Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 4:10
And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
10. See notes on Jdg 4:6.
and Deboah went up with him ] i.e. to mount Tabor, Jdg 4:12; the clause seems to belong to the story of Sisera. at his feet means following him, cf. Jdg 8:5, 1Sa 25:27, 1Ki 20:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Rather, and ten thousand men went up (to Tabor) at his feet; i. e. as his followers (after him, Jdg 4:14).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. Ten thousand men at his feet] Ten thousand footmen. He had no chariots; his army was all composed of infantry.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
At his feet, i.e. who followed him or his footsteps; possibly he intimates that they were all footmen, the Israelites neither now having, nor otherwise allowed to have, a multitude of horses; and so this is emphatically added, to signify by what contemptible means God overthrew Siseras great host, wherein there were ten thousand horses, as Josephus reports.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh,…. This he did either by the sound of a trumpet, as Ehud did, or by sending messengers to them to collect ten thousand men from among them, which they accordingly did, and came to him in Kedesh:
and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet; they following him up to Mount Tabor cheerfully and readily, being all footmen; for the Israelites had no cavalry, and yet got the victory over Sisera’s army, which, according to Josephus g, had ten thousand horses in it:
and Deborah went up with him; and his ten thousand footmen, to the top of Mount Tabor, to encourage him and them with her presence, and give her best advice when to descend and engage the enemy.
g Antiqu. l. 5. c. 5. sect. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
| Defeat of Sisera. | B. C. 1258. |
10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 12 And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But 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.
Here, I. Barak beats up for volunteers, and soon has his quota of men ready, v. 10. Deborah had appointed him to raise an army of 10,000 men (v. 6), and so many he has presently at his feet, following him, and subject to his command. God is said to call us to his feet (Isa. xli. 2), that is, into obedience to him. Some think it intimates that they were all footmen, and so the armies of the Jews generally were, which made the disproportion of strength between them and the enemy (who had horses and chariots) very great, and the victory the more illustrious; but the presence of God and his prophetess was abundantly sufficient to balance that disproportion. Barak had his men at his feet, which intimates their cheerfulness and readiness to attend him whithersoever he went, Rev. xiv. 4. Though the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali were chiefly depended on, yet it appears by Deborah’s song that some had come in to him from other tribes (Manasseh and Issachar), and more were expected that came not, from Reuben, Dan, and Asher, ch. v. 14-17. But these are overlooked here; and we are only told that to make his 10,000 men effective indeed Deborah went up with him. The 11th verse, concerning the removal of Heber, one of the families of the Kenites, out of the wilderness of Judah, in the south, where those families had fixed themselves (ch. i. 16), into the northern country, comes in for the sake of what was to follow concerning the exploit of Jael, a wife of that family.
II. Sisera, upon notice of Barak’s motions, takes the field with a very numerous and powerful army (Jdg 4:12; Jdg 4:13): They showed Sisera, that is, it was shown to him. Yet some think it refers to the Kenites, mentioned immediately before, v. 11. They gave Sisera notice of Barak’s rendezvous, there being peace at this time between Jabin and that family, v. 17. Whether they intended it as a kindness to him or no, it served to accomplish what God had said by Deborah (v. 7): I will draw unto thee Sisera. Sisera’s confidence was chiefly in his chariots; therefore particular notice is taken of them, 900 chariots of iron, which, with the scythes fastened to their axle-trees, when they were driven into an army of footmen, did terrible execution. So ingenious have men been in inventing methods of destroying one another, to gratify those lusts from which come wars and fightings.
III. Deborah gives orders to engage the enemy, v. 14. Josephus says that when Barak saw Sisera’s army drawn up, and attempting to surround the mountain on the top of which he and his forces lay encamped, his heart quite failed him, and he determined to retire to a place of greater safety; but Deborah animated him to make a descent upon Sisera, assuring him that this was the day marked out in the divine counsels for his defeat. “Now they appear most threatening they are ripe for ruin. The thing is as sure to be done as if it were done already: The Lord hath delivered Sisera into thy hand.” See how the work and honour of this great action are divided between Deborah and Barak; she, as the head, gives the word, he, as the hand, does the work. Thus does God dispense his gifts variously, 1 Cor. xii. 4, c. But, though ordinarily the head of the woman is the man (1 Cor. xi. 3), he that has the residue of the Spirit was pleased to cross hands, and to put the head upon the woman’s shoulders, choosing the weak things of the world to shame the mighty, that no flesh might glory in his presence. It was well for Barak that he had Deborah with him for she made up what was defective, 1. In his conduct, by telling him, This is the day. 2. In his courage, by assuring him of God’s presence: “Has not the Lord gone out before thee? Darest not thou follow when thou hast God himself for thy leader?” Note, (1.) In every undertaking it is good to be satisfied that God goes before us, that we are in the way of our duty and under his direction. (2.) If we have ground to hope that God goes before us, we ought to go on with courage and cheerfulness. Be not dismayed at the difficulties thou meetest with in resisting Satan, in serving God, or suffering for him; for has not the Lord gone out before thee? Follow him fully then.
IV. God himself routs the enemy’s army, v. 15. Barak, in obedience to Deborah’s orders, went down into the valley, though there upon the plain the iron chariots would have so much the more advantage against him, quitting his fastnesses upon the mountain in dependence upon the divine power; for in vain is salvation hoped for from hills and mountains; in the Lord alone is the salvation of his people, Jer. iii. 23. And he was not deceived in his confidence: The Lord discomfited Sisera. It was not so much the bold and surprising alarm which Barak gave their camp that dispirited and dispersed them, but God’s terror seized their spirits and put them into an unaccountable confusion. The stars, it seems, fought against them, ch. v. 20. Josephus says that a violent storm of hail which beat in their faces gave them this rout, disabled them, and drove them back; so that they became a very easy prey to the army of Israel, and Deborah’s words were made good: “The Lord has delivered them into thy hand; it is now in thy power to do what thou wilt with them.”
V. Barak bravely improves his advantage, follows the blow with undaunted resolution and unwearied diligence, prosecutes the victory, pursues the scattered forces, even to their general’s head-quarters at Harosheth (v. 16), and spares none whom God had delivered into his hand to be destroyed: There was not a man left. When God goes before us in our spiritual conflicts we must bestir ourselves; and, when by grace he gives us some success against the enemies of our souls, we must improve it by watchfulness and resolution, and carry on the holy war with vigour.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Sisera Defeated, vs. 10-16
Barak does not seem to have lost any time gathering his ten thousand men to him at Kedesh. Deborah came also with him, and they proceeded to mount Tabor, overlooking the Kishon valley, according to the command of the Lord.
Meantime Sisera learned of the Israelites’ gathering through a Kenite man named Heber, a descendant of Moses’ brother-in-law Hobab. These people had settled in Judah (Jdg 1:16), but Heber had left his people and moved into the northern tribe of Naphtali. He was the informer against Barak. So Sisera gathered his army and the nine hundred iron chariots and came into the Kishon valley. The river plain would be a good place to use the fearsome chariots to advantage against the Israelites.
When all was ready Deborah commanded Barak to get up and be on his way, for the day had arrived when the Lord would give Sisera into his hand. She said, “Is not the Lord gone out before thee?” The Lord always goes before his people in their battles, and they should always follow when He has gone before, (Mat 9:9). As soon as the battle was joined the Lord began to discomfit Sisera and his chariots. They began to flee from Barak and his men. God gave the Israelites the strength to overcome.
They pursued the army of Sisera all the way back to their quarters at Harosheth, and the Lord gave them complete victory over Sisera’s host, for “there was not a man left.”
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Baraks Aid to Deborah Jdg. 4:10-16
10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet and Deborah went up with him.
11 Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
12 And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
13 And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
15 And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
16 But 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.
10.
From where had Heber come? Jdg. 4:11
Heber was, one of the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses father-in-law. They had come to Canaan with Israel and settled first in Judah, whence some evidently migrated to the north. Heber had left the main body of his people and had traveled quite a distance to take up his residence at Zaanaim, a town near Kadesh. Kadesh was a city of refuge, but there is no indication that Heber had fled for refuge to this point. His home was near the home of Barak, and he was sympathetic with the cause of the Israelites as they fought against Jabin.
11.
Why flee on foot? Jdg. 4:15
The chariots were hampered. In the battle the chariots may have bogged down in the marshy land which surrounded the river, making them ineffective. Furthermore, as the battle was going against the Canaanites, Sisera probably felt he should escape alone and hide among the hills which were on all sides of the valley. He, thus, made his way out of the area and came to the home of Heber. Naturally, a man in a chariot would be much more conspicuous than an individual walking alone through the fields and forests of the countryside.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(10) Called.The word used is the technical word for summoning an army (2Sa. 20:4-5). Naturally Zebulun and Naphtali would be more difficult to arouse than the central tribes, because, though they felt the oppression most, they would have to bear the brunt of the vengeance in case of defeat. Ephraim and Benjamin (Jdg. 5:14), being more strong and secure, could raise their contingents without the personal help of Deborah, especially if that view of the chronology be admissible which avoids other difficulties by the difficult supposition that this event took place before the death of Joshua.
Zebulun and Naphtali.(See Jdg. 5:18.) Of course it is only meant that in the first instance the leaders of those tribes were invited to a conference, like those of the Swiss on the Rtli in 1307.
At his feet.That is simply after him, as it is rendered in Jdg. 4:14. (Comp. Jdg. 5:15; Jdg. 8:5; Exo. 11:8; 1Ki. 20:10.)
Deborah went up with him.A trace of this fact may yet be preserved in the name Debarieh, given to a village at the foot of Tabor.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Ten thousand men at his feet That is, following after him as their leader. Compare Exo 11:8. Barak’s soldiers were all footmen; he had no chariots.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh. And there went up ten eleph of men at his feet, and Deborah went up with him.’
Zebulun and Naphtali responded to his call and sent him the ten units of fighting men that he asked for. All knew what this meant. The die was cast. They would be seen as rebels.
And he led them up Mount Tabor. And Deborah, as she had promised, went with them. ‘At his feet’ indicates that they followed him up the ascent. It was probably a great comfort to that hardy group of men to see among them the one whom they believed had the Spirit of Yahweh within her.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Defeat of Sisera
v. 10. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, v. 11. Now Heber, the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab, the father-in-law of Moses, v. 12. And they showed Sisera, v. 13. And Sisera gathered together, v. 14. And Deborah said unto Barak, Up! For this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand. Is not the Lord gone out before thee? v. 15. And the Lord discomfited Sisera, v. 16. But Barak pursued after the chariots, v. 17. Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kenite,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Jdg 4:10. At his feet Deborah and Barak first went to Kedesh to levy the necessary forces, Jdg 4:9.; which collected, they set forward for mount Tabor, Jdg 4:6. Barak having the men at his feet; i.e. following him as their general.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Though the Lord’s army were, by the express orders of Deborah, to be gathered from those two tribes, yet from some expressions we meet with after in Deborah’s song, it should seem t hat there were others, who were, perhaps, volunteers in this sacred service. See Jdg 5:15 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 4:10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
Ver. 10. And he went up with ten thousand men at his feet. ] They followed him , in due order, and, as it were, treading in his steps. See Trapp on “ Jdg 4:6 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
called: i.e. by proclamation.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Zebulun: Jdg 4:6, Jdg 5:18
at his: Jdg 5:15, Exo 11:8, 1Sa 25:27, 1Ki 20:11, *marg.
Reciprocal: Gen 30:20 – and she Gen 49:21 – General Jdg 3:28 – Follow Jdg 5:14 – after 2Sa 15:16 – after him 1Ki 20:10 – follow me 2Ki 3:9 – that followed them Dan 11:43 – at his
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 4:10. With ten thousand men at his feet That is, following him as their leader. Possibly it also intimates that they were all footmen, there being no horses in Judea but what were brought out of other countries. This made the victory the more glorious, by the overthrow of a vast number of chariots and horses in the opposite army.