Judges 4:12-16

When word reached Sisera that Barak had mustered Israelite troops at Mt. Tabor, he moved east across the Jezreel Valley with his 900 iron chariots and warriors to engage Barak.

Structurally Judges 4:14 is the center of a chiasm. The chiastic structure of this chapter focuses the reader’s attention on Yahweh as Israel’s deliverer (cf. Judges 4:15; Exodus 15:3; 1 Samuel 8:20; 2 Samuel 5:24). This is the writer’s main point in the story. It is also one of the main emphases in the Song of Deborah in chapter 5.

A The sons of Israel are oppressed (Judges 4:1-3).

B Deborah, the prophetess, is featured (Judges 4:4-9).

C Barak and Sisera call out (Judges 4:10-13).

D Yahweh is Israel’s warrior (Judges 4:14 a).

C’ Barak and Sisera go down (Judges 4:14-16).

B’ Jael, wife of Heber, is featured (Judges 4:17-22).

A’ Jabin, king of Canaan, is subdued (Judges 4:23-24). [Note: Davis, p. 71.]

Barak was not afraid to engage the enemy now. Commenting on Judges 4:14, one expositor wrote the following.

"The most important characteristic of a Christian leader, in whatever area of life, is a dynamic, bold faith in God." [Note: Inrig, p. 63.]

Evidently God sent an unseasonable thunderstorm that mired Sisera’s chariots in the softened valley soil (cf. Judges 5:4-5; Judges 5:20-21). The main battle apparently took place near Taanach near the south central portion of the valley (Judges 5:19). The Israelites destroyed the whole Canaanite army that participated in this encounter (Judges 4:16).

This loss was a double disappointment for the Canaanites. Not only did they lose control of the lowlands that their chariots had dominated, but their god had failed them. The Canaanites believed Baal controlled storms and rode upon the clouds.

"He is uniformly depicted as wielding a club in one hand and a stylized spear in the other, representing thunder and lightning respectively." [Note: Cundall and Morris, p. 87.]

Instead of Baal striking his enemies as lightning, Barak ("Lightning") had struck the enemies of Yahweh. Yet it was really the Lord (Judges 4:15) who overwhelmed Sisera and his forces. Barak pursued the fleeing Canaanites west.