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.

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.

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

10 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.

11 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.

12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.

13 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.

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So the Lord sold them(A) into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor.(B) Sisera,(C) the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron(D) and had cruelly oppressed(E) the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help.

Now Deborah,(F) a prophet,(G) the wife of Lappidoth, was leading[a] Israel at that time. She held court(H) under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah(I) and Bethel(J) in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam(K) from Kedesh(L) in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali(M) and Zebulun(N) and lead them up to Mount Tabor.(O) I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s(P) army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River(Q) and give him into your hands.(R)’”

Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.(S) 10 There Barak summoned(T) Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites,(U) the descendants of Hobab,(V) Moses’ brother-in-law,[b] and pitched his tent by the great tree(W) in Zaanannim(X) near Kedesh.

12 When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,(Y) 13 Sisera summoned from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River(Z) all his men and his nine hundred chariots fitted with iron.(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 4:4 Traditionally judging
  2. Judges 4:11 Or father-in-law

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

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29 In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser(A) king of Assyria came and took Ijon,(B) Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali,(C) and deported(D) the people to Assyria.

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