Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 4

See the note on Joshua 11:1. Since the events narrated there, Hazor must have been rebuilt and resumed its position as the metropolis of the northern Canaanites; the other cities must also have resumed their independence and restored their fallen dynasties.

Harosheth (identified by Conder with El Harathlyeh) is marked by the designation "of the Gentiles," similar to Galilee of the nations (Genesis 14:1; Isaiah 9:1).

The name Harosheth signifies workmanship, cutting and carving, whether in stone or wood (Exodus 31:5), and therefore, might be applied to the place where such works were carried out.

It has been conjectured that because this was a great timber district, rich in cedars and fir-trees, and near Great Zidon (Joshua 11:8), Jabin kept a large number of oppressed Israelites at work hewing wood and preparing it at Harosheth for transport to Zidon.

It has also been conjectured that these woodcutters, armed with axes and hatchets, formed the soldiers of Barak’s army.

Oppressed - The same word is used (Exodus 3:9) of the oppression of Israel by the Egyptians. If they were put to task-work in hewing timber, their condition was very like that of their ancestors making bricks.

Deborah, a prophetess - Her name, meaning a bee, is the same as that of Rebekah’s nurse (marginal reference). The reason for her preeminence is added. She was “a woman, a prophetess,” like Miriam (Exodus 15:20); Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), etc. In Judges 4:6, Judges 4:9, Judges 4:14, we have examples of her prophetic powers, and in Judges 5 a noble specimen of prophetic song. Though the other Judges are not called prophets, yet they all seem to have had direct communications from God, either of knowledge or power, or both (Compare Judges 3:10, note).

She dwelt - Rather, “she sat,” namely, to judge the people (Judges 4:10), but not in the usual place, “the gate” (Ruth 4:1–2; Proverbs 22:22). It suited her character, and the wild, unsafe times better, that she should sit under a palm tree in the secure heights of Mount Ephraim, between Ramah and Bethel (Judges 20:33 note). This verse shows that the Judges exercised the civil as well as military functions of rulers (1 Samuel 7:15–17).

The name Barak signifies lightning, an appropriate name for a warrior. It is also found as Barca or Barcas among Punic proper names. Compare Mark 3:17. Regarding Kedesh-Naphtali, see the marginal reference.

Deborah speaks of God as Yahweh the God of Israel because she speaks, as it were, in the presence of the pagan enemies of Israel, and to remind the Israelites, in their time of distress, that He was ready to perform the mercy promised to their fathers and to remember His holy covenant. This title, too, would instantly recall to their minds all His past acts in Egypt, at the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and in the conquest of Canaan.

The object of "drawing" (toward Mount Tabor)—or rather, "spreading out" ()—was to effect a junction of the northern tribes with the tribes of Ephraim and Benjamin, who were separated from them by the plain of Esdraelon, where Sisera’s chariots would naturally congregate and be most effective. Mount Tabor rises from the plain of Esdraelon, about 1,865 feet above the sea, and its broad top of nearly a mile in circumference afforded a strong position, out of reach of Sisera’s chariots.

If El Harathiyeh is Harosheth, Sisera must have marched from the west. Harathiyeh is a height in the range which separates Esdraelon from the plains of Acre, under which the Kishon breaks through in its course to the sea.