Judges 4:4-7 NKJV

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

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

Adam Clarke

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

Deborah , a prophetess - One on whom the Spirit of God descended, and who was the instrument of conveying to the Israelites the knowledge of the Divine will, in things sacred and civil. She judged Israel - This is, I believe, the first instance of gynaecocrasy, or female government, on record. Deborah seems to have been supreme both in civil and religious affairs; and Lapidoth, her husband, appears to have had no hand in the government. But the original may as well be translated... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:5

The palm tree of Deborah - It is common for the Hindoos to plant trees in the names of themselves and their friends; and some religious mendicants live for a considerable time under trees. - Ward. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:6

She sent and called Barak - She appointed him to be general of the armies on this occasion; which shows that she possessed the supreme power in the state. Mount Tabor - "Mount Tabor," says Maundrell, "stands by itself, about two or three furlongs within the plains of Esdraelon. It has a plain area at the top, both fertile and delicious of an oval figure, extending about one furlong in breadth, and two in length. The prospect from the top is beautiful: on the N.W. is the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 4:4

Deborah, a prophetess - Her name, meaning a bee, is the same as that of Rebekah’s nurse (marginal reference). The reason of her preeminence is added. She was “a woman, a prophetess,” like Miriam Exodus 15:20; Huldah 2 Kings 22:14, etc. In Judges 4:6, Judges 4:9,Judges 4:14, we have examples of her prophetic powers, and in Judg. 5 a noble specimen of prophetic song. Though the other Judges are not called prophets, yet they all seem to have had direct communications from God, either of knowledge... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 4:5

She dwelt - Rather, “she sat,” namely, to judge the people Judges 4:10, but not in the usual place, “the gate” Ruth 4:1-2; Proverbs 22:22. It suited her character, and the wild unsafe times better, that she should sit under a palm-tree in the secure heights of Mount Ephraim, between Ramah and Bethel (Judges 20:33 note). This verse shows that the Judges exercised the civil as well as military functions of rulers 1 Samuel 7:15-17. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 4:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 4:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 4:5

Group of Brands