Judges 4:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

NIV: Barak said to her, 'If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go.'

NASB: Then Barak said to her, 'If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.'

CSB: Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go."

NLT: Barak told her, 'I will go, but only if you go with me.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!”

Barak must have been greatly impressed with Deborah, the prophetess and judge over Israel. She has given him a message from the Lord: gather troops and face the feared commander of the Canaanite army in battle (Judges 4:1–7).

The statement Barak makes here is often debated by commentators. A plain reading implies hesitation, driven by uncertainty. Along with Deborah's following comments (Judges 4:9), he seems resistant to obey God unless Deborah accompanies him on his mission. This certainly shows respect for Deborah's relationship with the Lord. But it also reflects a lack of trust in God's promise of victory. His suggestion that he "will not go" without her might be rhetorical, but that doesn't easily fit her response.

It may be that Barak imagined God's favor was on Deborah, not himself, therefore her presence would cause the Lord to ensure the victory over Sisera. It's also possible Barak thought it would be easier to recruit an army with the renowned prophetess helping his cause. The Bible doesn't explain those details. All we are told is that Deborah will agree to go with Barak.

Judges 4:1–10 introduces the pair of godly leaders featured in this cycle of Israel's redemption: Barak and Deborah. Israel is oppressed by the Canaanite king, Jabin, and his military commander, Sisera. The prophetess Deborah is said to be leading Israel as a judge, and she summons Barak to tell him about God's plan. Barak agrees to serve only if Deborah goes with him. She agrees, noting that credit for defeating Sisera will go to a woman. They raise an army and prepare for battle.

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).