Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 4:7
And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
7. The overthrow of the enemy is predicted with prophetic authority; cf. Exo 14:4.
the river Kishon ] Jdg 4:13, Jdg 5:21, now called Nahr el-Muaa‘, rises from the hills near Jenin (En-gannim), and flows “in a muddy trench, unseen five yards away” (G. A. Smith, Hist. Geogr., p. 382), parallel to the Carmel range, draining the Great Plain, and empties itself into the sea near aifa. A northern branch rises to the W. of Tabor.
the captain of Jabin’s army ] See on Jdg 4:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The brook or stream Kishon (Nahr Mukutta), so called from its winding course, caused by the dead level of the plain of Esdraelon through which it flows, rises, in respect to one of its sources or feeders, in Mount Tabor, and flows nearly due west through the plain, under Mount Carmel, and into the Bay of Acre. In the early or eastern part of its course, before it is recruited by the springs on Carmel, it is nothing but a torrent, often dry, but liable to swell very suddenly and dangerously, and to overflow its banks in early spring, after rain or the melting of snow. The ground on the banks of the Kishon near Megiddo (Mujedda, see Jos 12:21 note) becomes an impassable morass under the same circumstances, and would be particularly dangerous to a large number of chariots.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
I will draw unto thee, by my secret and powerful providence, ordering and overruling his inclinations that way.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And I will draw unto thee,…. Which are the words of the Lord by Deborah, as are the preceding, signifying, that by the secret and powerful influence of his providence he would so order things, and the circumstances of them; and so powerfully operate on the mind and heart of the Canaanitish general as to engage him to come
to the river Kishon, Sisera the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots, and his multitude; called the ancient river, the river Kishon, Jud 5:21. According to Mr. Maundrell c, the fountain of it was near the valley, at the bottom of Mount Tabor, where Barak was to have his army in readiness to attack Sisera; and which river, according to the same traveller d cuts his way down the middle of the plain of and then continuing his course close by the side of Mount Carmel, falls into the sea at a place called with which agrees the account of Mr. Sandys e, says it flows from the mountains of Tabor and Hermon, and, gliding by the north skirts of Carmel, discharges itself into the sea. This river is supposed to be the Chorsaeus of Ptolemy f: hither the Lord in his providence would incline the mind of Sisera to come with his large army and chariots, and give Barak an opportunity to fall upon him:
and I will deliver him into thine hand; not his person only, but his numerous hosts, and his nine hundred chariots.
c Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 115. d Ib. p. 57. e Travels, l. 3. p. 158. Ed. 5. f Geograph. l. 5. c. 15.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) To the river Kishon.This word rendered river is nachal, which means rather a torrent-bed or water-course, the Arabic wady, the Italian fiumarasuch as the bed of the Kedron and the Rhinocolura. (LXX. cheimarrous, Vulg. torrens.) The river is always prominently mentioned in connection with this great victory (Psa. 83:9), because the overwhelming defeat of Canaan was due in great measure to the providential swelling of the torrent-waters, which turned its banks into a morass and rendered the iron chariots worse than useless. It contributed in the same way to the defeat of the Turks in the battle of Mount Tabor, April, 1799. The river is now called the Mukatta, i.e., the river of slaughter. It rises partly in Mount Tabor and flows into the Bay of Acre, under Mount Carmel. (Comp. 1Ki. 18:40.) The plain of Jezreel (Esdraelon), through which it flows, has been in all ages the battle-field of Palestine.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. I will draw unto thee Sisera She speaks in the name of Jehovah, who has power to influence human hearts, and turn them whithersoever he will.
River Kishon See on Jdg 5:21.
With his chariots Rather, and his chariots. Jehovah disposed the events and controlled the issues of this war so as to bring victory to his people. In drawing Sisera’s hosts and chariots towards Barak, and along the Kishon, Jehovah prepared the way for their utter ruin by means of the driving tempest and the swelling flood. Compare Jdg 5:4-5; Jdg 5:20-22.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“ And I will draw to you, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his large body of fighting men, and I will deliver him into your hand.”
These were the words of their battle general, Yahweh. Once Sisera heard of their gathering on Mount Tabor, in what was clearly an attempt at rebellion, he would take his chariots and men over to the mount in accordance with Yahweh’s plan. Then Yahweh would arrange for them to be delivered into the hands of Barak’s small army.
But the song of Deborah makes clear that Barak had reserves to call on from the tribal confederacy. Some came from Ephraim, others from Benjamin, and more from Machir (Manasseh) (Jdg 5:14).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
Ver. 7. And I will draw unto thee Sisera.] Verbis pelliciam, I will persuade, I will incline his heart.
“ Ducunt volentem fata, nolentem trahunt. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
And I: Exo 14:4, Jos 11:20, Eze 38:10-16, Joe 3:11-14
Kishon: Jdg 5:21, 1Ki 18:40, Psa 83:9, Psa 83:10
deliver: Jdg 4:14, Exo 21:13, Jos 8:7, Jos 10:8, Jos 11:6, 1Sa 24:10, 1Sa 24:18
Reciprocal: Jdg 4:13 – nine 1Ch 14:10 – Go up Rev 16:16 – he
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 4:7. Draw to thee By my secret and powerful providence, ordering and overruling his inclinations. In fixing the very place, she gave him a sign which might confirm his faith when he came to engage.