DBG - March 21 - Judges 4-6

In this chapter Deborah and Barak lead Israel to victory and deliverance.

vs. 1-3 – Israel falls away from God again.  They are conquered by Jabin (“discerner, wise”, likely a title), a Canaanite ruler from Hazor north of the Sea of Galilee.  Joshua defeated a ruler with the same name at the same place in Joshua 11.  The Jabin here and is kingdom are certainly descended from that earlier king and kingdom.   The military was led by Sisera (“battle array”), who was based out of Harosheth, which was near Mt. Carmel in the Jezreel Valley.  The might of this army is its corps of chariots, numbering 900.

vs. 4-5 – We meet Deborah (“a bee”), the prophetess that is the leader of Israel at this time.  She was based in Mt. Ephraim between Bethel and Ramah, and there Israel would go to consult her for her judgment.  We find here another mark of this period: the unwillingness or hesitancy of men to take the lead. 

vs. 6-7 – Deborah gives God’s instructions to Barak (“lightning”) that he is to lead a force of 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun against Sisera near Mt. Tabor in the eastern Jezreel Valley.

vs. 8-10 – Barak refuses to go without Deborah.  She warns him that in doing so he would not receive any glory as the leader.  The army gathers a Kedesh (probably Kedesh-Napthali on the southwest shores of the Sea of Galilee) and marches to Mt. Tabor. 

vs. 11-13 – Heber (“alliance”), a Kenite that had move north from his people that had settled near Jericho, warns Sisera of Israel’s coming attack.

vs. 14-16 – God aids Israel in a complete rout of the enemy.  The army with its chariots are destroyed and Sisera, its commander, flees for his life on foot.

vs. 17-22 – Sisera seeks refuge by hiding in the tent of Jael (“mountain goat”), the wife of the Heber the Kenite.  She lulls him into a false sense of security, and after he fell asleep she drove a tent stake through his head and killed him.

vs. 23-24 – The victory leads to a further campaign against Jabin and his destruction.

In this chapter is the song of praise by Deborah and Barak after their victory.

vs. 1-5 – The song opens with an outpouring of praise to the mighty God who gave the victory.  In vs. 4-5 is the picture of the unstoppable God racing northward as a storm and as fire.

vs. 6-11 – The defeated condition of Israel and their deliverance is described.  We have in vs. 5 a mention of a custom of the time of nobles riding white donkeys.  We see something like this mentioned in 10:4 and 12:14.

vs. 12-22 – Here the victors celebrate and call out the tribes who did not participate in the battle.  The tribes that participated at given as Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh (Machir in vs. 14 is a subgroup of this tribe), Zebulon, Issachar, and Naphtali.  The tribes that did not participate and are called out for it are Reuben, Gad/Manasseh (Gilead in vs. 17 is a territory associated with Gad or Manasseh), Dan, and Asher.  If Gilead refers to Gad online, and likely it does, that leaves three tribes not mentioned: Judah, Simeon, and Levi.  Levi is easy to excuse in their role as priests and religious leaders.  Judah and Simeon are far away to the south and perhaps not expected to take part due to the distance.  We could also see here a sign of the later division in the kingdom as the northern tribes break from Judah in I Kings 12.

vs. 23 – The city of Meroz (“refuge”) is cursed for refusing to aid in the battle.  It is assumed this city was near the battlefield, but its location is not known.  The curse truly came to pass, and it was wiped away from history.

vs. 24-31 – The song closes with a comparison of two women.  The first is Jael, who killed Sisera in her tent.  The second is Sisera’s mother, who is pictured watching for her son’s return and expecting a victory that did not occur.

In this chapter is the song of praise by Deborah and Barak after their victory.

vs. 1-5 – The song opens with an outpouring of praise to the mighty God who gave the victory.  In vs. 4-5 is the picture of the unstoppable God racing northward as a storm and as fire.

vs. 6-11 – The defeated condition of Israel and their deliverance is described.  We have in vs. 5 a mention of a custom of the time of nobles riding white donkeys.  We see something like this mentioned in 10:4 and 12:14.

vs. 12-22 – Here the victors celebrate and call out the tribes who did not participate in the battle.  The tribes that participated at given as Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh (Machir in vs. 14 is a subgroup of this tribe), Zebulon, Issachar, and Naphtali.  The tribes that did not participate and are called out for it are Reuben, Gad/Manasseh (Gilead in vs. 17 is a territory associated with Gad or Manasseh), Dan, and Asher.  If Gilead refers to Gad online, and likely it does, that leaves three tribes not mentioned: Judah, Simeon, and Levi.  Levi is easy to excuse in their role as priests and religious leaders.  Judah and Simeon are far away to the south and perhaps not expected to take part due to the distance.  We could also see here a sign of the later division in the kingdom as the northern tribes break from Judah in I Kings 12.

vs. 23 – The city of Meroz (“refuge”) is cursed for refusing to aid in the battle.  It is assumed this city was near the battlefield, but its location is not known.  The curse truly came to pass, and it was wiped away from history.

vs. 24-31 – The song closes with a comparison of two women.  The first is Jael, who killed Sisera in her tent.  The second is Sisera’s mother, who is pictured watching for her son’s return and expecting a victory that did not occur.In this chapter God calls Gideon to led Israel to victory, if only He can convince him to do it!

vs. 1-6 – Israel again turns from God, and the Midianites are sent to conquer them. The attack comes before harvest when the coalition of Midianites, Amalekites, and Arabians sweep in from the south. The Israelites lose their crops and livestock. They resort to holding out in caves and strongholds.

vs. 7-10 – The people cry out to the Lord and He sends a prophet to them. His message is that God has been faithful while Israel had not. It is a call for repentance. The people wanted relief but were not ready to fully turn back to God.

vs. 11-16 – The Angel of the Lord (the Preincarnate Christ, see vs. 14 and 16) appears to Gideon (“he that cuts down”) at Ophrah (“a fawn”), a location in the eastern Jezreel Valley south of Mt. Tabor. Gideon is threshing wheat (throwing it in the air so that the chaff blows away from the grain) in a valley. This was normally done on a hilltop where you had more wind, which shows that he is hiding from the enemy. The Angel tells him that he will lead the people to victory against the Midianites.

vs. 17-24 – Gideon seeks his first sign of confirmation that the Messenger and His message are true. He prepares a meal for the Angel, who causes it to burn as a sacrifice on a rock. Gideon now understands Who had been talking to him. He builds an altar there and calls it Jehovahshalom (“The Lord’s peace”) because he was not killed for speaking to the Lord.

vs. 25-32 – We get a glimpse at the religious situation of the times here. Gideon’s father has shrines for Baal and Ashtaroth (she was worshipped in groves of trees). God commands him to destroy these shrines and build an altar to the true God. Gideon is too scared to do it in daylight but did so under the cover of darkness. The men of the city are enraged and seek to kill Gideon. His father forbids them, saying that if Baal wants justice, then let Baal kill Gideon. There is a something of the polytheistic mindset here. Baal and Ashtaroth were exposed as weak for letting their shrines be destroyed, while God is seen as strong because His altar now stood in their place. It also shows that Israel had not fully turned back to God. Gideon gains a nickname here of Jerubbaal (“contender with Baal”).

vs. 33-35 – The Midianite coalition was gathered in the Jezreel valley. God emboldens Gideon, and he blows the trumpet to assemble an army. HIs family (the Abiezer clan) join first and men are roused from the northern tribes.

vs. 36-40 – Gideon seeks further affirmation that God was truly going to use him to lead Israel to a victory. The first test is that a fleece was placed on the threshing floor, and Gideon asked that it would be wet while the ground around it was dry. God did this. Gideon seeks further affirmation. The second test is the opposite, that the fleece would be dry and the ground wet. God does this also. That is three signs miraculous signs of confirmation for the reluctant general.

One of God’s greatest expressions of love towards us is His patience with us.  He chose Gideon to be the leader in one of Israel’s darkest hours, but He also had to convince him to do it.  Gideon questioned the Angel, and God obliged him to prove He and His message were real.  Gideon asked for not one test, but two.  God kindly obliged again.  It should be an encouragement to us that we are not bothering God with our problems or even our faltering faith.  He bids us still, “Come unto Me.”

Our hymn today is “The Song of Deborah”, or at least a reworking of it to fit into English poetry.  This technique has been especially popular with the Psalms, so much so that we call collections of them Psalters.  Our song today was written by Congregationalist pastor John Barnard and published in his “A New Version of the Psalms of David”.  This took place in 1752 in Boston.    

1.Praise ye the Lord, who hath avenged
His Israel, on their haughty foes;
When the brave people freely did
Their lives, for liberty, expose.
3. Hear, O ye kings, princes give ear,
Whilst I to great Jehovah sing;
In sacred numbers shout the praise
Of Israels God, the almighty King.

4. When God from Mount Seir marched in state,
And turned from Edom's lofty towers,
The earth shook, the heavens in thunders dropped,
The clouds poured down their rapid showers.
5. The mountains flamed, and melting flowed,
Nor could Jehovah's presence bear;
So Sinai unknown terrors felt,
When Israel's God was present there.

6. In Shangar's Anath's valiant son,
And famous Jael's former days,
The roads, by travelers were untrod;
Who fearful, walked through secret ways.
7. The villages were broken up,
Their lands uncultivate were laid;
Until I Deborah was raised
And mother in God's Israel made.

8. New gods their sickly fancies chose,
Fierce wars their gates invaded then;
Was shield, or spear, in Israel's tents
Seen among forty thousand men?
9. My heart is set on Israel's chiefs,
Who offered of their own accord,
Bravely to join, and head the troops
In battle: blessed be the Lord.

10. Sing ye that on white asses ride.
And now secure in judgment sit.
Ye travelers join the sacred song,
Who safely go where ye think fit.
11. Ye that from the archer's noise are freed,
Lurking at every watering place,
Jehovah's righteous doings, now
May there rehearse, in songs of praise:

The truly gracious actions he
To Israels villages hath shown;
That now the people of the Lord,
Safe to their borders, may go down.
12. Wake Deborah, wake, excite thy powers,
His fame, in sacred hymns, to spread;
Rise, Barak, thou Abinoam's son,
Thy captive foes, in triumph, lead.

13. Thus Carman's nobles he reduced,
And put beneath his remnant's feet;
The Lord, to my dominion, forced
Their mighty captains to submit.
14. From Ephraim's mount there came a root,
Which with fierce Amalek engaged.
Benjamin followed close, and joined
His forces, where the battle raged.

From Machir's stock, renowned of old,
There come great captains, famous men;
And Zebulun sent such as knew
To wield the sword, and use the pen.
15. The noble lords of Isachar
To Deborah their forces led;
On foot they marched down to the vale,
With gallant Barak at their head.

But Reuben separate remained,
Distant in mind, much more than parts;
The conduct of which potent tribe
Made great impressions on our hearts.
16. Didst fear the losing of thy sheep,
That thou among the sheepfolds stayed?
Thee, has the bleating of thy flocks,
To base neutrality betrayed?

Truly thy conduct, Reuben, who
So wholly separate remained;
And would not join so good a cause,
Our hearts has grieved, thy glory stained.
17. So beyond Jordan, Gilead stayed:
And why did Dan in ships abide?
While Ashur clung to his sea shore,
To hide in creeks, or curb the tide.

18. But Zebulun, and Naphtali,
Were ready, for the public good,
In the high places of the field,
To risk their lives, and spend their blood.
19. Confederate kings of Canaan came,
With Jabin joined, and for him sought,
In Tannach, by Megiddo's stream;
But lost the booty which they fought.

20. They fought from heaven, the marshaled stars,
Each active in their stated course,
Exert their influence, and fought;
Against proud Sisera bent their force.
21. The River Kishon swept them off;
That ancient river, here well known
A brook, now to a river swollen:
Thou, O my soul, hast strength trod down?

22. The fierce encounters of their horse,
In hasty flight, each other wound;
Their speed is stopped, they tumbling cast
Their mighty riders to the ground.
23. Curse Meroz, said God's angel, Curse
All bitterly to her belong;
For they refused to help the Lord,
To aid his arms against the strong.

24. Blessed Jael Kenite Heber's wife,
Shall be above all women-kind;
Her fame, beyond her sex, shall spread,
In every tent, to every wind.
25. He water asked; to quench his thirst,
She gave him milk, beyond his wish:
She brought forth butter to regale,
And served him in a lordly dish.

26. She took the tent nail in her hand,
Her right hand seized the hammer fast;
Through Sisera's temples drove the spike,
And then cut off his head at last.
27. He started, staggered, in a maze,
He fell, down at her feet lay spread;
Close at her feet he bowed, he fell,
There where he bowed, he fell down dead.

28. His mother through the window looked,
And cried, impatient for her son,
Why does his chariot stay so long?
Why do the wheels so slowly run?
29. Her prudent ladies answered her;
Yea, eager, she herself replied,
30. Have they not sped? and now a prey,
To each a maid or two, divide?

Isn't Sisera choosing, from the spoils,
Rich robes, which beauteous colors deck,
Of needlework, on either side,
Fit to adorn the conqueror's neck?
31. So, Lord, may all thine enemies
In ruin sink, and perish quite:
But those that love thee, like the sun
Be when he marcheth in his might.