JUDGES LESSON 4


     We will begin this lesson in Judges 4:1 "And the children of
Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead."

     This is the very same pattern. The minute the Judge dies, Israel
falls back into idolatry. Shamgar is not mentioned here. His act was
just the one particular thing he did.

     Judges 4:2 "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."

     We know there was another Hazor, mentioned in Joshua chapter 11,
which was destroyed by fire, and Jabin was killed. It is highly
unlikely that this is that same battle. There were no judges in the
land at the time of that first happening. We do know that, it is
likely that another Jabin took the first one's name, and rebuilt the
city by the same name. We are not doing a historical study here, so it
is not that important to this particular study. We are doing a
spiritual study.

     Judges 4:3 "And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for
he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily
oppressed the children of Israel."

     This was not a small army that came against Israel. The 900
chariots showed the strength of their army. God did not allow Israel
to put their faith in chariots and horses. The truth of the matter is
that, Israel was not as strong physically as this army. Even at that,
a war that lasts 20 years would really wear the people down.

     Judges 4:4  "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she
judged Israel at that time."

     Notice, that Deborah was a prophetess, without her husband being
a prophet. This dispels the idea that a prophetess is just a wife of a
prophet. A prophet, or a prophetess, is called of God. This does not
mean that her husband, Lapidoth, was a weak person. The meaning of his
name indicates the magnitude of his strength. "Lapidoth" means
lightning strikes, or torches. It is doubly unusual for her to be a
judge, as well. The office of judge is a call of God, as well.

     Judges 4:5 "And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between
Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up
to her for judgment."

     This tree became known as the tree of Deborah, because she judged
under this tree. This tells us something of the attitude of Deborah.
She was not extremely proud, or she would have found some grand place
to judge. Her name means "bee". She seems to be very humble, however,
because of her choice of location to judge.

     Judges 4:6 "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?"

     Barak was to lead the men into battle against these heavily
equipped enemies. Kadesh-naphtali is in the inheritance of Naphtali.
Her statement "Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded" shows that
she is speaking the words God has given her. These commands are from
the LORD, Himself. God has told her explicitly what to do, and she is
passing this on to Barak.

     Judges 4:7 "And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera,
the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and
I will deliver him into thine hand."

     In the natural, this would have been a frightening thing to do.
The army of Jabin had many war weapons to bring to this battle. The
LORD will fight for Israel in this battle, because He gave the orders.
They must have enough faith in God, to do what He has commanded.

     Judges 4:8 "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."

     God had not spoken directly to Barak. He had spoken to Deborah.
Barak would have more faith in Deborah's message from God, if she had
faith enough to go to the front line with him. He knew, if God had
really spoken to her, she would go.

     Judges 4:9 "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."

     Deborah does not deceive Barak, to get him to go. She tells him
immediately, that the honor for winning this battle will not go to
him, but a woman. In the New Testament, Paul gives him credit for
winning this battle, however. Deborah believed the message God had
given her, and she goes to the front line with Barak.

     Judges 4:10  "And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh;
and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up
with him."

     Called, in this, means that he gathered an army of ten thousand
men out of Naphtali's and Zebulun's tribes. Deborah must be in the
forefront of this battle for Barak's faith to be strong.

     Judges 4:11 "Now Heber the Kenite, [which was] of the children of
Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the
Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which [is] by
Kedesh."
     In the time of Joshua, Heber had separated himself and settled
near Kedesh.

     Judges 4:12 "And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam
was gone up to mount Tabor."

     They reported to Sisera that Barak and an army of ten thousand
have gone to Mount Tabor. We must remember in this that, God has
chosen the battle ground, and it was actually God who caused Heber to
settle in this area. God had all of the plans, and knew exactly what
would happen here.

     Judges 4:13 "And Sisera gathered together all his chariots,
[even] nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that [were]
with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon."

     This is a place large enough for all of the chariots. Possibly,
being near this river and at the foot of the mountain would cause them
not to be able to maneuver them as they wished. God has chosen the
spot.

     Judges 4:14 "And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this [is] the
day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not
the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor,
and ten thousand men after him."

     Deborah encourages Barak that this will be a victory for Israel.
God will go before them, and they will win this battle. Deborah,
through the inspiration of God, tells Barak this is the day. We know
that she goes with Barak, because he refused to go without her.

     Judges 4:15 "And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all [his]
chariots, and all [his] host, with the edge of the sword before Barak;
so that Sisera lighted down off [his] chariot, and fled away on his
feet."

     This is interesting, because Barak's troops were greatly
outnumbered. The troops of Sisera were much better equipped. One
person, with God, can put a thousand to flight. God is with Barak. God
discomfited Sisera so badly that he ran from the battle in fear.

     Judges 4:16 "But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the
host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell
upon the edge of the sword; [and] there was not a man left."

     We see that the army of Sisera, that had not died at the foot of
mount Tabor, fled in their chariots. Barak's army followed them, and
killed them all.

     Judges 4:17 "Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of
Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for [there was] peace between Jabin
the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite."

     We know that Sisrea had fled in a different direction, even
before his army ran. Now, we see why Heber settled in this area. Jael
was the wife of Heber. Sisera thought he would be safe in this tent,
because there was peace between Heber and Jabin, the king over Sisera.

     Judges 4:18  "And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto
him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned
in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle."

     The "mantle" is speaking of a cover. The Nomads lived in their
tent like a home, and they had coverings for their beds. Jael deceives
him with her promise of safety in her tent.

     Judges 4:19 "And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little
water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and
gave him drink, and covered him."

     He had, probably, completely exhausted himself running from
Barak's troops. This milk would make him sleepy. He lay down to rest,
and she covered him with the cover.

     Judges 4:20 "Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the
tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and
say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No."

     He wanted just a few moments rest, and then, would run even
further away from the troops. He thought he could trust Jael, and
asked her to watch for anyone looking for him. He wanted her to lie,
and say he was not there, if they inquired.

     Judges 4:21 "Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and
took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the
nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was
fast asleep and weary. So he died."

     We see the reason she got so near to him, without waking him. He
was exhausted and had fallen into a deep sleep. The nail for the tent
was more like a spike. It was so long it went through his skull and
fastened him to the ground. Notice, also, that temples is plural. She
must have run the spike through both temples. He, probably, died
instantly. Her love for God and His people caused her to do this.

     Judges 4:22 "And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out
to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man
whom thou seekest. And when he came into her [tent], behold, Sisera
lay dead, and the nail [was] in his temples."

     It is very interesting, to me, that God would put it in the heart
of this woman to do this. Had he awakened, before she drove the spike
into him, he would have killed her. Barak, himself, had been a
reluctant warrior. This is the act, Deborah had mentioned to Barak,
that would bring a woman fame for the battle. It was not herself she
was speaking of, but of Jael. Can you imagine the look of surprise on
Barak's face, when he saw Sisera and what had happened to him?

     Judges 4:23 "So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan
before the children of Israel."

     Jabin's army led by Sisera had been sorely defeated. Notice, who
actually subdued Jabin. It was God. God moved upon 3 people and
empowered them for this task. First He gave the message to Deborah.
Then, she called in Barak. Lastly, Jael tricked Sisera, and killed
him. God uses unlikely people, sometimes, to get a job done.

     Judges 4:24 "And the hand of the children of Israel prospered,
and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had
destroyed Jabin king of Canaan."

     With the victory of Sisera and his men behind them, they were
encouraged to go on, and totally destroy Jabin. They did that, and the
children of Israel were, again, at peace and prospering through the
blessings of God.

     Christians, we can take a lesson from this. When we undertake a
task such as this, we must be convinced enough that it is God's will,
that we will fight for it. We must, also, take the responsibility of
seeing it through.
































                         Judges 4 Questions


1.  What does Israel do the minute the Judge dies?
2.  Why was Shamgar not spoken of after Ehud?
3.  Who did God sell them over to, when they sinned this time?
4.  What is unusual about Jabin and Hazor in verse 2?
5.  How many chariots did Jabin have?
6.  How long did he oppress Israel?
7.  Why did Israel not have a large number of chariots and horses?
8.  What was Deborah, besides a Judge?
9.  How do you become a prophetess?
10. What was Deborah's husband's name?
12. What was the meaning of his name?
13. How did people become judge?
14. Where did she judge?
15. What does all of this show us about Deborah?
16. What does the name "Deborah" mean?
17. Who did she call to lead her troops?
18. How many men was he to take with him?
19. What does the statement "Hath not the LORD God of Israel
    commanded" show us?
20. What two tribes were the ten thousand to come from?
21. Who was the captain of Jabin's army?
22. Why will the LORD fight with Israel here?
23. What condition did Barak make about going to this battle?
24. Why did Barak need her to do this?
25. What does Deborah say to him in answer to his request?
26. Why must Deborah be in the forefront of the battle?
27. What Kenite lived near Kedesh?
28. How does Sisera find out that Barak and ten thousand men are on
    Mount Tabor?
29. Who said when the battle was to begin?
30. One person, with God, can put a ____________ to flight.
31. What did Sisera do in the heat of the battle?
32. After the first battle, where did Barak follow the troops of
    Sisera that fled?
33. What happened to the troops and their chariots?
34. Where did Sisera go for safety?
35. What is the "mantle" speaking of?
36. What did she give him, when he asked for water?
37. What did Sisera ask Jael to do?
38. When he was sound asleep, what did she do?
39. Who pursued after Sisera?
40. Where did he find him?
41. What happened to Jabin?
42. What three people had God empowered for this task?