Judges 4 recounts how Israel once again turned from the Lord after Ehud’s death. In response, God allowed King Jabin of Canaan to oppress them for 20 years through his commander, Sisera, who led an army equipped with 900 iron chariots. When the Israelites cried out, God raised up Deborah, a prophetess and judge, to deliver God’s people. Deborah summoned Barak son of Abinoam from the city of Kedesh and told him to gather 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun and go to Mount Tabor, where God would give them victory over Sisera. Hold that thought…
Mixed into this main story is the subplot of Heber the Kenite and his wife Jael. It is very important to note that the Kenites were nomadic people who lived within Israel’s territory. Over the sweep of the Old Testament, some supported Israel and some did not. This is critical to understanding the decision that Jael will make later. Heber’s clan settled in northern Israel and had vowed themselves as an ally to Jabin and the Canaanites. This mutual transaction most likely involved an oath and sacrifice. Under this oath, the Kenites were bound to treat all the king’s people with hospitality.
For whatever reason, Barak isn’t confident going to battle with Sisera, so he asks Deborah to come with him. She tells Barak that because of his decision, he will not be recognized as the hero, and the credit will go to a woman. When I initially read this story, I assumed she meant herself, but that is not the case. Barak attacks Sisera and defeats his army, however, Sisera escapes. Barak continues west, but Sisera flees east to the land of the Kenites, most likely because he knows they are bound by oath as allies. This is where it gets interesting.
Jael fulfills her obligation and welcomes Sisera into her home. She comforts him with milk and agrees to protect and hide him. However, after he falls asleep, she takes a tent peg and drives it into his skull! Wow! What can we take from this chapter?
Barak’s Loss of Honor: In Judges 4, Barak was chosen by God to lead Israel’s army to victory. In a normal battle, the reader expects the military leader to claim the final victory by defeating the enemy commander. However, Deborah warned him that because of his lack of faith, the honor of killing Sisera would go to a woman (Judges 4:9). This is ironic because Barak leads the battle but does not complete the mission. Jael, a non-Israelite (Kenite) woman, completes it instead.
The Wordplay in Sisera’s Last Words: Sisera tells Jael that if someone (a man) comes looking for him and asks if a man is inside, she should say “no” (ʾāyin, meaning “nothing” or “no one”). This is ironic because when Barak finally arrives, Jael can truthfully show him that there is indeed no man inside. Sisera is dead.
The Final Scene: This story in Judges 4, which began as a clash between great military leaders, ends not with a dramatic battlefield duel, but with one dead man, one dishonored man, and one victorious woman! The contrast between expectations (Barak or Sisera achieving glory) and reality (Jael taking the victory) creates a deep irony that contradicts normative ancient roles.
“The effect is to enhance the impact, when it comes, of the revelation that Yahweh’s choice has fallen, not merely on a woman, nor even on an Israelite prophetess (as we were led to expect), but upon Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite!”
New International Commentary – Old Testament
The Deborah-Barak narrative, like the Ehud story, highlights how God rescues Israel while overturning human expectations. God’s plan will come to pass regardless of human free will. Barak, who hesitates and lacks faith, loses the honor of victory. As mentioned several times, that honor is given to Jael, a woman. This theme of divine reversal continues throughout Judges, foreshadowing later conflicts between negotiation and true faith (Jdg 6:7-10; 10:10-16) and reaching a climax in the Jephthah story (Jdg 10:6 – 12:7)
Additionally, the passage reinforces the portrayal of kingship as an oppressive foreign system used by God for discipline but fundamentally unsuitable for Israel. The book of Judges lays the groundwork for Israel’s eventual transition to a monarchy in 1 Samuel. While kingship itself is not inherently evil, Judges presents it as a flawed human institution, prone to abuse and often at odds with God’s intended leadership structure.
This theme will become central in the Gideon-Abimelech narrative (Jdg 6-9), and this tension culminates when Israel demands a king in 1 Samuel 8, and God warns that kings will exploit and oppress them.
Israel’s battle against Sisera’s army was a massive feat, and that is most likely why Barak struggled with courage. Sisera had a massive army with the latest military equipment including cutting-edge weaponry and 900 iron chariots. On paper, Israel was completely overwhelmed. But the Lord had promised victory.
Today, we often allow fear to stop us from following through with God’s plan, even when it sounds impossible. God commands us to be courageous and to step forward in faith knowing that He will do the heavy lifting. No matter what battle we face, we can confidently trust God to lead us.
Another point to consider is that God will use all things – even the most unlikely of people – to fulfill His purpose and plan. Today, that person may be you! Do not overlook the opportunities the Holy Spirit is placing in front of you.