What is the story of Deborah and Barak?

Answer

The story of Deborah and Barak can be found in Judges 4 and 5 in the Old Testament. The Israelites were under the rule of the Canaanite king Jabin and his army commander, Sisera. The Canaanites possessed 900 iron chariots and governed Israel for 20 years (Judges 4:2-3).

Deborah, a prophetess, served as a judge for the Israelites under a palm tree during that period. One of Deborah’s judgments was to instruct Barak to gather 10,000 men and confront Jabin’s army. Barak, perhaps apprehensive, said to Deborah, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go” «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 4:8). Deborah responded, “Certainly I will go with you. . . . But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman” (verse 9).

Deborah and Barak then assembled 10,000 soldiers and attacked Sisera and his army. Barak’s forces emerged victorious: “All Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left” «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. », (Judges 4:16). Sisera himself fled to the tent of a Hebrew woman named Jael. She gave him milk to drink and covered him with a blanket in the tent. Then, “Jael . . . picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died” (verse 21).

After this battle, “Go”

God subdued Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the Israelites. The Israelites’ hand pressed harder and harder against Jabin until they destroyed him” (Judges 4:23-24). Deborah’s prophecy was fulfilled: Barak won, Sisera was killed by a woman, and the Israelites were freed from their enemies.

Judges chapter 5 then records the song of Deborah and Barak, written to rejoice in God’s victory over the Canaanites. The lyrics encourage the actions of Deborah and Barak, saying, “Wake up, wake up, Deborah! / Wake up, wake up, break out in song! / Arise, Barak! / Take captive your captives, son of Abinoam” «Awake, awake, Deborah: Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. », (Judges 5:12). Jael’s role is also heralded: “Most blessed of women be Jael, / the wife of Heber the Kenite, / most blessed of tent-dwelling women” (verse 24).

The song of Deborah and Barak also gives some more detail about the victory over the Canaanites: “The earth shook, the heavens poured, / the clouds poured down water” « LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, The clouds also dropped water. », (Judges 5:4). Evidently, God used a flood to disable the iron chariots of Sisera. The victory was supernatural (verse 20). Chapter 5 concludes with the statement, “And the land had peace forty years.” This impressive time of peace lasted until Midian took control of Israel, necessitating Gideon’s rise.

Lessons for today from the lives of Deborah and Barak include the following: 1) God often calls people to step out in faith to attempt the unexpected, 2) God often uses unlikely people and sources to accomplish His plans, 3) God so

Sometimes requires great risk and effort on our part as part of His divine plan. In the case of Deborah and Barak, they risked their lives in war, while Jael took in a runaway fugitive and risked her life to end his and help free Israel from oppression. Ultimately, this account reveals that God is in control of the nations and changes their leaders according to His desires.