Deborah and Barak vs. Sisera

Illustration of Deborah and Barak vs. Sisera

In the era of the judges, Israel endured twenty years of harsh oppression under Canaanite king Jabin of Hazor, whose army commander Sisera commanded nine hundred iron chariots that dominated the region. Prophetess and judge Deborah summoned Barak to lead Israelite forces against Sisera at Mount Tabor, where God sent a sudden rainstorm that swelled the Kishon River and turned the valley into mud, immobilizing the chariots and enabling the Israelite infantry to rout the enemy. Sisera fled on foot and was later killed by Jael, fulfilling Deborah's prophecy and securing forty years of peace. This victory, recorded in Judges 4 and celebrated in the Song of Deborah in Judges 5, illustrates God's sovereign deliverance through unexpected means and the pivotal roles of faithful leaders in Scripture.

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Details

Era
Judges Period
Category
Judges
Participants
Israel (Naphtali & Zebulun) vs. Canaan (Sisera)
Outcome
Canaanite army routed, Sisera killed by Jael
Divine Intervention
Yes

Key Passages

The Battle

Judges 4:14-22

A14nd 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.

15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 Then Jael Heberโ€™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. 22 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.

Related

Characters

Timeline Events

Did You Know?

1

Deborah is the only female judge who also held the role of prophet.

2

Sisera's 900 iron chariots were the ancient equivalent of tanks. Israel had none.

3

A sudden rainstorm turned the Kishon River into a flood that bogged down the chariots.

4

Jael killed Sisera with a tent peg. Women in nomadic cultures were experts with tent stakes.