Judges 4:16, commentary and pictures

Barak pursued Sisera's chariots and host to Harosheth of the Gentiles, where the whole host fell by the edge of the sword and not a man was left. He led ten thousand men down from the strong mountain position on Mount Tabor into the open plain to boldly charge an immense army with nine hundred iron chariots fitted with scythe-like knives to cut down ranks like wheat. The hosts of Sisera became panic-stricken and sought only escape down the Kishon valley, where the chariots became a hindrance and the Canaanite army was swept away with vast numbers slain, while Sisera himself fled on foot to Heber's tent where Jael drove a nail through his temples as he slept, which completed the defeat. Though Israel moved with courage and promptness in bold attack, the discomfiture was God's work alone, for He helped a small band of faithful people with a small force to overcome a great, well-armed and much larger enemy, showing that success does not belong automatically to the stronger side. The total destruction was one deliverance in the repeated cycle of backsliding, oppression, return and forgiveness that displays God's long-suffering toward a perverse people, it serves as an object lesson for Armageddon on the plain of Megiddo, and in honoring Deborah and Jael it established women's equality with men for active public role in God's work without usurping authority over men.

The Pursuit and Destruction

Barak pursued after the chariots and after the host unto Harosheth of the Gentiles, and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword, and there was not a man left, none surviving or escaping. This pursuit to Harosheth with total destruction belongs to the account showing honor bestowed upon women. Barak led ten thousand men down from a strong mountain position on Mount Tabor into the open plain to boldly charge an immense, well-equipped army. That army had nine hundred iron chariots, dreaded chariots fitted with scythe-like knives on the axles to cut down ranks like wheat.

The hosts of Sisera became panic-stricken and sought only escape, retreating down the Kishon valley. There the number and iron construction of the chariots were a hindrance rather than an advantage. The Canaanite army was swept away at the Kishon, vast numbers were slain and the strength of the invading army was utterly destroyed.

Sisera himself abandoned his chariot and fled on foot like a common soldier. He fled to the tent of Heber the descendant of Jethro, where after Jael gave him drink and rest he fell asleep. She drove a nail through his temples and pinned him to the earth. As Barak passed that way in pursuit Jael called him in to see the captain dead at his feet by the hand of a woman, and Jael's killing of Sisera completed the defeat and left the whole host destroyed.

The battle was Barak of Naphtali's victory over the Canaanites on the plain of Jezreel near Megiddo at the waters of Megiddo. Sisera assembled his host at the waters of Megiddo while Barak assembled his ten thousand men on Mount Tabor across the plain, from which the waters of Megiddo can be seen, about six hours' walk from Mount Tabor to Mount Megiddo. By it Israel first gained possession of the plain, though the Canaanites retained Megiddo, Ibleam, Taanach, and Dor until the time of the kings. The victory was followed by a song of joy, Israel's earliest poetry among the Galilean hills.

God Gives the Victory

Israel was poorly prepared and had waited in a strong mountain position, yet moved with courage and promptness in bold attack when assured that the day of signal victory had come. Ten thousand men were led down from Mount Tabor into the open plain to charge an immense, well-equipped army with its dreaded iron chariots fitted with scythe-like knives on the axles to cut down ranks like wheat. The God of battle fought for Israel so that neither skill in warfare nor superiority in numbers and equipment could withstand them. The hosts of Sisera were made panic-stricken and sought only escape, vast numbers were slain and the strength of the invading army was utterly destroyed. Though Israel acted bravely the discomfiture was God's work alone and the victory belongs to Him alone.

The Lord helped a small band of faithful people with a small force to overcome a great, well-armed and much larger enemy. Barak pursued Sisera's forces with their chariots to Harosheth of the Gentiles until the entire host fell by the edge of the sword with no survivors and none escaping, including the nine hundred chariots of iron. This shows that Israel could overcome the chariots and army when the people had faith. Success does not belong automatically to the stronger side, for God can use weak and feeble means to overcome overwhelming power, so powerful means do not guarantee success and are not to be trusted for it.

The total destruction of Sisera's host was one deliverance in the repeated cycle of Israel backsliding from God, then suffering oppression, captivity and servitude, then returning to God and receiving forgiveness and deliverance. It stands as part of the triumph God gave Israel over its oppressors. It displays God's long-suffering and goodness toward a perverse and unbelieving people who lived amid awful moral surroundings and the demoralizing influences of the tribes they permitted to remain in the land of promise.

The victory was won as the leaders took the lead and the people offered themselves willingly, and it was followed by a song of joy. Barak's victory over the Canaanites was won at Megiddo, a battlefield associated with major conflicts between Israel and the enemies of God's people. Sisera came with nine hundred chariots of iron and assembled his host at the waters of Megiddo, while Barak assembled his ten thousand men on Mount Tabor across the plain of Jezreel near Megiddo, from which the waters of Megiddo can be seen about six hours' walk away. That battle in the time of Deborah and Barak serves as an object lesson for Armageddon, the gathering of the nations under the sixth plague to be studied in connection with the sixth and seventh plagues, for the plain whose hills of Megiddo give the name Armageddon is the place of the final gathering of the armies of earth.

Women Honored in Battle

The pursuit to Harosheth of the Gentiles and the destruction of all Sisera's host until not a man was left belongs to the account of Deborah the prophetess helping Barak. Jael's killing of Sisera completed that defeat, for when Barak and his men arrived in pursuit she showed them Sisera dead. Barak then joined Deborah in praising the woman who had destroyed Israel's enemy. That honor bestowed by the Father upon women established women's equality with men in Israel.

Women may therefore take an active public role in God's work and take part in the worship of God and in public service. Such a role does not mean dominating men or usurping authority over them. The silence enjoined on women in 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35 and 1 Timothy 2:12, 15 refers to governmental matters and the ruling position given to man, not to participation in worship and public service.