Keraia
Judges 4

Judges 4:13

Deborah and Barak · Judges 4:1–16
Read Judges 4

Translations

Modern
…he summoned all nine hundred of his iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the River Kishon.
Traditional
And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
Literal
And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him from Harosheth-hagoyim to the River Kishon.
Latin
…et congregavit nongentos falcatos currus, et omnem exercitum de Haroseth gentium ad torrentem Cison.

Original

Hebrew
English
…he summoned all nine hundred of his iron chariots and all the men with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the River Kishon.

Notes

Judges 4:12–13

When Barak gathered his troops, Sisera walked into the Lord's trap. He led his chariots to the Jezreel Valley, moving along the Kishon River where wheeled vehicles could move easily.

Judges 4:1–5:31

The story of Deborah and Barak, found in both prose (Judges 4) and poetry (Judges 5), describes a major military operation against a significant Canaanite enemy after the initial conquest. Another king named Jabin, who also ruled in Hazor, was defeated earlier by Joshua along with a large northern alliance, and Hazor was burned (see Joshua 11:1–15). Although Joshua 11 and Judges 4–5 are often compared, they have too many differences to be considered accounts of the same battle. Instead, Jabin is likely a dynastic name; it appears in the Mari texts for an even earlier king of Hazor, around 1800 BC.

Theme notes and profiles

Deborah

Events

People

Sisera: Canaanite commander defeated by Deborah and Barak

Places

Harosheth-hagoyim: Canaanite city ruled by Sisera Kishon: A river in northern Israel

Glossary

Armageddon Asher (Tribe) Barak Deborah Family Life and Relations Harosheth-Haggoyim Hazor Heber Holy War Holy War Ironsmith Jabin Judges, Book of Kishon Mount Tabor Sisera Song of Deborah Tribe of Naphtali Valley of Jezreel Woman Zaanannim

Topics

Canaanites: Defeated by the Israelites Deborah: The Prophetess, a Judge of Israel: Inspires Barak to Defeat Sisera Harosheth: The Home of Sisera Hypocrisy: Jael Kishon: Sisera Defeated At, and his Army Destroyed In