Judges 4:15-20 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 4:17-24

We have seen the army of the Canaanites totally 3434 routed. It is said (Ps. 83:9, 10, where the defeat of this army is pleaded as a precedent for God's doing the like in after times) that they became as dung for the earth. Now here we have, I. The fall of their general, Sisera, captain of the host, in whom, it is likely, Jabin their king put an entire confidence, and therefore was not himself present in the action. Let us trace the steps of this mighty man's fall. 1. He quitted his chariot,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:15

And the Lord discomfited Sisera and all his chariots, and all his host ,.... Frightened them, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, or disturbed them with a noise and tumult, as the word signifies; with a noise in the heavens, which were in their ears, as Abarbinel observes, like the noise of a large army, as was the case of the Syrians, 2 Kings 7:6 ; and they saw, he says, horses and chariots of fire, and the like, which terrified them; and all this he supposes was done before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:16

But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles ,.... The place from whence they came, and to which they endeavoured to escape: but he followed them, so close all that way, and made such havoc of them, that all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword, and there was not a man left ; no, not one, excepting Sisera, as in Judges 4:17 ; or "even to one" F12 עד אחד "usque ad unum", Montanus. , as in the original text; not one... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:17

Howbeit, Sisera fled away on his feet ,.... Got off, and made his escape to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite ; before spoken of, Judges 4:11 ; and he made to that, because he might think himself safer in a tent than in a town; and especially in the tent of a woman, where he might imagine no search would be made; for women of note, in those times, had separate tents, see Genesis 24:67 ; and the rather he made his escape hither for a reason that follows: for there was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:18

And Jael went out to meet Sisera ,.... Seeing him coming, and knowing him full well, she stepped forward towards him, to invite him into her tent: some think she was looking out, that if she saw Israelite in distress to take him in; and very probably had been some time at her tent door, to inquire the battle went, and which, no doubt, living so near Kedesh, she knew was expected: and said unto him, turn in, my lord ; that is, into her tent: and she addresses him with the title of "lord",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:19

And he said unto her, give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink, for I am thirsty ,.... Which might be occasioned by the heat of the battle, and by the heat of the day, and by heat in running; he asks for a little water, that being very desirable by persons athirst. Some think he did not ask for wine, because he knew the Kenites did not drink any, and so of course kept none in their tents; but though this was the custom of the Rechabites, who were the same with the Kenites, Jeremiah... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:20

And he said unto her, stand in the door of the tent ,.... This he said, not in an imperious way, as some think, but by entreaty: and it shall be, when any man shall come and inquire of thee ; seeing her at the door, and where he desired she would stand to prevent their coming into the tent: and say, is there any man here ? any besides what belongs to the family? or any of Sisera's army? that thou shalt say, no ; there is no man; but to this she made no answer that is recorded. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:15

The Lord discomfited Sisera - יהוה ויהם vayiahom Jehovah ; the Lord Confounded, threw them all into confusion, drove them pell-mell - caused chariots to break and overthrow chariots, and threw universal disorder into all their ranks. In this case Barak and his men had little to do but kill and pursue, and Sisera in order to escape, was obliged to abandon his chariot. There is no doubt all this was done by supernatural agency; God sent his angel and confounded them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:18

Jael went out to meet Sisera - He preferred the woman's tent because of secrecy; for, according to the etiquette of the eastern countries, no person ever intrudes into the apartments of the women. And in every dwelling the women have a separate apartment. read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 4:17-24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 4:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:18

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