Canaan takes control of Israel
1After Ehud died, the people of Israel returned to their bad habit of bad behavior. They did things the LORD said were wrong. 2So, the LORD gave them to one of the Canaanite kings: Jabin. He ruled the Galilean city of Hazor. A general named Sisera commanded Jabin’s army, which was based at Harosheth-Haggoyim. [1] 3Jabin made life miserable for Israel. He was able to do it for 20 years because he had 900 chariots. Eventually, the people of Israel turned to God for help.The judge is a lady
4A prophet named Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, led Israel at the time. 5When people needed help settling disputes, they went to Deborah. She held court sitting under a tree called the Palm of Deborah. This was between the cities of Ramah and Bethel, in the hills of Ephraim’s tribal land.6Deborah sent a message to a man named Barak, son of Abinoam. Barak lived in the city of Kedesh [2] in Naphtali’s tribal land. Deborah said, “The LORD, Israel’s God, has orders for you: Assemble an army of 10,000 from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. Take a position on Mount Tabor. [3] 7I’ll lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, into bringing his chariots to fight you at Kishon River. [4] Then I’ll turn him over to you.”
Barak takes Deborah to the battle
8Barak told Deborah, “I’ll go if you go. But if you don’t, I won’t.” [5]9Deborah said, “Sure, I’ll go with you. But I’ll tell you this, you’re not going to get a drop of glory. The LORD is going to put Sisera’s fate in the hand of a woman.” [6]
10There in Kedesh, Barak assembled an army of 10,000 from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Then he and Deborah led them south to Mount Tabor. 11A Kenite herder named Heber moved far away from his clan—people descended from Hobab, father-in-law of Moses. He made his camp near Kedesh, by a huge tree in Zaanannim. [7]
Sisera’s chariots arrive, armed and armored
12Sisera got news that Barak, Abinoam’s son, had taken a position on Mount Tabor. 13So he deployed his entire army, which included 900 iron-armored chariots. They left their base at Harosheth-Haggoyim and went to the Kishon River.14Deborah told Barak, “It’s time. Today’s the day the LORD is going to give you Sisera. The LORD is already on the move ahead of you.” Barak led his 10,000 men down the slopes of Mount Tabor.
Sisera runs for his life
15The LORD stormed Sisera and his army with panic and chaos. Sisera jumped out of his chariot and ran away on foot. 17His army collapsed into a frantic retreat, with soldiers running for their lives back to the base at Harosheth-Haggoyim. Israelites caught them all and killed them all. Israel took no captives and left no survivors. 17Sisera ran until he came to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite. Heber’s family was on peaceful terms with King Jabin of Hazor.Jael tucks in frightened Sisera for a nap
18Jael came out of her tent and told Sisera, “Come, commander. It’s safe. Come on inside.” Sisera went into the tent and Jael covered him with a blanket.19He said, “Please, I’m thirsty. I’d like some water.” Instead, she opened a leather bag of milk and poured him a drink. [8] Then she tucked him in with the blanket. 20He said, “Stand guard out there. If someone shows up and asks if anyone else is here, tell them you’re alone.”
Jael’s hospitality with a hammer
21Instead, Jael picked up a tent peg in one hand, a hammer in the other. She snuck into the tent. And she drove the tent peg into his temple, through his head, and into the ground. He had been dead tired. Then he was dead. 22Barak arrived at Jael’s tent later, hunting Sisera. Jael came out of the tent and said, “Come with me. I’ll show you the man you want.” Barak went inside and found Sisera staked to the ground with a tent peg through his temple.23That’s the day God defeated Canaanite King Jabin. He did it for Israel. 24After that, the Israelites grew stronger and Jabin grew weaker. Eventually, the Israelites killed him.
