Judges 4-5; Psalms 71 - Prayer Tents

Deborah Becomes Israel’s Judge

4After Ehud's death, the Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight.H1121H3478H3254H6213H7451H5869H3068H164H4191

2So the LORD turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim.H3068H4376H3027H2985H4428H3667H4427H2674H8269H6635H5516H3427H2800H1471

3Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help.H1121H3478H6817H3068H8672H3967H7393H1270H6242H8141H2394H3905H1121H3478

4Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time.H1683H5031H802H3941H8199H3478H6256

5She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment.H3427H8560H1683H7414H1008H2022H669H1121H3478H5927H4941

6One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor.H7971H7121H1301H1121H42H6943H559H3068H430H3478H6680H3212H4900H2022H8396H3947H6235H505H376H1121H5321H1121H2074

7And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin's army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him."H4900H5158H7028H5516H8269H2985H6635H7393H1995H5414H3027

8Barak told her, "I will go, but only if you go with me."H1301H559H3212H1980H3212H3212

9"Very well," she replied, "I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the LORD's victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.H559H1980H3212H657H1870H1980H8597H3068H4376H5516H3027H802H1683H6965H3212H1301H6943

10At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him.H1301H2199H2074H5321H6943H5927H6235H505H376H7272H1683H5927

11Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses' brother-in-law

Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh.H2268H7017H1121H2246H2859H4872H6504H7017H5186H168H436H6815H6943

12When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,H5046H5516H1301H1121H42H5927H2022H8396

13he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River.H5516H2199H7393H8672H3967H7393H1270H5971H2800H1471H5158H7028

14Then Deborah said to Barak, "Get ready! This is the day the LORD will give you victory over Sisera, for the LORD is marching ahead of you." So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle.H1683H559H1301H6965H3117H3068H5414H5516H3027H3068H3318H6440H1301H3381H2022H8396H6235H505H376H310

15When 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.H3068H2000H5516H7393H4264H6310H2719H6440H1301H5516H3381H4818H5127H7272

16Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera's warriors. Not a single one was left alive.H1301H7291H310H7393H4264H2800H1471H4264H5516H5307H6310H2719H259H7604

17Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber's family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor.H5516H5127H7272H168H3278H802H2268H7017H7965H2985H4428H2674H1004H2268H7017

18Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don't be afraid." So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.H3278H3318H7125H5516H559H5493H113H5493H3372H5493H168H3680H8063

19"Please give me some water," he said. "I'm thirsty." So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again.H559H4592H4325H8248H6770H6605H4997H2461H8248H3680

20"Stand at the door of the tent," he told her. "If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no."H559H5975H6607H168H376H935H7592H559H3426H376H3426H559

21But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died.H3278H2268H802H3947H3489H168H7760H4718H3027H935H3814H8628H3489H7541H6795H776H7290H5774H4191

22When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, "Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for." So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple.H1301H7291H5516H3278H3318H7125H559H3212H7200H376H1245H935H5516H5307H4191H3489H7541

23So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king.H430H3665H3117H2985H4428H3667H6440H1121H3478

24And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him.H3027H1121H3478H3212H1980H7186H2985H4428H3667H3772H2985H4428H3667

The Song of Deborah

5On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song.H7891H1683H1301H1121H42H3117H559 2"Israel's leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the LORD!H1288H3068H6544H6546H3478H5971H5068 3"Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you mighty rulers! For I will sing to the LORD. I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.H8085H4428H238H7336H7891H3068H2167H3068H430H3478 4"LORD, when you set out from Seir and marched across the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, and the cloudy skies poured down rain.H3068H3318H8165H6805H7704H123H776H7493H8064H5197H5645H5197H4325 5The mountains quaked in the presence of the LORD, the God of Mount Sinai—in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.H2022H5140H6440H3068H5514H6440H3068H430H3478 6"In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, and in the days of Jael, people avoided the main roads, and travelers stayed on winding pathways.H3117H8044H1121H6067H3117H3278H734H2308H1980H3212H6128H5410 7There were few people left in the villages of Israel

—until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.H6520H2308H2308H3478H1683H6965H6965H517H3478 8When Israel chose new gods, war erupted at the city gates. Yet not a shield or spear could be seen among forty thousand warriors in Israel!H977H2319H430H3901H8179H4043H7420H7200H705H505H3478 9My heart is with the commanders of Israel, with those who volunteered for war. Praise the LORD!H3820H2710H3478H5068H5971H1288H3068 10"Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys, you who sit on fancy saddle blankets, and you who walk along the road.H7878H7392H6715H860H3427H4055H1980H1870 11Listen to the village musicians

gathered at the watering holes. They recount the righteous victories of the LORD and the victories of his villagers in Israel. Then the people of the LORD marched down to the city gates.H6963H2686H4857H8567H6666H3068H6666H6520H3478H5971H3068H3381H8179 12"Wake up, Deborah, wake up! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Arise, Barak! Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!H5782H5782H1683H5782H5782H1696H7892H6965H1301H7628H7617H1121H42 13"Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles. The people of the LORD marched down against mighty warriors.H8300H7287H117H5971H3068H7287H1368 14They came down from Ephraim—a land that once belonged to the Amalekites; they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops. From Makir the commanders marched down; from Zebulun came those who carry a commander's staff.H669H8328H6002H310H1144H5971H4353H3381H2710H2074H4900H7626H5608 15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.H8269H3485H1683H3485H1301H7971H7272H6010H6390H7205H1419H2711H3820 16Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.H3427H996H4942H8085H8292H5739H6390H7205H1419H2714H3820 17Gilead remained east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors.H1568H7931H5676H3383H1835H1481H591H836H3427H3220H2348H7931H4664 18But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.H2074H5321H5971H2778H5315H4191H4791H7704 19"The kings of Canaan came and fought, at Taanach near Megiddo's springs, but they carried off no silver treasures.H4428H935H3898H3898H4428H3667H8590H4325H4023H3947H1215H3701 20The stars fought from heaven. The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.H3898H8064H3556H4546H3898H5516 21The Kishon River swept them away—that ancient torrent, the Kishon. March on with courage, my soul!H5158H7028H1640H6917H5158H5158H7028H5315H1869H5797 22Then the horses' hooves hammered the ground, the galloping, galloping of Sisera's mighty steeds.H6119H5483H1986H1726H1726H47 23'Let the people of Meroz be cursed,' said the angel of the LORD.'Let them be utterly cursed, because they did not come to help the LORD—to help the LORD against the mighty warriors.'H779H4789H559H4397H3068H779H779H3427H935H5833H3068H5833H3068H1368 24"Most blessed among women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.H1288H802H3278H802H2268H7017H1288H802H168 25Sisera asked for water, and she gave him milk. In a bowl fit for nobles, she brought him yogurt.H7592H4325H5414H2461H7126H2529H117H5602 26Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg, and with her right hand for the workman's hammer. She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head. With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.H7971H3027H3489H3225H6001H1989H1986H5516H4277H7218H4272H2498H7541 27He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet. And where he sank, there he died.H7272H3766H5307H7901H7272H3766H5307H834H3766H5307H7703 28"From the window Sisera's mother looked out. Through the window she watched for his return, saying, 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why don't we hear the sound of chariot wheels?'H517H5516H8259H2474H2980H822H7393H954H935H309H6471H4818 29"Her wise women answer, and she repeats these words to herself.H2450H8282H6030H7725H561 30'They must be dividing the captured plunder—with a woman or two for every man. There will be colorful robes for Sisera, and colorful, embroidered robes for me. Yes, the plunder will include colorful robes embroidered on both sides.'H4672H2505H7998H7218H1397H7356H7361H5516H7998H6648H7998H6648H7553H6648H7553H6677H7998 31"LORD, may all your enemies die like Sisera! But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!" Then there was peace in the land for forty years.H341H6H3068H157H8121H3318H1369H776H8252H705H8141

71O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced.H3068H2620H408H5769H954 2Save me and rescue me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free.H5337H6666H6403H5186H241H3467 3Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.H6697H4583H8548H935H6680H3467H5553H4686 4My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the clutches of cruel oppressors.H6403H430H3027H7563H3709H5765H2556 5O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.H8615H136H3069H4009H5271 6Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!H5564H990H1491H517H4578H8416H8548 7My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.H4159H7227H5797H4268 8That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.H6310H4390H8416H8597H3117 9And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.H7993H6256H2209H5800H3581H3615 10For my enemies are whispering against me. They are plotting together to kill me.H341H559H8104H5315H3289H3162 11They say, “God has abandoned him. Let’s go and get him, for no one will help him now.”H559H430H5800H7291H8610H5337 12O God, don’t stay away. My God, please hurry to help me.H430H7368H430H2363H2439H5833 13Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.H954H3615H7853H5315H5844H2781H3639H1245H7451 14But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.H3176H8548H8416H3254H3254 15I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words

.H6310H5608H6666H8668H3117H3045H5615 16I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.H935H1369H136H3069H2142H6666 17O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.H430H3925H5271H5046H6381 18Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.H5704H2209H7872H430H5800H5046H2220H1755H1369H935 19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?H6666H430H4791H6213H1419H430 20You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth.H7200H7227H7451H6869H2421H7725H5927H7725H8415H776 21You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.H7235H1420H5162H5437 22Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel.H3034H3627H5035H571H430H2167H3658H6918H3478 23I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.H8193H7442H2167H5315H6299 24I will tell about your righteous deeds all day long, for everyone who tried to hurt me has been shamed and humiliated.H3956H1897H6666H3117H954H2659H1245H7451