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Judges 4:4-5:31
Complete Jewish Bible
Judges 4:4-5:31
Complete Jewish Bible
4 Now D’vorah, a woman and a prophet, the wife of Lapidot, was judging Isra’el at that time. 5 She used to sit under D’vorah’s Palm between Ramah and Beit-El, in the hills of Efrayim; and the people of Isra’el would come to her for judgment. 6 She sent for Barak the son of Avino‘am, from Kedesh in Naftali, and said to him: “Adonai has given you this order: ‘Go, march to Mount Tavor, and take with you 10,000 men from the people of Naftali and Z’vulun. 7 I will cause Sisra, the commander of Yavin’s army, to encounter you at the Kishon River with his chariots and troops; and I will hand him over to you.’”
8 Barak answered her: “If you go with me, I’ll go; but if you won’t go with me, I won’t go.” 9 She replied, “Yes, I will gladly go with you; but the way you are doing it will bring you no glory; because Adonai will hand Sisra over to a woman.” Then D’vorah set out and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 Barak summoned Z’vulun and Naftali to come to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him, and D’vorah went up with him.
11 Now Hever the Keini had cut himself off from the rest of Kayin, the descendants of Hovav Moshe’s father-in-law; he had pitched his tent near the oak at Tza‘ananim, which is close to Kedesh. 12 Sisra was informed that Barak the son of Avino‘am had gone up to Mount Tavor. 13 So Sisra rallied his chariots, all 900 iron chariots, and all the troops he had with him, from Haroshet-HaGoyim to the Kishon River.
14 D’vorah said to Barak: “Get going! This is the day when Adonai will hand Sisra over to you! Adonai has gone out ahead of you!” So Barak went down from Mount Tavor with 10,000 men following him; 15 and Adonai threw Sisra, all his chariots and his entire army into a panic before Barak’s sword; so that Sisra got down from his chariot and fled on foot. 16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army all the way to Haroshet-HaGoyim. Sisra’s entire army was put to the sword; not one man was left.
17 However, Sisra ran on foot to the tent of Ya‘el the wife of Hever the Keini, because there was peace between Yavin the king of Hatzor and the family of Hever the Keini. 18 Ya‘el went out to meet Sisra and said to him, “Come in, my lord; stay here with me; and don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. 19 He said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink — I’m thirsty.” She opened a goatskin of milk, gave him some to drink, and covered him up again. 20 He said to her, “Stand at the entrance to the tent; and if anyone asks you if somebody is here, say, ‘No.’” 21 But when he was deeply asleep, Ya‘el the wife of Hever took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand, crept in to him quietly and drove the tent peg into his temple, right through to the ground; so that he died without waking up. 22 So here is Barak pursuing Sisra, and Ya‘el steps out to meet him and says, “Come, I will show you the man you are looking for.” He goes into her tent; and there is Sisra, lying dead with the tent peg through his temple.
23 Thus God on that day defeated Yavin the king of Kena‘an in the presence of the people of Isra’el. 24 The hand of the people of Isra’el came down more and more heavily against Yavin the king of Kena‘an, until they had completely destroyed Yavin the king of Kena‘an.
5 On that day D’vorah and Barak the son of Avino‘am sang this song:
2 “When leaders in Isra’el dedicate themselves,
and the people volunteer,
you should all bless Adonai.
3 Hear, kings; listen, princes;
I will sing to Adonai!
I will sing praise to Adonai
the God of Isra’el.
4 “Adonai, when you went out from Se‘ir,
when you marched out from the field of Edom;
the earth quaked, and the sky shook;
yes, the clouds poured down torrents.
5 The mountains melted at the presence of Adonai,
at Sinai, before Adonai the God of Isra’el.
6 “In the days of Shamgar the son of ‘Anat,
in the days of Ya‘el, the main roads were deserted;
travelers walked the byways.
7 The rulers ceased in Isra’el, they ceased,
until you arose, D’vorah,
arose a mother in Isra’el.
8 “They chose new gods when war was at the gates.
Was there a shield or spear to be seen
among Isra’el’s forty thousand men?
9 My heart goes out to Isra’el’s leaders
and to those among the people who volunteer.
All of you, bless Adonai.
10 “You who ride white donkeys,
sitting on soft saddle-blankets,
and you walking on the road,
talk about it!
11 Louder than the sound of archers at the watering-holes
will they sound as they retell
the righteous acts of Adonai,
the righteous acts of his rulers in Isra’el.
“Then Adonai’s people marched down to the gates.
12 “Awake, awake, D’vorah!
Awake, awake, break into song!
Arise, Barak! Lead away your captives,
son of Avino‘am!
13 “Then a remnant of the nobles marched down;
the people of Adonai marched down to me like warriors.
14 From Efrayim came those rooted in ‘Amalek.
Behind you, Binyamin is with your peoples.
From Makhir the commanders marched down,
and from Z’vulun those holding the musterer’s staff.
15 The princes of Yissakhar were with D’vorah,
Yissakhar, along with Barak;
into the valley they rushed forth behind him.
Among the divisions of Re’uven
they made great resolutions in their hearts.
16 But why did you stay at the pens for the sheep,
and listen to the shepherd’s flute playing for the flocks?
Concerning the divisions of Re’uven
there were great searchings of heart.
17 Gil‘ad lives beyond the Yarden.
Dan — why does he stay by the ships?
Asher stayed by the shore of the sea,
remaining near its bays.
18 The people of Z’vulun risked their lives,
Naftali too, on the open heights.
19 “Kings came; they fought.
Yes, the kings of Kena‘an fought
at Ta‘anakh, by the waters of Megiddo;
but they took no spoil of silver.
20 They fought from heaven, the stars in their courses;
yes, they fought against Sisra.
21 The Kishon River swept them away,
that ancient river, the Kishon River.
O my soul, march on with strength!
22 Then the horses’ hoofs pounded the ground,
their mighty steeds galloping at full speed.
23 “‘Curse Meroz!’ said the angel of Adonai,
‘Curse the people living there with a bitter punishment
for not coming to help Adonai,
to help Adonai against the mighty warriors.’
24 “Ya‘el will be blessed more than all women.
The wife of Hever the Keini
will be blessed more than any woman in the tent.
25 He asked for water, and she gave him milk;
In an elegant bowl she brought him curds.
26 Then she took a tent peg in her left hand
and a workman’s hammer in her right;
with the hammer she struck Sisra, pierced his skull,
yes, she shattered and crushed his temple.
27 He sank down at her feet, he fell and lay there;
he sank at her feet, he fell —
where he sank down, there he fell dead.
28 “Sisra’s mother looks out the window;
peering out through the lattice she wonders,
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why are his horses so slow to return?’
29 The wisest of her ladies answer her,
and she repeats it to herself,
30 ‘Of course! They’re collecting and dividing the spoil —
a girl, two girls for every warrior,
for Sisra booty of dyed clothing,
a plunder of colorfully embroidered garments,
two embroidered scarves for every soldier’s neck.’
31 “May all your enemies perish like this, Adonai;
but may those who love him be like the sun
going forth in its glory!”
Then the land had rest for forty years.
Judges 4:4-5:31
New International Version
Judges 4:4-5:31
New International Version
4 Now Deborah,(A) a prophet,(B) the wife of Lappidoth, was leading[a] Israel at that time. 5 She held court(C) under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah(D) and Bethel(E) in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam(F) from Kedesh(G) in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali(H) and Zebulun(I) and lead them up to Mount Tabor.(J) 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s(K) army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River(L) and give him into your hands.(M)’”
8 Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
9 “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.(N) 10 There Barak summoned(O) 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,(P) the descendants of Hobab,(Q) Moses’ brother-in-law,[b] and pitched his tent by the great tree(R) in Zaanannim(S) near Kedesh.
12 When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,(T) 13 Sisera summoned from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River(U) all his men and his nine hundred chariots fitted with iron.(V)
14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands.(W) Has not the Lord gone ahead(X) of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. 15 At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed(Y) Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.
16 Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left.(Z) 17 Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael,(AA) the wife of Heber the Kenite,(AB) because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor(AC) and the family of Heber the Kenite.
18 Jael(AD) went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.
19 “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk,(AE) gave him a drink, and covered him up.
20 “Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’”
21 But Jael,(AF) Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep,(AG) exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.(AH)
22 Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael(AI) went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead.(AJ)
23 On that day God subdued(AK) Jabin(AL) king of Canaan before the Israelites. 24 And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.(AM)
The Song of Deborah
5 On that day Deborah(AN) and Barak son of Abinoam(AO) sang this song:(AP)
2 “When the princes in Israel take the lead,
when the people willingly offer(AQ) themselves—
praise the Lord!(AR)
3 “Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I, even I, will sing to[c] the Lord;(AS)
I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song.(AT)
4 “When you, Lord, went out(AU) from Seir,(AV)
when you marched from the land of Edom,
the earth shook,(AW) the heavens poured,
the clouds poured down water.(AX)
5 The mountains quaked(AY) before the Lord, the One of Sinai,
before the Lord, the God of Israel.
6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,(AZ)
in the days of Jael,(BA) the highways(BB) were abandoned;
travelers took to winding paths.(BC)
7 Villagers in Israel would not fight;
they held back until I, Deborah,(BD) arose,
until I arose, a mother in Israel.
8 God chose new leaders(BE)
when war came to the city gates,(BF)
but not a shield or spear(BG) was seen
among forty thousand in Israel.
9 My heart is with Israel’s princes,
with the willing volunteers(BH) among the people.
Praise the Lord!
10 “You who ride on white donkeys,(BI)
sitting on your saddle blankets,
and you who walk along the road,
consider 11 the voice of the singers[d] at the watering places.
They recite the victories(BJ) of the Lord,
the victories of his villagers in Israel.
“Then the people of the Lord
went down to the city gates.(BK)
12 ‘Wake up,(BL) wake up, Deborah!(BM)
Wake up, wake up, break out in song!
Arise, Barak!(BN)
Take captive your captives,(BO) son of Abinoam.’
13 “The remnant of the nobles came down;
the people of the Lord came down to me against the mighty.
14 Some came from Ephraim,(BP) whose roots were in Amalek;(BQ)
Benjamin(BR) was with the people who followed you.
From Makir(BS) captains came down,
from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s[e] staff.
15 The princes of Issachar(BT) were with Deborah;(BU)
yes, Issachar was with Barak,(BV)
sent under his command into the valley.
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
16 Why did you stay among the sheep pens[f](BW)
to hear the whistling for the flocks?(BX)
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.
17 Gilead(BY) stayed beyond the Jordan.
And Dan, why did he linger by the ships?
Asher(BZ) remained on the coast(CA)
and stayed in his coves.
18 The people of Zebulun(CB) risked their very lives;
so did Naphtali(CC) on the terraced fields.(CD)
19 “Kings came(CE), they fought,
the kings of Canaan fought.
At Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo,(CF)
they took no plunder of silver.(CG)
20 From the heavens(CH) the stars fought,
from their courses they fought against Sisera.
21 The river Kishon(CI) swept them away,
the age-old river, the river Kishon.
March on, my soul; be strong!(CJ)
22 Then thundered the horses’ hooves—
galloping, galloping go his mighty steeds.(CK)
23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the Lord.
‘Curse its people bitterly,
because they did not come to help the Lord,
to help the Lord against the mighty.’
24 “Most blessed of women(CL) be Jael,(CM)
the wife of Heber the Kenite,(CN)
most blessed of tent-dwelling women.
25 He asked for water, and she gave him milk;(CO)
in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.
26 Her hand reached for the tent peg,
her right hand for the workman’s hammer.
She struck Sisera, she crushed his head,
she shattered and pierced his temple.(CP)
27 At her feet he sank,
he fell; there he lay.
At her feet he sank, he fell;
where he sank, there he fell—dead(CQ).
28 “Through the window(CR) peered Sisera’s mother;
behind the lattice she cried out,(CS)
‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?
Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?’
29 The wisest of her ladies answer her;
indeed, she keeps saying to herself,
30 ‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoils:(CT)
a woman or two for each man,
colorful garments as plunder for Sisera,
colorful garments embroidered,
highly embroidered garments(CU) for my neck—
all this as plunder?(CV)’
31 “So may all your enemies perish,(CW) Lord!
But may all who love you be like the sun(CX)
when it rises in its strength.”(CY)
Then the land had peace(CZ) forty years.
Footnotes
- Judges 4:4 Traditionally judging
- Judges 4:11 Or father-in-law
- Judges 5:3 Or of
- Judges 5:11 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Judges 5:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Judges 5:16 Or the campfires; or the saddlebags
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.