Keraia
Judges 4

Judges 4:6

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

Translations

Modern
She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.
Traditional
And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh–naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Literal
And she sent and called for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh of Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not YHWH, God of Israel, commanded, ‘Go and draw out at Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun,
Latin
Quæ misit et vocavit Barac filium Abinoëm de Cedes Nephthali: dixitque ad eum: Præcepit tibi Dominus Deus Israël: Vade, et duc exercitum in montem Thabor, tollesque tecum decem millia pugnatorum de filiis Nephthali, et de filiis Zabulon:

Original

Hebrew
English
She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.

Notes

Judges 4:6

  • Although Barak is listed as an Israelite hero (Hebrews 11:32), the Book of Judges gives him equal status with Deborah.

  • Mount Tabor was in Issachar's territory, just north of the Jezreel Valley.

Judges 4:4–7

Deborah was a prophet (Hebrew ’ishah nebi’a, meaning a female prophet), who served as a judge (shoptah, a feminine verb; see study note on Judges 2:16–19). She is the main character in this story, although much of the action involves her assistant, Barak. Unlike most characters in the book of Judges, Deborah acted as both a judge and a military leader. As a prophet, she predicted Samuel's later work (1 Samuel 7:15–17). Deborah called for a holy war where the Lord would fight for his people (Judges 4:6–7; see study notes on Deuteronomy 1:30; 2 Chronicles 20:20–21).

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

Abinoam: Father of Barak, the Israelite commander Barak: An Israelite commander who defeated Canaanite forces with Deborah Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Naphtali: Son of Jacob, founder of the tribe of Naphtali Zebulun: Israelite tribe, son of Jacob and Leah

Places

Kedesh: A Canaanite city, later a Levitical city of refuge in Naphtali Mount Tabor: Mountain in Israel, site of Deborah and Barak's victory

Glossary

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

Topics

Abinoam: Father of Barak Canaanites: Defeated by the Israelites Deborah: The Prophetess, a Judge of Israel: Inspires Barak to Defeat Sisera Kedesh: Also Called Kedesh-Naphtali: Home of Barak and Heber Mountains: Tabor Tabor: A Mountain on the Border of the Tribe of Issachar: The Place for Assembling Barak's Army the Tribe of Naphtali: Chosen from Zebulun to Go with Barak Against Sisera the Tribe of Naphtali: Remarkable Persons of Barak Tribe of Naphtali: Defeat Sisera Tribe of Zebulun with Barak Against Sisera