Keraia
Judges 4

Judges 4:2

Deborah and Barak · Judges 4:1–16
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Translations

Modern
So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.
Traditional
And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Literal
And YHWH sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. And the commander of his army was Sisera, and he dwelt in Harosheth-hagoyim.
Latin
…et tradidit illos Dominus in manus Jabin regis Chanaan, qui regnavit in Asor: habuitque ducem exercitus sui nomine Sisaram, ipse autem habitabat in Haroseth gentium.

Original

Hebrew
English
So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.

Notes

Judges 4:2

  • Hazor, located north of the Sea of Galilee, controlled major trade routes running north-south and east-west. Ancient Near Eastern documents often mention Hazor, and archaeologists have extensively excavated the site. History and archaeology confirm its role as a former "the head of all these kingdoms" (Joshua 11:10).

  • Harosheth-hagoyim (literally "Forest or Farmland of the Nations") might have been a staging area for the battle; its location and history are debated.

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

Jabin: Canaanite king who oppressed Israel; defeated by Deborah and Barak Sisera: Canaanite commander defeated by Deborah and Barak

Places

Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants Harosheth-hagoyim: Canaanite city ruled by Sisera Hazor: Major Canaanite city conquered by Joshua

Glossary

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

Topics

Canaanites: Defeat the Israelites Captain: Commander-In-Chief of an Army Harosheth: The Home of Sisera Hazor: A Fortified City of Naphtali Israel: Under the Judges: People Again do Evil and are Put Under Bonds to the King of Syria for Twenty Years Jabin: Names of Two Kings of Hazor The Canaanites: Part of Left: To Chastise Israel The Jews: Often Subdued and Made Tributary