Judges 4

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 4 of 21

1 And the sons of Israel did evil again in the sight of Jehovah when Ehud was dead.

2 And Jehovah sold them into the hand of Jabin the king of Canaan, who ruled in Hazor. And his army commander was Sisera; and he lived in Harosheth of the nations.

3 And the sons of Israel cried to Jehovah, for he had nine hundred chariots of iron. And he oppressed the sons of Israel with force twenty years.

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Chapter Summary

Deborah and Barak deliver them from Jabin and Sisera. 17 Jael kills Sisera.

Key Hebrew Words

נְבִיאָה prophetess H5031 · TWOT 1277c
שָׁפַט to judge H8199 · TWOT 2443
רֶ֫כֶב chariotry H7393 · TWOT 2163a
יָתֵד tent peg H3489 · TWOT 932a
חֶ֫רֶב sword H2719 · TWOT 732a
תִּפְאָרָה glory, honor H8597 · TWOT 1726b

People & Context

Sisera

Commander of Jabin's army with nine hundred iron chariots; routed by Barak, then slain by Jael

Deborah (wife of Lapidoth)

Prophetess judging Israel under her palm tree; summoned Barak and foretold Sisera would fall by a woman's hand

Barak (son of Abinoam)

Commander from Naphtali who led ten thousand men from Mount Tabor to destroy Sisera's army

Jael

Wife of Heber the Kenite who lured the fleeing Sisera into her tent and drove a peg through his temple

Jabin

King of Canaan reigning in Hazor who oppressed Israel twenty years until God humbled him

Heber the Kenite

Descendant of Moses' father-in-law, separated from the Kenites; his house was at peace with Jabin

Timeline

Israel Does Evil

Following the death of Ehud, the sons of Israel again do evil in the sight of Jehovah.

Judges 4:1
Oppression by Jabin and Sisera

Jehovah sells Israel to Jabin, king of Canaan, whose army commander is Sisera. They oppress Israel with 900 iron chariots for 20 years, prompting Israel to cry out.

Judges 4:2-3
Deborah Judges Israel

Deborah, a prophetess, judges Israel under the palm tree of Deborah in the hills of Ephraim.

Judges 4:4-5

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