Sisera (Judges 4:2–3; Judges 4:7; Judges 4:9; Judges 4:13; Judges 4:15–16; Judges 4:17–20; Judges 4:21–22; Judges 5:20–21; Judges 5:24–27; Judges 5:28–30; 1 Samuel 12:9; Psalms 83:9–10)

Captain of the host of Jabin king of Canaan

The captain of the host of Jabin king of Canaan, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles, gathered nine hundred chariots of iron to the river Kishon against Barak, was discomfited by the LORD, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, and died there.

Judges introduces him in the days when the children of Israel again did evil after Ehud was dead: “Jehovah sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles” (Judges 4:2). Jabin “had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel” (Judges 4:3).

Deborah, a prophetess who judged Israel, sent for Barak and told him that the LORD would draw Sisera to the river Kishon and deliver him into Barak's hand, and that “Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9). When Sisera was told that Barak had gone up to mount Tabor, he “gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him” (Judges 4:13). “Jehovah discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet” (Judges 4:15).

He fled to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, where he asked for water and told her what to say if anyone inquired; there he died (Judges 4:17-22). The Song of Deborah and Barak tells of the same day in its own words: “From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera” (Judges 5:20). Later, Samuel reminds Israel that the LORD “sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor” (1 Samuel 12:9), and a psalm prays, “Do thou unto them as unto Midian, As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon” (Psalms 83:9).

Themes

• Oppression of Israel
• Chariots of iron
• The LORD sells and delivers
• A woman's hand
• Two accounts of one victory

Captain of Jabin's host (Judges 4:1–3)

After Ehud's death the LORD sells Israel into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, whose captain is Sisera, and Israel is mightily oppressed twenty years.

Deborah foretells his fall (Judges 4:4–10)

Deborah calls Barak and says the LORD will draw Sisera to the river Kishon and deliver him into Barak's hand, and will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.

Deborah foretells his fall

“And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali” (Judges 4:6), and told him of the command of the LORD to draw unto mount Tabor with ten thousand men. “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 thy hand” (Judges 4:7).

Barak would go only if she went with him. She answered, “I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding, the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9).

Gathers his chariots to the Kishon (Judges 4:11–13)

Told that Barak has gone up to mount Tabor, Sisera gathers all his nine hundred chariots of iron and all his people from Harosheth of the Gentiles to the river Kishon.

Routed at the Kishon (Judges 4:14–16; Judges 5:19–21)

Barak goes down from Tabor with ten thousand men; the LORD discomfits Sisera and his host, Sisera leaves his chariot and flees on foot, and his host falls.

Routed at the Kishon

Deborah said to Barak, “Up; for this is the day in which Jehovah hath delivered Sisera into thy hand; is not Jehovah gone out before thee?” (Judges 4:14). Then Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

“And Jehovah discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet. But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; there was not a man left” (Judges 4:15-16).

The Song recalls it in its own words: “From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera. The river Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon” (Judges 5:20-21).

Flees to the tent of Jael (Judges 4:17–20)

Sisera flees on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite, where she covers him, gives him drink, and he tells her to say that no man is there.

Flees to the tent of Jael

“Howbeit Sisera fled 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 4:17).

“And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And he turned in unto her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug” (Judges 4:18).

Sisera said, “Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty” (Judges 4:19), and then, “Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No” (Judges 4:20). These are the last words of his that the text records.

Dies in Jael's tent (Judges 4:21–24; Judges 5:24–27)

Jael takes a tent-pin and a hammer and smites the pin into the temples of the sleeping Sisera; Barak pursuing finds him dead; the Song tells it in its own words.

Dies in Jael's tent

The prose account says: “Then Jael Heber's wife took a tent-pin, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died” (Judges 4:21). When Barak came pursuing, Jael said, “Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest” (Judges 4:22) and “Sisera lay dead, and the tent-pin was in his temples” (Judges 4:22).

The Song, which is a separate telling, says: “He asked water, and she gave him milk … And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote through his head; Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay” (Judges 5:25-27). The two accounts are set down here as each is written.

His mother at the window (Judges 5:28–30)

In the Song, the mother of Sisera looks through the lattice and asks why his chariot is so long in coming, and the answer given is of spoil.

Remembered by Samuel and a psalm (1 Samuel 12:9; Psalms 83:9–10)

Samuel tells Israel that the LORD sold them into the hand of Sisera, and a psalm prays that God do to its enemies as to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon.

Jabin king of Canaan (Judges 4:2; Judges 4:17)

Sisera was the captain of his host; there was peace between Jabin and the house of Heber the Kenite.

Barak (Judges 4:12–16; Judges 4:22)

Told that Barak had gone up to mount Tabor, Sisera gathered his chariots; Barak pursued after the host and came to find Sisera dead.

Deborah (Judges 4:6–9; Judges 4:14)

The prophetess who told Barak that the LORD would deliver Sisera into his hand and sell him into the hand of a woman.

Jael (Judges 4:17–22; Judges 5:24–27)

The wife of Heber the Kenite, to whose tent he fled; she took a tent-pin and a hammer and he died.

His mother (Judges 5:28–30)

In the Song she looks through the lattice and asks, Why is his chariot so long in coming?

Major sections

• Judges 4
• Judges 5
• 1 Samuel 12:9
• Psalms 83:9–10

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