Judges 4:15, commentary and pictures

The Lord Himself threw Sisera, his nine hundred iron chariots, and all his host into confusion and panic before Barak, destroying the army and sweeping it away so that Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot to meet his death at Jael's hand. Barak had led ten thousand poorly prepared Israelites down from Mount Tabor into the open plain against an immense, well-equipped force whose scythe-armed chariots seemed irresistible. God fought for Israel and worked mightily to give the victory, which Barak entered in faith with boldness, courage and promptness at Deborah's assurance yet could ascribe to God alone. Neither skill in warfare nor superiority of numbers and equipment can withstand God, so success does not belong automatically to the strong and He can accomplish great things through apparently weak means. The battle at Megiddo stands as an object lesson for the final gathering of the armies of earth at Armageddon under the sixth plague. Deborah's part with Barak shows that women may serve God publicly and bear testimony with humility, modesty and godly life, without assuming rule over men.

Historical Setting and Details

Judges 4:15 belongs to the repeated cycle in Judges 3-17 of backsliding from God followed by suffering, oppression, captivity and servitude, then returning to God and receiving forgiveness and deliverance through God's dealings with His people. It belongs to the account of Israel's deliverance from Jabin, king of Canaan, after twenty years of oppression. The verse records that the Lord threw Sisera, his chariots, and his army into confusion and panic before Barak.

Barak had marshaled ten thousand poorly prepared Israelites on Mount Tabor, while Sisera assembled his host at the waters of Megiddo across the plain of Jezreel near Megiddo, visible from Tabor about six hours' walk away. Encouraged by Deborah's assurance that the day for signal victory had come, Barak led them down from their strong mountain position near Mount Tabor and the Kishon River into the open plain in a bold charge. Sisera's force was immense and well equipped, including nine hundred iron chariots and veteran troops. Those dreaded iron chariots were built with scythe-like knives on the axles to cut down ranks like wheat, against which Deborah and a handful of men appeared weak.

The hosts of Sisera were made panic-stricken and sought only escape, vast numbers were slain, the host was destroyed and swept away and its strength utterly destroyed. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot toward the other side of Mount Tabor. His flight led him to seek refuge at Heber's tent, where Jael killed him, bringing about the prediction that a woman would receive the honor of defeating Israel's enemy.

This victory is celebrated in the song of joy by Deborah and Barak, in which Jael is singled out for her part in the deliverance. It was associated with leaders taking the lead and the people offering themselves willingly. The victory under Barak and Deborah was one of the great and most noted battles associated with Megiddo and fought in that plain. It was the Israelites' first gain of possession of the Plain of Jezreel, though Canaanite towns in the region remained in Canaanite hands until the time of the kings.

God Gives the Victory

The Lord Himself fought for Israel in this battle, throwing Sisera, his chariots, and all his host into confusion before Barak and working mightily for His people to give Barak and Israel the victory over Sisera and his army, including nine hundred iron chariots. Barak had marshaled ten thousand poorly prepared Israelites on Mount Tabor and, encouraged by Deborah's assurance that the day for signal victory had come, led them down from their strong mountain position into the open plain in a bold charge against an immense, well-equipped army with dreaded iron chariots built with scythe-like knives on the axles to cut down ranks like wheat. The hosts of Sisera were made panic-stricken and sought only escape, vast numbers were slain, the host was destroyed and its strength utterly destroyed, and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot toward the other side of Mount Tabor. Neither skill in warfare nor superiority of numbers and equipment could withstand God in battle, for Sisera's overwhelming force with nine hundred iron chariots and veteran troops was defeated by Deborah and a handful of men who appeared weak. Success does not belong automatically to the strong, and God can accomplish great things through apparently weak means.

Israel acted in faith with courage and promptness, with leaders taking the lead and the people offering themselves willingly, and their victory was followed by a song of joy. Yet God alone could have discomfited the enemy, so the victory could be ascribed to Him alone. The deliverance belongs to the repeated cycle of backsliding from God followed by suffering, oppression, captivity and servitude, then returning to God and receiving forgiveness and deliverance. It shows God's long-suffering and goodness in delivering Israel despite the people's perversity and unbelief, amid awful moral surroundings and the demoralizing influences of the tribes permitted to remain in the land of promise, by using the best willing instruments He has for Israel's mission.

Barak went into battle under the Lord's direction with the Spirit of the Lord leading him, and God routed Sisera's chariots and army before him. His example is warfare undertaken by divine direction, not a general warrant for destructive warfare.

Prophecy and Church Lessons

The battle in which the Lord discomfited Sisera belongs to the days of Deborah and Barak at Megiddo, and it serves as an object lesson connected with the gathering of the nations at Armageddon under the sixth plague. It was a remarkable victory over Sisera with his nine hundred chariots of iron on the plain of Jezreel near Megiddo, with Barak assembling his ten thousand men on Mount Tabor while Sisera assembled his host at the waters of Megiddo across the plain, visible from Tabor and about six hours' walk away. It stands as one of the most noted conflicts ever fought in that plain, whose hills of Megiddo give the name Armageddon, the place of the final gathering of the armies of earth.

The history of Barak and Deborah carries prophetic significance beyond the literal battle. It presents marvels in metaphor that have generally gone unnoticed. In that history Deborah stands as a prophetess who helped Barak, showing that women may serve God publicly and bear testimony. Such public service is to be done with modest dress and deportment, remaining humble, modest and faithful, winning and holding and molding hearts by godly life, without assuming authority or rule or control over men or acting arrogantly.

The honor the Father bestowed on women in Judges 4 proves that the silence enjoined in 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35 and 1 Timothy 2:12, 15 refers to governmental and ruling matters in the church. It does not forbid taking part in the worship of God. Women may therefore take part in public service while not assuming to rule or control.