
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and charact...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(18) **Jael went out to meet Sisera.**—This makes it probable that her design was already formed, unless we suppose that Jael as a chieftainess was placed above the ordinary rules which regulate the conduct of Oriental women. As nothing is said of Heber, he may have been absent, or he may have kept out of the way in order to further his wife’s designs.
**Turn in to me.**—Without that special invit...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 17-24**
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Is 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse s...
Read full commentary →And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God wo...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(19) **Give me, I pray thee, a little water.**—The request was natural enough; but, as he had not made it at first, we may suspect that he wanted to taste food in the tent, as a way of rendering still more secure the inviolable laws of Eastern hospitality. Saladin refuses to let Reginald of Chatillon drink in his tent, because he means to kill him.
**A bottle of milk.**—Rather, *the skin of milk. ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 17-24**
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Is 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse s...
Read full commentary →Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character f...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(20) **Stand.**—The imperative here used has the masculine, not the feminine termination, but probably only because it is used generally.
**That thou shalt say, No.**—In that age, and among those nations, and under such circumstances, a lie would have been regarded as perfectly natural and justifiable; even under the Christian dispensation, many casuists declare a lie for self-preservation to be v...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 17-24**
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Is 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse s...
Read full commentary →Then Jael 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. and took: Heb. and put
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Then Jael 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.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(21) **Then.**—Many commentators have ventured to assume that at this instant Jael received a Divine intimation of what she was to do. To make such an assumption as a way of defending an act of assassination peculiarly terrible and peculiarly treacherous seems *to *be to the last degree unwarrantable. If any readers choose to adopt such methods for themselves they ought not to attempt the enforcem...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 17-24**
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Is 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse s...
Read full commentary →And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges them...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(22) **Behold, Sisera lay dead.**—Thus the glory, such as it was, of having slain the general of the enemy passed to a woman (Judges 4:9). The scene which thus describes the undaunted murderess standing in the tent between the dead and the living chieftains—and glorying in the decision which had led her to fling to the winds every rule of Eastern morality and decorum—is a very striking one.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 17-24**
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Is 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse s...
Read full commentary →So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works through these imperfect human instruments to accomplish His purposes. ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(23) **So God subdued.**—The word used for God is here *Elohim, *while Jehovah occurs through the rest of the narrative. We are not yet in a position to formulate the law which regulates the interchange of these names. It need hardly be added that this attribution of the deliverance of Israel to God’s providence and aid does not necessarily involve the least approval of the false and cruel element...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 17-24**
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Is 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse s...
Read full commentary →And the hand of the children of Israel prospered , and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. prospered: Heb. going went and was hard
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.</strong><br><br>This passage relates to Deborah and Barak's victory over Sisera, demonstrating God's sovereign choice and empowerment of deliverers. The judges themselves display varying degrees of faith and character flaws, yet God works through ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(24) **The hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed.**—Literally, as in the margin, *The hand. . . .* *going went, and was hard*—i.e., “became heavier and heavier in its pressure.” The battle of the Kishon was the beginning of a complete deliverance of Israel from the yoke of the Canaanites.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Jos 21:9-42. The Cities of the Priests.
**9-40. they gave ... these cities which are here mentioned by name--**It was overruled by the unerring providence of the Divine Lawgiver that the cities of the priests lay within the territories of Judah and Benjamin. This was a provision, the admirable wisdom and propriety of which were fully manifested on the schism that took place in the reign of Rehobo...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 17-24**
Sisera's chariots had been his pride and his confidence. Thus are those disappointed who rest on the creature; like a broken reed, it not only breaks under them, but pierces them with many sorrows. The idol may quickly become a burden, Is 46:1; what we were sick for, God can make us sick of. It is probable that Jael really intended kindness to Sisera; but by a Divine impulse s...
Read full commentary →