Judges 4:1-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 4:1-3

Here is, I. Israel backsliding from God: They again did evil in his sight, forsook his service, and worshipped idols; for this was the sin which now most easily beset them, Jdg. 4:1. See in this, 1. The strange strength of corruption, which hurries men into sin notwithstanding the most frequent experience of its fatal consequences. The bent to backslide is with great difficulty restrained. 2. The common ill effects of a long peace. The land had rest eighty years, which should have confirmed... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 4:4-9

The year of the redeemed at length came, when Israel was to be delivered out of the hands of Jabin, and restored again to their liberty, which we may suppose the northern tribes, that lay nearest to the oppressors and felt most the effects of his fury, did in a particular manner cry to God for. For the oppression of the poor, and the sighing of the needy, now will God arise. Now here we have, I. The preparation of the people for their deliverance, by the prophetic conduct and government of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 4:10-16

Here, I. Barak beats up for volunteers, and soon has his quota of men ready, Jdg. 4:10. Deborah had appointed him to raise an army of 10,000 men (Jdg. 4:6), and so many he has presently at his feet, following him, and subject to his command. God is said to call us to his feet (Isa. 41:2), that is, into obedience to him. Some think it intimates that they were all footmen, and so the armies of the Jews generally were, which made the disproportion of strength between them and the enemy (who had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:1

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord ,.... Which was the fruit and effect of the long rest and peace they enjoyed; and which is often the case of a people favoured with peace, plenty, and prosperity, who are apt to abuse their mercies, and forget God, the author and giver of them; and the principal evil, though not expressed, was idolatry, worshipping Baalim, the gods of the nations about them; though it is highly probable they were guilty of other sins, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:2

And the Lord sold them ,.... Delivered them into a state of bondage and slavery, where they were like men sold for slaves, see Judges 3:8 , into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor ; there was a city of this name, and a king of it of the same name, as here, in the times of Joshua, which city was taken and burnt by him, and its king slain, Joshua 11:1 ; and either the country about it is here meant, as Jericho in the preceding chapter is put for the country... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:3

And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord ,.... Because of their hard bondage, and begged deliverance from it, being brought to a sense of their sins, and humbled for them: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron ; the same with the αρματα το δρεπανηφορα , chariots which carried scythes at the side of them, fastened to the orbs of the wheels F24 Vid. Suidam in voce δρεπανηφορα . , and were on both sides; and in some stood out ten cubits F25 Curtius, l. 4. c.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:4

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth ,.... Deborah was a name common to women with the eastern people, see Genesis 35:8 ; as Melissa, which is of the same signification with the Greeks, and both signify a "bee"; and to which Deborah answered in her industry, sagacity, and sweetness of temper to her friends, and sharpness to her enemies: she was a "prophetess", and foretold things to come, as the drawing of Sisera and his army to a certain place named by her, the victory that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:5

And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah ,.... Her dwelling house was under a palm tree, or rather she sat under one, in the open air, when the people came to her with their cases, and it was called from hence after her name; though some, as Abarbinel observes, think it was so called, because Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah, was buried here, and which was near Bethel, one of the places next mentioned, see Genesis 35:8 , between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim ; which places were in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:6

And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali ,.... So called to distinguish it from other places of the same name, this being in the tribe of Naphtali, and a city of refuge, Joshua 20:7 ; of which tribe and place Barak was, but who he and his father Abinoam were we have no other account; it seems clear from hence that he was not the husband of Deborah, as the Jews say, or they would have lived together; though, according to Ben Gersom, she lived separate from him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:7

And I will draw unto thee ,.... Which are the words of the Lord by Deborah, as are the preceding, signifying, that by the secret and powerful influence of his providence he would so order things, and the circumstances of them; and so powerfully operate on the mind and heart of the Canaanitish general as to engage him to come to the river Kishon, Sisera the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots, and his multitude ; called the ancient river, the river Kishon, Judges 5:21 . According... read more

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