📖 Judges — Chapter 4 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Judges 4:1 And the children of Israel again Rdid evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
Judges 4:2 And the LORD Rsold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Judges 4:3 And the children of Israel Rcried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
Judges 4:4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
Judges 4:5 And she dwelt under Rthe palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
Judges 4:6 And she sent and called RBarak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
Judges 4:7 And I will draw unto thee to the river RKishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
Judges 4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
Judges 4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: Rnotwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Judges 4:10 And Barak called RZebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
Judges 4:11 Now RHeber 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.
Judges 4:12 And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to Rmount Tabor.
Judges 4:13 And Sisera Tgathered together all his chariots, even Rnine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.
Judges 4:14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: Ris not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Judges 4:15 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.
Judges 4:16 But Barak Rpursued 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 Ta man left.
Judges 4:17 Howbeit Sisera Rfled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
Judges 4:18 And RJael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a Tmantle.
Judges 4:19 And he said unto her, RGive me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
Judges 4:20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, RIs there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
Judges 4:21 Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, Tand took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and Rsmote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.
Judges 4:22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, Rand I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
Judges 4:23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
Judges 4:24 And the hand of the children of Israel RTprospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 4:1–10 — Deborah calls Barak
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
After Ehud's death, Israel again does evil and is oppressed by Jabin. Deborah, a prophetess and judge, summons Barak with the LORD's command. Barak requests her presence, and she announces that Sisera will fall into a woman's hand.
Key Truth: The command and promise of the LORD stand at the center of Deborah's message.
Check What You Remember
1. Who judged Israel as a prophetess? (Judges 4:4)
Find it in Judges 4:4 (KJV).
2. Whom did Deborah call to lead the force? (Judges 4:6)
Find it in Judges 4:6 (KJV).
3. How many men was Barak told to take? (Judges 4:6)
Find it in Judges 4:6 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 4:11–16 — Sisera's army is defeated
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Sisera gathers his iron chariots near Kishon. Deborah tells Barak that the LORD has gone before him. The account credits the LORD with discomfiting the army, while Sisera abandons his chariot and flees on foot.
Key Truth: Military strength does not overturn the deliverance the LORD has promised.
Check What You Remember
1. How many iron chariots did Sisera gather? (Judges 4:13)
Find it in Judges 4:13 (KJV).
2. From which mountain did Barak descend? (Judges 4:14)
Find it in Judges 4:14 (KJV).
3. How did Sisera flee? (Judges 4:15)
Find it in Judges 4:15 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Judges 4:17–24 — Jael and the fall of Jabin
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Sisera seeks shelter with Jael because of peace between Jabin and Heber's household. Jael kills the sleeping commander and shows him to Barak. The chapter closes by attributing Jabin's subduing to God. These violent events belong to this narrated conflict.
Key Truth: The outcome fulfills the announced fall of Sisera into a woman's hand.
Check What You Remember
1. Who was Heber's wife? (Judges 4:17)
Find it in Judges 4:17 (KJV).
2. What did Jael give Sisera to drink? (Judges 4:19)
Find it in Judges 4:19 (KJV).
3. Which king was subdued before Israel? (Judges 4:23)
Find it in Judges 4:23 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Judges 5:31 — The next chapter's song reflects on the same deliverance.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How do Deborah's words and the chapter's outcome connect? Distinguish what the narrative reports from commands it gives a reader.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What condition does Barak place on going to battle?
2. How does Deborah’s response qualify the honour of Barak’s journey?
3. What assurance immediately precedes Barak’s descent from Tabor?
4. Why does Sisera seek Jael’s tent?
5. How does the chapter distinguish that day’s subduing from the continuing campaign?
Notes
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