Judges 4:7-12

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.

Barak was to go to the southwest between Mt. Carmel and the plain of Megiddo where the River Kishon was located.  Now these words would be the prophecy that Deborah received from the Lord and is now relaying to Barak.  The promise of God was that He would deliver Sisera, King Jabin’s top commander into the hands of Barak.  In ancient times, once the top commanders were killed it sent the troops into disarray and made them vulnerable for defeat.

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.

This was not showing fear on Barak’s part because he wanted Deborah to go with him.  It was probably that she had received messages from the Lord and Barak wanted her close in case she had received other messages from the Lord.  It looks like he felt that if Deborah was with him, he would have a victory and if she didn’t go, then he thought that he would suffer defeat and to be defeated by a pagan enemy would mean torturous deaths for all of the soldiers.  He wanted that divine connection close at hand.

Judges 4:9

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding 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.

Deborah did not hesitate for a moment and told Barak that she would definitely go with him but since he basically disbelieved the initial message from the Lord, the glory of winning the battle would be taken from him.  Normally when a great battle takes place the winning General or Commander is given credit for the win but not in this case.  This battle will not be known as Sisera being taken by Barak but will be handed to a woman who would take care of Sisera.  Whenever this battle will be discussed, Barak will be given second place instead of Deborah who now gets first place.  So Deborah arose and accompanied Barak to Kedesh.

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.

So now they have begun their march with the ten thousand men of Zebulun and Naphtali.  They were now ready to take on Sisera especially since they had the promise of God that He would give them into their hands.

Judges 4:11

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.

Heber was a Kenite who was a descendant of Hobab the father in law of Moses.  Hobab was known by two other names, Jethro and Reuel.  Heber was also the husband of Jael who was the one destined to kill Sisera.  The plain of Zaanaim was about 5 miles (8km) east of the Sea of Galilee.  Heber probably left the other Kenites because he knew of the prophecy of their destruction.  Numbers 24:22 (KJV)   Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

Judges 4:12

And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.