The Oppression of Jabin and Sisera - Deborah and Barak - The Battle of Taanach - The Song of Deborah

(JUDGES 4, 5)

DARKER and darker are the clouds which gather around Israel, and stranger and more unexpected is the

deliverance wrought for them. It had b egun with Othniel, truly a "lion of God." But after the "lion of God"

came one left -handed, then a woman, then the son of an idolater, and then an outlaw of low birth, as if it

were ever to descend lower and lower, till the last stage is reached in the Nazarite, Samson, who, as Nazarite,

is the typical representative of Israel's calling and strength, and, as Samson, of Israel's weakness and

spiritual adultery. Yet each period and each deliverance has its characteristic features and high points. The

narrativ e opens as if to resume the thread of Israel's continuous history, only temporarily broken by Ehud's

life: "And the children of Israel continued  202 to do evil in the eyes of Jehovah - and Ehud was dead." This

furnished a long wished-for opportunity.

It had been about a century before when a Jabin ("the prudent" or "understanding," - no doubt the

monarch's title, like Pharaoh or Abimelech) had marshaled the chieftains of Northern Palestine against

Joshua, and been signally defeated (Joshua 11:1-10). Since then his capital had been restored and his power

grown, till now it seemed the fitting moment to recover his ancient empire. As we understand the narrative,

the hosts of Jabin had swept down from Hazor in the far north, and occupied the possessions of Naphtali,

Zebulun, and Issachar. While Jabin himself continued in his capital, his general, Sisera ("mediation,"

"lieutenant"?) held the southern boundary of the annexed provinces, making his head-quarters at Harosheth

ha Gojim - "the smithy of the nations" - perhaps so called from being the arsenal where his iron war-chariots,

armed with scythes, were made. The site of this place is probably somewhere in the neighborhood of

Bethshean, which afterwards formed the southernmost point of Galilee. Evidently it must have been south of

Mount Tabor, to which Barak afterwards marched from Kedron, in the north of Naphtali. For, irrespective of

the utterly helpless state of the country, as described in Judges 5:6, Sisera would not have allowed Barak to

turn his flank or to march on his rear.203 The occupation of the north of Palestine by Sisera had lasted

twenty years. Relief must have seemed well-nigh hopeless. On the one hand, the population was wholly

disarmed (Judges 5:8); on the other, Sisera had no less than nine hundred war-chariots - means of attack

which Israel most dreaded. But as often before, so now, suffering led Israel to cry unto the Lord - and help

was soon at hand.

One of the most painful circumstances in the history of the Judges is the utter silence which all this time

seems to envelop Shiloh and its sanctuary. No help comes from the priesthood till quite the close of this

period. Far away in Mount Ephraim God raised up a woman, on whom He had poured the spirit of prophecy.

It is the first time in this history that we read of the prophetic gift. The sacred text conveys, that she

exercised it in strict accordance with the Divine law, for it is significantly added in connection with it, that

"she judged Israel at that time." Deborah, "the bee,"  204 is described as a "burning woman."  205 The meeting-

place for all in Israel who sought judgment at her hands was between Ramah and Bethel, under a palm-

tree,206 which afterwards bore her name. Thence she sent for Barak ("lightning,") the son of Abinoam ("my

father" - God -"is favor"), from the far north, from Kadesh in Naphtali. His ready obedience proved his

preparedness. But when Deborah laid on him the Divine command "gradually to draw"  207 an army of 10,000

men to Mount Tabor, Barak shrank from it, unless Deborah would accompany him.

This evidently proved distrust in the result of the undertaking, which in turn showed that he looked for

success to the presence of man, rather than entirely to the power of God. Accordingly, he must learn the

folly of attaching value to man; and Deborah predicted, that not Israel's leader, but a woman, wholly

unconnected with the battle, would have the real triumph.