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.

Sisera gathered his whole vast army, with nine hundred iron chariots and all his people, from Harosheth to the river Kishon at the waters of Megiddo in the plain of Jezreel. His strength lay in numbers and dreaded iron chariots fitted with scythe-like knives, which looked irresistible on the open plain but became a hindrance in the broken ground near Mount Tabor where Israel held its mountain position. When Barak led his ten thousand boldly down from Tabor, God fought for Israel by striking the hosts with panic and sending rain so the Kishon swept away chariots and soldiers until the invading power was utterly destroyed. That triumph over seemingly overwhelming force shows that weapons and numbers do not ensure success, for God gives victory through faith and willing, courageous action so the glory belongs to Him alone, and this victory at Megiddo stands as a lesson for the final gathering of the nations at Armageddon under the sixth plague.

Setting and Battle Course

This gathering belongs to the oppression that followed Israel's backsliding from God, after twenty years of suffering under Jabin's rule. It stands as one instance of the captivity and servitude that followed such backsliding, within the composite record of Judges 3 to 17 where backsliding brought suffering and oppression and returning to God brought forgiveness and deliverance. That record displays the perversity and unbelief of the people and the long-suffering and goodness of God amid awful moral surroundings and the demoralizing influences of the tribes Israel permitted to remain in the land of promise.

Sisera assembled his entire immense force, nine hundred chariots of iron and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles to the Kishon River. The gathering was at the waters of Megiddo in the great plain of Jezreel. That plain was strategically important as a crossroads of major trade routes and a frequent cause of conflict.

His power lay in vast numbers and full implements of warfare, and especially in the dreaded chariots of iron. They were so constructed as to be terribly destructive, with large scythe-like knives fastened to the axles so that when driven through enemy ranks they would cut men down like wheat before the sickle. Formidable in appearance, they became a hindrance in the terrain near Mount Tabor, where Barak's smaller force had an advantage. Sisera expected with this force in the plain beneath Mount Tabor to surround the Hebrews and make them an easy prey.

Israel's tribes were summoned to join Barak at Tabor, while Sisera's chariots and forces were massed near the Kishon. Barak had gathered his ten thousand opposite on Mount Tabor, in sight across the plain about six hours' walk away. Against the force below, Israel held a strong position in the mountains at Tabor but was poorly prepared and looked with terror on the armies spread out below.

When Barak led his army down from Tabor into the open plain and boldly charged, the God of battle fought for Israel. He struck the hosts of Sisera with panic and slew vast numbers, so that neither skill in warfare nor superiority of numbers and equipment could withstand Israel. Jehovah sent rain, and the Kishon River swept away the Canaanite chariots and forces. The enemy's horsemen and charioteers fled, retreating down the Kishon valley as Barak pursued.

The strength of the invading army was utterly destroyed. Sisera himself was killed by Jael. The deliverance culminated in the triumphant song of Deborah and Barak, which also recounts Jael's part. The victory was one of the noted decisive battles of that plain, the remarkable victory of Deborah and Barak over Sisera's host, and was Israel's first possession of the plain, although Canaanites retained several of its cities until the time of the kings.

Foreshadowing of Armageddon Gathering

The gathering it records belongs to Barak's victory over the Canaanites, one of two great victories associated with Megiddo. Megiddo was the Old Testament's chief battlefield between Israel and its enemies, and that battle and its location supply the historical background for the prophetic gathering at Har-Magedon. Here Sisera drew together his army with nine hundred chariots of iron at the waters of Megiddo by the Kishon in the great plain of Jezreel, while Barak had drawn his ten thousand opposite on Mount Tabor, in sight across the plain about six hours' walk away. The muster thus stands among the noted decisive battles of that plain, the remarkable victory of Deborah and Barak over Sisera's host, and the hills of Megiddo where Sisera gathered give the name Armageddon, the place of the final gathering of the armies of earth.

The battle at Megiddo fought in the days of Deborah and Barak serves as an object lesson for the final gathering of the nations at Armageddon under the sixth plague. The battle described in Judges 4 and 5 is therefore important to study in connection with the sixth and seventh plagues. The events and characters of the whole Barak and Deborah account in Judges 4:1-24 hold prophetic significance that has generally gone unnoticed.

Faith Lessons for Service

Sisera assembled his entire force, including nine hundred chariots of iron, from Harosheth of the Gentiles to the Kishon River, yet that great military strength did not prevent his defeat, for Israel under Deborah and Barak overthrew him through faith. His was an immense and well-equipped force gathered in the plain beneath Mount Tabor, expecting to surround the Hebrews and make them an easy prey. Its power lay in vast numbers and full implements of warfare, and especially in the dreaded chariots of iron, so constructed as to be terribly destructive with large scythe-like knives fastened to the axles so that when driven through enemy ranks they would cut men down like wheat before the sickle. Against this the Israelites held a strong position in the mountains at Tabor but were poorly prepared and looked with terror on the armies spread out below them. When Barak led his army down from Tabor into the open plain and boldly charged, neither skill in warfare nor superiority of numbers and equipment could withstand Israel.

The God of battle fought for Israel, struck the hosts of Sisera with panic, slew vast numbers, and utterly destroyed the strength of the invading army, so that though Israel acted with courage and promptness the victory could be ascribed to God alone. The account belongs to Barak and Deborah's victory over Israel's oppressors, showing God's triumph for His people. Sisera's overwhelming military strength with its nine hundred iron chariots was defeated by Deborah's small and seemingly weak force, teaching that strong weapons and great numbers do not guarantee success and that God can overcome powerful forces through weak means. The victory followed when Israel's leaders took the lead and the people offered themselves willingly, and it brought a song of joy, illustrating how willing, active leadership and service help advance God's work.

God's will in the gathering of that powerful force by Sisera and in the deliverance that followed was made known through Deborah, a prophetess, and receiving that guidance required a humble heart and obedient faith, even from those who might resent the means God chose. The chapter shows the honor bestowed by the Father upon women and shows that woman may take part in the worship of God and in public service. The silence enjoined in 1 Corinthians 14:34,35 and the prohibition in 1 Timothy 2:12 do not forbid that part, but refer to governmental matters in the church. Man and woman are equal but their spheres are different, and man as the stronger has the ruling position.

The gathering for battle, with Israel's tribes summoned to join Barak at Tabor while Sisera's chariots and forces were massed near the Kishon, tested whether the tribes would help their brethren. When Jehovah sent rain the enemy's horsemen and charioteers fled.

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