Judges and Prophets – Part 2

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets

‘Barak’ – faith’s triumph (Judges 4-5). Israel sinned again and again, before Barak’s time and afterwards (Jdg. 3:12; 4:1; 8:33; 10:6). Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, judged Israel at that time. Here was one man who admitted his dependence on a woman (cp. 2Cor. 11:7-12). The Septuagint adds at the end of Judges 4:8, “for I do not know the day when the Lord would prosper the angel with me,” meaning that Barak depended on Deborah’s contact with God to tell him when to attack, as in Judges 4:14. Deborah commanded Barak to take This was the exact number she commanded him to take ten thousand men (Jdg. 4:6, 10) and she went along as well.

The Canaanites dwelled from Harosheth near the Sea of Merom (modern Lake Huleh) on the Jordan to the river Kishon which flows into the Mediterranean near Mount Carmel. The Kishon rises at the foot of Mount Tabor, winding southerly through the plain of Jezreel about 48 kilometres to the Mediterranean (Jdg. 4:7, 13; 5:21). It is called the waters of Megiddo (Jdg. 5:19). On this river the famous battle between Barak and Sisera was fought (Jdg. 4:13-22), and it was the place of the destruction of the prophets of Baal by Elijah (1Kin. 18:40).

God put it into the hearts of 10,000 unarmed men to have faith to overcome a greater, well-armed company. Barak retired to Mount Tabor with the 10,000 men, and they were attacked by Sisera’s well-armed men. Suddenly Barak and his men rushed upon them and God began to act, causing terror and confusion throughout the Canaanite army who threw down their arms to flee. The routing was instantaneous and complete, the Israelites picking up the arms of their enemies and slaying them as they ran away. Even Sisera, no longer safe in a chariot, fled on foot. The entire army was slain by men and the captain by a woman. Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, where he was murdered in his sleep by her putting a tent peg through his eye (Jdg. 4:21).

To be continued…