(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” (Psalms 78:57); see Judges 3:12.When Ehud was dead.—See Judges 3:31. read more
Judges 4:5 Where ambition hath possessed itself thoroughly of the soul, it turns the heart into steel, and makes it uncapable of a conscience. All sins will easily down with the man that is resolved to rise. Bishop Hall. Reference. IX. 8-15. A. Raleigh, From Dawn to the Perfect Day, p. 132. read more
THE SIBYL OF MOUNT EPHRAIMJudges 4:1-24THERE arises now in Israel a prophetess, one of those rare women whose souls burn with enthusiasm and holy purpose when the hearts of men are abject and despondent; and to Deborah it is given to make a nation hear her call. Of prophetesses the world has seen but few; generally the woman has her work of teaching and administering justice in the name of God within a domestic circle and finds all her energy needed there. But queens have reigned with firm... read more
3. Third Declension: Under Jabin, Deborah, and Barak CHAPTER 4 1. Sold into the hand of Jabin (Judges 4:1-2 ) 2. The cry of the children of Israel (Judges 4:3 ) 3. Deborah and Barak (Judges 4:4-11 ) 4. The conflict and Jael’s deed (Judges 4:12-24 ) Ehud the mighty instrument of Jehovah had died, and again the children of Israel lapsed into evil. Then the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin, King of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor. His captain was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of... read more
DEBORAH AND BARAK (vv.1-24) Ehud evidently judged Israel during 80 years of peace, but after his death Israel again turned from the Lord's ways, doing evil in His sight. It is not said what evil, but their lapses apparently always involved worshiping the idols of the nations. On this occasion the Lord delivered Israel into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan (v. 2). Jabin's name means "he will understand," for Canaanites ("traffickers") are keen to discern where they may make material gain,... read more
THE ERA OF DEBORAH THE SE RV ITUDE TO CANAAN (Judges 4:0 ) We met before with “Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor” (see Joshua 11:0 ), but this seems to have been a second of the name who built a new capitol on the ruins of the former one. The Israelites failed to exterminate these enemies on the north, who had now become strong enough to visit them with the severest oppression they had yet experienced, and which lasted twenty years (Judges 4:3 ). Deborah’s appearance on the... read more
Deborah and Her Song Judges 4:0 , Judges 5:0 THE fourth and fifth chapters bring into view quite a host of secondary characters, such as Jabin and his chief captain, Sisera; Deborah and Barak; Heber, and Jael his wife; and in the great song of triumph and judgment names come and go with flashes of colour full of history and criticism. Sometimes we are told of a song that the words are nothing the tune is everything. That may be a happy circumstance as regards some songs, but that criticism... read more
CONTENTS Few events in the history of Israel, are more interesting than what this Chapter contains, of the defeat of Sisera ' s army by Barak, under the animated zeal of Deborah. Here are the several particulars related which gave birth to that war; with the event of it, in the conquest over the enemies of Israel, by a wonderful interposition of the Lord for his people. Judges 4:1 The chapter begins with a melancholy account of God's people. They did again evil. Alas! God's people are by nature... read more
Aod. Samgar is passed over, either because he was only a private man, who performed a feat of valour like Jahel, (chap. v. 6.; Salien) or because his government was so short and limited. Hence we need not wonder that he could not put a stop to the ravages of the Chanaanites, nor to the disorders of the people. read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:1-24
Deborah and BarakThis deliverance is described a second time in the early poem in Judges 5 (see on Judges 5:1). No other narrative describes more clearly the religious gathering of the clans, and the prowess of the hardy mountaineers when united. The plain of Esdraelon (see Intro. § 5) is one of the famous battle-fields of history. It drives like a wedge from the coast within 10m. of the Jordan; but it is dominated by hills on all sides, and is almost closed by them at its western end. In... read more