Judges 4:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot.

NIV: At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.

NASB: And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.

CSB: The Lord threw Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army into a panic before Barak’s assault. Sisera left his chariot and fled on foot.

NLT: When Barak attacked, the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot.

KJV: And the Lord discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.

NKJV: And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot.

The buildup to this major battle for Israel's independence from Canaan (Judges 4:1–3) is resolved in just two verses. Barak and his troops descend from Mount Tabor to do battle with Sisera's army, including his 900 iron chariots. The Lord goes before Barak's army, and the Canaanites and their chariots are quickly defeated. God's influence is already clear in the victory (Judges 4:7), but there might have been an overtly miraculous aspect to the battle.

Combining details from different verses suggests that Barak's army pulled off a surprise attack on an enemy unexpectedly disabled by a natural disaster. The high ground on Mount Tabor (Judges 4:14) would have been a tactical advantage, yet Barak's men engage Sisera's army on the plain. Further, the Israeli army charges forward on the command of Deborah, the prophetess (Judges 4:4–8). The following chapter suggests a storm or flood swelled the Kishon River, sweeping some of the enemy away. That may also have soaked the field into a muddy mess (Judges 5:19–21). This would have turned iron chariots from a battle advantage into immobile ornaments. In such a situation, Barak's army could have quickly moved through the Canaanites and struck them down. The chariots' only option would be attempting a return to dry ground, effectively retreating, and losing their advantage.

Sisera, realizing the battle would be lost and that his own chariot was useless, got down and ran away on foot. Though it's not likely he traveled completely alone, no other Canaanites are mentioned. He ran northeast from the battle while his remaining soldiers fled back west, the way they had come (Judges 4:16).

Judges 4:11–16 tells how Israel's army, led by the prophetess Deborah and the judge Barak, defeat the Canaanite army of King Jabin. The following chapter implies that an unexpected flood may have disabled the enemy's iron chariots (Judges 5:21–22). The Canaanite commander, Sisera, flees on foot. He alone escapes, as the rest of his men are wiped out.

In response to their sin, God allows Israel to fall into oppression under Jabin, king of the Canaanites. Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, cruelly abuses the Israelites for twenty years. Through His prophetess Deborah, the Lord raises up Barak to lead a massive Israeli army. This force wipes out Canaan's army. Sisera flees on foot and hides in the tent of Heber's wife Jael. Once he is asleep, she kills him and then shows Barak the body. The Israelites soon destroy King Jabin and are freed from Canaanite oppression.

Judges 4 begins with the death of Ehud, the assassin-leader of chapter 3 who freed Israel from the Moabites. After the Israelite people return to wickedness, God submits them to Jabin and the Canaanites. After twenty years, the Lord raises up a deliverer called Barak through His prophetess Deborah. Israel obliterates the enemy army, and the general is slaughtered in his sleep by a woman. Jabin and the Canaanites are defeated. The next chapter poetically retells these events, followed by the introduction of an especially famous judge in chapter 6: Gideon.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).