Judges 4:10, commentary and pictures

Barak called the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh and went up with ten thousand men at his feet, with Deborah going up with him to direct the way and lead the hosts into battle against Jabin's forces. Encouraged by her assurance that the day of victory had come, he led his small force down from Mount Tabor into the plain and boldly charged Sisera's vast army with its dreaded iron chariots, and because God fought for Israel the enemy was panic-stricken, utterly destroyed, and the victory could be ascribed to God alone after twenty years of oppression. God thus used Deborah in public capacity as prophetess and leader, even leading in war, establishing women's standing alongside men and proving that women moved by the Spirit may speak, testify, lead and serve publicly without usurping authority over men. Barak's refusal to go unless Deborah went with him showed lack of trust in God's word through her, so the honor of the victory went to a woman, calling for humble obedient faith in the person God chooses. The courage and willing answer of Zebulun and Naphtali under leadership is a model for God's people to serve unitedly rather than remain idle, a pattern that applies to the closing work of the third angel's message, while this battle at Megiddo stands as an object lesson for the final gathering at Armageddon.

Historical Setting and Victory

Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh and went up with ten thousand men at his feet, with Deborah going up with him, as a call to join battle against Jabin's forces, with Deborah directing the way and Barak leading the troops. As the Lord directed, he marshaled the army and marched to Mount Tabor, from which the plain could be seen across to the waters of Megiddo where Sisera gathered his army with nine hundred iron chariots. The ten thousand were what those two tribes could arm, for many others lacked weapons, and the force was small beside the enemy. Israel held a strong position in the mountains to await a favorable opportunity for attack, while looking with terror on the vast armies spread in the plain beneath, equipped with all implements of warfare and dreaded chariots of iron, constructed with large scythe-like knives fastened to the axles to cut down ranks like wheat before the sickle. The terrain hindered those chariots, yet Sisera expected to surround Israel for easy prey.

Encouraged by Deborah's assurance that the very day for signal victory had come, Barak led his army down from the mountain into the open plain of Esdraelon or Jezreel past Mount Tabor and boldly charged Sisera's forces with courage and promptness. Neither skill in warfare nor superiority of numbers and equipment could withstand them, for the God of battle fought for Israel. The hosts of Sisera were panic-stricken and sought only escape, with horsemen and charioteers fleeing, vast numbers slain, and the strength of the invading army utterly destroyed. The victory could be ascribed to God alone, and it shows Israel could overcome enemies by faith.

The deliverance ended twenty years of oppression under Jabin, king of Canaan, and broke the oppressor's power. It is celebrated in the song of Deborah and Barak, which also recounts Jael's part in the deliverance.

Deborah, whose name means bee, and Barak, whose name means lightning, were real historical persons in a real historical event, not mythical figures taken from pagan worship. The pairing of bee with lightning or sting-fly of heaven does not make the account borrowed pagan mythology, and the story is solid and trustworthy ancient history. Their victory was Israel's first gain of possession of the Plain of Esdraelon, though the Canaanites retained several cities there until the time of the kings. The event belongs to the victory of Barak of Naphtali over the Canaanites, associated with the rise of Israel's earliest poetry among the Galilean hills.

Women in Public Service

Deborah stands in this verse as one raised up by God to public service as prophetess and leader, going up with Barak and the ten thousand men of Zebulun and Naphtali gathered to Kedesh, directing the way for the battle and even leading the hosts of God in war. Her presence on the field and the victory that followed established the standing of women alongside men in Israel, as part of the honor the Father has bestowed upon women and has continued to bestow in all ages of the world, placing her as a beacon-light in every avenue of life. That public use was to His glory, proving that God has used women publicly in all ages.

Her example shows that women are not barred from public speaking and service for God, but when moved by the Spirit may speak and lead in His work. They may take part in the worship of God and in public service, bearing public testimony and serving God in the conflict against His enemies. Such bearing of testimony and help does not usurp authority over men.

The silence enjoined upon women in 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2 does not forbid that worship and public service, because that silence refers to governmental matters and to ruling or controlling in the church. Truly humble, modest, faithful women may serve, and by godly life and modest demeanor win and mold hearts.

God may communicate His will through a prophetess, giving direction through Deborah for Barak and the summoned tribes to go into battle. The call is for humble, obedient faith rather than resistance to the person God chooses. Barak would not undertake the mission unless Deborah accompanied him, and because he did not trust God's word through her it was told him that a woman would receive the honor.

Prophecy and Faithful Example

The battle fought by Deborah and Barak over the Canaanites belongs to the great conflicts associated with Megiddo, the Old Testament battlefield where Israel met the enemies of God's people. That historic gathering for battle stands as an object lesson for the final gathering of the nations at Armageddon in the valley of decision.

At Kedesh Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali and went up with ten thousand men at his feet, with Deborah going up with him, showing leaders taking the lead while the people offer themselves willingly. The courage and faithfulness of Zebulun and Naphtali in answering the call is the model for God's people, who are to serve rather than remain idle when called to work. Their united action brings victory, and victory is followed by a song of joy. That same pattern of united, willing action under leadership belongs to the closing work of the third angel's message.