Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 4:10

"And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh; and there went up ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him." — Judges 4:10 (ASV)

Called. — The word used is the technical term for summoning an army (2 Samuel 20:4–5). Naturally, Zebulun and Naphtali would be more difficult to arouse than the central tribes because, though they felt the oppression most, they would have to bear the brunt of the vengeance in case of defeat. Ephraim and Benjamin (Judges 5:14), being stronger and more secure, could raise their contingents without Deborah's personal help, especially if that view of the chronology is admissible which avoids other difficulties by the difficult supposition that this event took place before the death of Joshua.

Zebulun and Naphtali. — (See Judges 5:18.) Of course, this only means that initially the leaders of those tribes were invited to a conference, like those of the Swiss on the Rütli in 1307.

At his feet. — This simply means “after him,” as it is rendered in Judges 4:14. (Judges 8:5; Exodus 11:8; 1 Kings 20:10.)

Deborah went up with him. — A trace of this fact may still be preserved in the name Debarieh, given to a village at the foot of Tabor.