Judges – Chapter 4

Old Testament24 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:" — so begins Judges 4. The chapter centers on Deborah and Moses. Across its 24 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and God's protection and deliverance. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:

2And the Lord delivered them up into the hands of Jabin, king of Chanaan, who reigned in Asor: and he had a general of his army named Sisara, and he dwelt in Haroseth of the Gentiles.

3And the children of Israel cried to the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots set with scythes and for twenty years had grievously oppressed them.

4And there was at that time Debbora, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, who judged the people.

5And she sat under a palm tree, which was called by her name, between Rama and Bethel, in Mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for all judgment.

6And she sent and called Barac, the Son of Abinoem, out of Cedes, in Nephthali: and she said to him: The Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee: Go, and lead an army to Mount Thabor, and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nephthali, and of the children of Zabulon:

7And I will bring unto thee in the place of the torrent Cison, Sisara, the general of Jabin's army, and his chariots, and all his multitude, and will deliver them into thy hand.

8And Barac said to her: If thou wilt come with me, I will go: if thou wilt not come with me, I will not go.

9She said to him: I will go, indeed, with thee, but at this time the victory shall not be attributed to thee, because Sisara shall be delivered into the hand of a woman. Debbora therefore arose, and went with Barac to Cedes.

10And he called unto him Zabulon and Nephthali, and went up with ten thousand fighting men, having Debbora in his company.

11Now Haber, the Cinite, had some time before departed from the rest of the Cinites, his brethren, the sons of Hobab, the kinsman of Moses: and had pitched his tents unto the valley, which is called Sennim, and was near Cedes.

12And it was told Sisara, that Barac, the son of Abinoem, was gone up to Mount Thabor:

13And he gathered together his nine hundred chariots armed with scythes, and all his army, from Haroseth of the Gentiles, to the torrent Cison.

14And Debbora said to Barac: Arise, for this is the day wherein the Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hands: behold, he is thy leader. And Barac went down from Mount Thabor, and ten thousand fighting men with him.

15And the Lord struck a terror into Sisara, and all his chariots, and all his multitude, with the edge of the sword, at the sight of Barac; insomuch, that Sisara leaping down from off his chariot, fled away on foot,

16And Barac pursued after the fleeing chariots, and the army, unto Haroseth of the Gentiles; and all the multitude of the enemies was utterly destroyed.

17But Sisara fleeing, came to the tent of Jahel, the wife of Haber, the Cinite, for there was peace between Jabin, the king of Asor, and the house of Haber, the Cinite.

18And Jahel went forth to meet Sisara, and said to him: Come in to me, my lord; come in, fear not. He went into her tent, and being covered by her with a cloak,

19Said to her: Give me, I beseech thee, a little water, for I am very thirsty. She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him to drink, and covered him.

20And Sisara said to her: Stand before the door of the tent, and when any shall come and inquire of thee, saying: Is there any man here? thou shalt say: There is none.

21So Jahel, Haber's wife, took a nail of the tent, and taking also a hammer: and going in softly, and with silence, she put the nail upon the temples of his head, and striking it with the hammer, drove it through his brain fast into the ground: and so passing from deep sleep to death, he fainted away and died.

22And behold, Barac came pursuing after Sisara: and Jahel went out to meet him, and said to him: Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, he saw Sisara lying dead, and the nail fastened in his temples.

23So God that day humbled Jabin, the king of Chanaan, before the children of Israel:

24Who grew daily stronger, and with a mighty hand overpowered Jabin, king of Chanaan, till they quite destroyed him.

Important Verses in Judges 4

And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:

Judges 4:1

And she sent and called Barac, the Son of Abinoem, out of Cedes, in Nephthali: and she said to him: The Lord God of Israel hath commanded thee: Go, and lead an army to Mount Thabor, and thou shalt take with thee ten thousand fighting men of the children of Nephthali, and of the children of Zabulon:

Judges 4:6

And Debbora said to Barac: Arise, for this is the day wherein the Lord hath delivered Sisara into thy hands: behold, he is thy leader. And Barac went down from Mount Thabor, and ten thousand fighting men with him.

Judges 4:14

And Jahel went forth to meet Sisara, and said to him: Come in to me, my lord; come in, fear not. He went into her tent, and being covered by her with a cloak,

Judges 4:18

Historical Context

Judges addresses israel under the monarchy, shown the chaos that comes from abandoning the covenant within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 4 of 21 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 24 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Deborah and Moses, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The passage starts with these words: "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:" The chapter ends with: "Who grew daily stronger, and with a mighty hand overpowered Jabin, king of Chanaan, till they quite destroyed him. " Read against its original backdrop, Judges covers the turbulent centuries between Joshua's conquest and the rise of the monarchy, when 'there was no king in Israel. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Events between roughly 1200 and 1050 BC; compiled during the early monarchy.

Who Wrote It

Unknown; tradition points to the prophet Samuel as compiler of the traditions

When It Was Written

Events between roughly 1200 and 1050 BC; compiled during the early monarchy

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Judges 4 presents a concrete episode in the history of cycles of sin, oppression, and deliverance. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of cycles of sin, oppression, and deliverance. the Church sees in the judges prefigurations of Christ the Savior (CIC 64). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 1814).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.
  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.

People in This Chapter

Deborah4 mentionsMoses1 mention

Reflection for Today

The early section of Judges—Chapter 4 of 21—opens a particular moment in the story of cycles of sin, oppression, and deliverance.

According to Catholic teaching, the Church sees in the judges prefigurations of Christ the Savior (CIC 64). This chapter especially highlights Mary and the communion of saints, a theme the Catechism develops in relation to the whole of revelation (CIC 1265).

Let Judges Chapter 4 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Judges Chapter 4 about?

Judges 4 contains 24 verses. It opens with "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:" and closes with "Who grew daily stronger, and with a mighty hand overpowered Jabin, king of Chanaan, till they quite destroyed him. ". The book as a whole is historical narrative organized in cycles.

What is a key verse in Judges 4?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord after the death of Aod:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Judges Chapter 4?

This chapter mentions Deborah, Moses.

Who wrote Judges and when?

Unknown; tradition points to the prophet Samuel as compiler of the traditions. Events between roughly 1200 and 1050 BC; compiled during the early monarchy.

Deepen your understanding with these related articles