And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
The verse marks the moment Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor with ten thousand men. From that height Barak came down against Sisera's nine hundred iron chariots gathered by the waters of Megiddo, and Israel overthrew them in faith despite their smaller force. The victory came as leaders took the lead and the people offered themselves willingly, following God's direction given through Deborah the prophetess in sacred and civil matters. Barak's triumph on that battlefield of Megiddo is one of the Old Testament conflicts that explains the name Har-Magedon, or hill of Megiddo, in Revelation. Deborah's part in aiding Barak proves that women may bear testimony for Christ and speak in public for God on proper occasions without usurping authority over men.
Historical Setting and Geography
Judges 4:12 belongs to the account of Israel's victory over Sisera and the Canaanites under Deborah and Barak. It marks the moment Sisera was informed that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. Barak's ascent with his smaller force gave him an advantage over Sisera's chariots in the surrounding terrain, placing Sisera's forces at a tactical disadvantage once his position was known.
Barak gathered his forces on Mount Tabor, ten thousand men, as he prepared for battle against Sisera. His gathering on the mount called the tribes to join him for the coming fight in which God would bring victory. Sisera assembled his army near the waters of Megiddo, including nine hundred iron chariots. Barak then descended from Mount Tabor to fight Sisera and his nine hundred iron chariots, and Sisera's force was overthrown by Israel.
Mount Tabor and Megiddo lie across the plain of Jezreel from one another, about a six-hour walk apart. The surrounding victory of Barak and Deborah marked Israel's first gain of possession of the Plain of Esdraelon. That plain was a strategically important crossroads whose trade routes made it a continual cause of strife.
The verse belongs to the record of the deeds of leaders God raised up from time to time in a great national crisis when the nation had gone into captivity, who for that reason are called saviours, the last of whom was Samuel. The book containing the verse comes from about the time there was a king in Israel and may have been written by Samuel or Nathan. Barak's victory over the Canaanites is associated with the earliest poetry of Israel rising among the Galilean hills.
Faith and Willing Leadership
Judges 4:12 belongs to the account of Israel's victory over Sisera, in which leaders took the lead and the people offered themselves willingly. The informing of Sisera that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor belongs to Barak's campaign against him. In that campaign God's direction came through Deborah, a prophetess, in both sacred and civil matters. Those unwilling to accept God's chosen instruments would have made poor leaders or soldiers in that day.
The moment when Sisera learned that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor marks the point before Sisera's force of nine hundred iron chariots was overthrown by Israel under Deborah and Barak. That overthrow demonstrates that Israel could defeat such a force when it acted in faith. Barak's position on Mount Tabor was the gathering of Israel's forces for the battle against Sisera. That gathering called the tribes to join him, contrasted those who answered with those who stayed away, and presented the coming fight as one in which God would bring victory.
Prophecy and Church Teaching
The report that Barak had gone up Mount Tabor belongs to the events leading to the battle of Megiddo in the time of Deborah and Barak. That gathering and the victory of Barak over the Canaanites belong to Megiddo and its battlefield. That battle is one of the Old Testament conflicts that explain the name Har-Magedon, or the hill of Megiddo, in Revelation.
The work of Deborah the prophetess in helping Barak shows that women may bear testimony for Christ. They may speak in public for God on proper occasions with assurance and becoming modesty. They may do so without usurping authority over men. The prohibitions on women speaking forbid lording over men in church matters and assuming authority not possessed. They forbid being unduly prominent, domineering, or arrogant, but they do not forbid women speaking at all in public.
The verse marks the moment Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor with ten thousand men. From that height Barak came down against Sisera's nine hundred iron chariots gathered by the waters of Megiddo, and Israel overthrew them in faith despite their smaller force. The victory came as leaders took the lead and the people offered themselves willingly, following God's direction given through Deborah the prophetess in sacred and civil matters. Barak's triumph on that battlefield of Megiddo is one of the Old Testament conflicts that explains the name Har-Magedon, or hill of Megiddo, in Revelation. Deborah's part in aiding Barak proves that women may bear testimony for Christ and speak in public for God on proper occasions without usurping authority over men.
Historical Setting and Geography
Judges 4:12 belongs to the account of Israel's victory over Sisera and the Canaanites under Deborah and Barak. It marks the moment Sisera was informed that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. Barak's ascent with his smaller force gave him an advantage over Sisera's chariots in the surrounding terrain, placing Sisera's forces at a tactical disadvantage once his position was known.
Barak gathered his forces on Mount Tabor, ten thousand men, as he prepared for battle against Sisera. His gathering on the mount called the tribes to join him for the coming fight in which God would bring victory. Sisera assembled his army near the waters of Megiddo, including nine hundred iron chariots. Barak then descended from Mount Tabor to fight Sisera and his nine hundred iron chariots, and Sisera's force was overthrown by Israel.
Mount Tabor and Megiddo lie across the plain of Jezreel from one another, about a six-hour walk apart. The surrounding victory of Barak and Deborah marked Israel's first gain of possession of the Plain of Esdraelon. That plain was a strategically important crossroads whose trade routes made it a continual cause of strife.
The verse belongs to the record of the deeds of leaders God raised up from time to time in a great national crisis when the nation had gone into captivity, who for that reason are called saviours, the last of whom was Samuel. The book containing the verse comes from about the time there was a king in Israel and may have been written by Samuel or Nathan. Barak's victory over the Canaanites is associated with the earliest poetry of Israel rising among the Galilean hills.
Faith and Willing Leadership
Judges 4:12 belongs to the account of Israel's victory over Sisera, in which leaders took the lead and the people offered themselves willingly. The informing of Sisera that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor belongs to Barak's campaign against him. In that campaign God's direction came through Deborah, a prophetess, in both sacred and civil matters. Those unwilling to accept God's chosen instruments would have made poor leaders or soldiers in that day.
The moment when Sisera learned that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor marks the point before Sisera's force of nine hundred iron chariots was overthrown by Israel under Deborah and Barak. That overthrow demonstrates that Israel could defeat such a force when it acted in faith. Barak's position on Mount Tabor was the gathering of Israel's forces for the battle against Sisera. That gathering called the tribes to join him, contrasted those who answered with those who stayed away, and presented the coming fight as one in which God would bring victory.
Prophecy and Church Teaching
The report that Barak had gone up Mount Tabor belongs to the events leading to the battle of Megiddo in the time of Deborah and Barak. That gathering and the victory of Barak over the Canaanites belong to Megiddo and its battlefield. That battle is one of the Old Testament conflicts that explain the name Har-Magedon, or the hill of Megiddo, in Revelation.
The work of Deborah the prophetess in helping Barak shows that women may bear testimony for Christ. They may speak in public for God on proper occasions with assurance and becoming modesty. They may do so without usurping authority over men. The prohibitions on women speaking forbid lording over men in church matters and assuming authority not possessed. They forbid being unduly prominent, domineering, or arrogant, but they do not forbid women speaking at all in public.