What does Judges 4:14 mean?

The fearsome Canaanite general Sisera is on his way to battle with his 900 iron chariots (Judges 4:1–3). The Israelite army, led by God's hand-picked deliverer Barak, wait for them on Mount Tabor. Barak had insisted that the prophetess of the Lord come with him to raise the army and to fight (Judges 4:4–10). Now she speaks on behalf of the Lord: an encouraging, commanding word: quwm! This means, "Up!" or "Go!" or "Arise!" depending on the translation. She makes it clear that the time to head into battle against Sisera is right now.

Deborah's insistence might be more than just encouragement. Barak's army is positioned on the high ground of Mount Tabor, yet they "went down" to engage Sisera's army. That might suggest an unexpected advance—the Canaanites would have expected the Israelites to hold that higher position. It also ties to details given later in the book of Judges (Judges 5:21), suggesting that a sudden flood of the River Kishon may have ensnared the Canaanite army. It's possible Deborah is commanding Barak to send his troops at a supernaturally revealed moment which catches the enemy at their most vulnerable.

The prophetess also assures Barak that God has guaranteed his victory. She asks Barak, "Doesn't the Lord go before you?" The implied answer is that, of course, the Lord goes before them. This is the Lord's battle. Barak and his army must simply obey and engage.

And so, they do. Barak's troops follow him down from Mount Tabor to do battle with the Canaanites on the plain. The results are dramatic (Judges 4:15).