Keraia
Judges 4

Judges 4:8

Deborah and Barak · Judges 4:1–16
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Translations

Modern
Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”
Traditional
And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
Literal
And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”
Latin
Dixitque ad eam Barac: Si venis mecum, vadam: si nolueris venire mecum, non pergam.

Original

Hebrew
English
Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

Notes

Judges 4:8

The theme of the hesitant hero appears again with Gideon (Judges 6:15; compare Exodus 3:11).

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

Barak: An Israelite commander who defeated Canaanite forces with Deborah

Glossary

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

Topics

Canaanites: Defeated by the Israelites Deborah: The Prophetess, a Judge of Israel: Inspires Barak to Defeat Sisera Hypocrisy: Jael