Keraia
Judges 4

Judges 4:9

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

Translations

Modern
“I will certainly go with you,” Deborah replied, “but the road you are taking will bring you no honor, because the LORD will be selling Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh,
Traditional
And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Literal
And she said, “I will surely go with you; only that there will not be glory for you in the journey that you are taking, for into the hand of a woman YHWH will sell Sisera.” And Deborah went and arose with Barak to Kedesh.
Latin
Quæ dixit ad eum: Ibo quidem tecum, sed in hac vice victoria non reputabitur tibi, quia in manu mulieris tradetur Sisara. Surrexit itaque Debbora, et perrexit cum Barac in Cedes.

Original

Hebrew
English
“I will certainly go with you,” Deborah replied, “but the road you are taking will bring you no honor, because the LORD will be selling Sisera into the hand of a woman.” So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh,

Notes

Judges 4:9

  • A woman would receive the honor for the victory, causing Barak to lose face.

  • This Kedesh seems to have been near Mount Tabor (compare Judges 4:6, 12), a different location from the Kedesh in Naphtali (4:6), which was too far north for the described action.

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 Deborah: Prophetess and judge who led Israel to victory over Canaanites Sisera: Canaanite commander defeated by Deborah and Barak

Places

Kedesh: A Canaanite city, later a Levitical city of refuge in Naphtali

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 Kedesh: Also Called Kedesh-Naphtali: Home of Barak and Heber Prophetess