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Nach YomiJudges ยท ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ืChapter 4

Judges 4

ืฉื•ืคื˜ื™ื ืคืจืง ื“ืณ

Section: ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ยท ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื | Book: Judges | Chapter: 4 of 21 | Day: 28 of 742

Date: March 11, 2026

ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

Judges 4 stands as one of the most dramatically compelling chapters in the entire Deuteronomistic History, presenting a narrative in which divine providence operates through unlikely human agents to overturn an apparently hopeless military situation. The chapter opens with the familiar cyclical formula that structures the book of Judges: Israel sins, God delivers them into the hands of an oppressor, the people cry out, and a deliverer arises. Yet this iteration of the cycle is remarkable for its subversion of expected gender roles and military conventions. The oppressor is Jabin king of Canaan, whose general Sisera commands the terrifying force of nine hundred iron chariots (teshโ€™a meโ€™ot rekhev barzel), representing the apex of ancient Near Eastern military technology. Against this overwhelming force, God raises not a mighty warrior but a woman โ€” Deborah the prophetess (ishah neviโ€™ah) โ€” who serves simultaneously as judge, prophet, and military strategist.

The characterization of Deborah is carefully constructed to establish her authority on multiple grounds. She is introduced with a rare triple identification: prophetess, wife of Lappidoth (or, as the midrashic tradition suggests, โ€œwoman of torchesโ€ who made wicks for the Tabernacle), and judge over Israel. The detail that she held court beneath a palm tree in the open air between Ramah and Bethel carries both practical and symbolic weight. The commentators note that she chose an outdoor setting to avoid the impropriety of seclusion with male litigants (yichud), but the palm tree itself may evoke the singular authority of the judge, standing alone and visible to all. Her summoning of Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh-Naphtali, and his refusal to go into battle without her, introduces a tension that runs through the entire chapter: the relationship between prophetic authority and military courage, between divine command and human hesitation.

The battle itself unfolds as a masterful interplay of human action and divine intervention. Deborah identifies the precise moment for attack โ€” โ€œUp! This is the day on which the Lord will deliver Sisera into your handsโ€ (kum ki zeh ha-yom) โ€” and Barak charges down from Mount Tabor with his ten thousand men. The text states simply that โ€œthe Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and army into a panicโ€ (va-yaham Hashem), using the same verb (h-m-m) employed for Godโ€™s intervention at the Sea of Reeds and at Gibeon. The iron chariots that had terrorized Israel for twenty years prove useless in the marshy terrain of the Kishon valley, where the very landscape becomes an instrument of divine judgment. Siseraโ€™s flight on foot from his chariot is both a tactical decision to avoid recognition and a profound humiliation โ€” the great general reduced to a fugitive.

The chapterโ€™s climax arrives not on the battlefield but in the domestic space of Jaelโ€™s tent (ohel Yaโ€™el). Jael wife of Heber the Kenite occupies an ambiguous position: her husbandโ€™s clan has a peace treaty (shalom) with Jabin, yet she acts decisively against Jabinโ€™s general. Her actions โ€” welcoming Sisera warmly, offering him milk to induce drowsiness rather than the water he requested, covering him with a blanket, and then driving a tent peg through his temple with a mallet โ€” are described with chilling precision. The tent peg and mallet are tools of a nomadic womanโ€™s daily life, transformed here into weapons of national liberation. Deborahโ€™s earlier prophecy that โ€œthe Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a womanโ€ (be-yad ishah yimkor Hashem et Sisera) finds its fulfillment in this act, though the commentators debate whether the prophecy originally pointed to Deborah herself or to Jael.

The theological architecture of Judges 4 reinforces the bookโ€™s central argument that Israelโ€™s military fortunes depend entirely on its covenantal faithfulness. The chapter brackets its narrative with references to divine causation: God โ€œsoldโ€ Israel into Jabinโ€™s hand at the beginning (va-yimkerem Hashem), and God โ€œsubduedโ€ Jabin before Israel at the end (va-yakhna Elohim). Between these theological bookends, the human actors โ€” Deborah, Barak, Jael โ€” serve as instruments of a redemption that transcends conventional expectations of power. The prose account here serves as the narrative counterpart to the poetic Song of Deborah in chapter 5, and reading them together reveals how the same events can be refracted through different literary lenses while maintaining a unified theological vision of God working through the weak to confound the strong.

ืคืจืง ื“ืณ ยท Chapter 4

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนืกึดึ™ืคื•ึผึ™ ื‘ึผึฐื ึตึฃื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ”ืœ ืœึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึฅื•ึนืช ื”ึธืจึทึ–ืข ื‘ึผึฐืขึตื™ื ึตึฃื™ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ‘ื” ื•ึฐืึตื”ึ–ื•ึผื“ ืžึตึฝืชืƒ

English:

The Israelites again did what was offensive to GODโ€”Ehud now being dead.

After Ehud's death, the Israelites relapse into sinful behavior. The commentators note that even during Shamgar's time there was no complete deliverance, which is why Scripture marks the decline from Ehud's death rather than Shamgar's.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื•ืื”ื•ื“ ืžืช. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ืžื™ื•ื ืฉืžืช ืื”ื•ื“, ื•ืืฃ ื‘ื™ืžื™ ืฉืžื’ืจ ืขืฉื• ื”ืจืข, ื•ืœื–ื” ืœื ื”ื™ืชื” ืชืฉื•ืขืชื• ื’ื“ื•ืœื”:
it wants to teach that from the day that Ehud died, and even during the days of Shmagar, they did evil. And its for this reason that his salvation was not a big one

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึดืžึฐื›ึผึฐืจึตึฃื ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ—ื” ื‘ึผึฐื™ึทื“ึ™ ื™ึธื‘ึดึฃื™ืŸ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐึพื›ึผึฐื ึทึ”ืขึทืŸ ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืžึธืœึทึ–ืšึฐ ื‘ึผึฐื—ึธืฆึ‘ื•ึนืจ ื•ึฐืฉื‚ึทืจึพืฆึฐื‘ึธืื•ึนึ™ ืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธึ”ื ื•ึฐื”ึฅื•ึผื ื™ื•ึนืฉืึตึ–ื‘ ื‘ึผึทื—ึฒืจึนึฅืฉืึถืช ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดึฝืืƒ

English:

And GOD surrendered them to King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. His army commander was Sisera, whose base was Harosheth-goiim.

As punishment for Israel's sins, God delivers them into the hands of King Jabin of Canaan, whose powerful army is commanded by Sisera from the fortress city of Harosheth-goiim.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื‘ึทึผื—ึฒืจึนืฉึถืืช ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดื. ืฉึตืื ืขึดื™ืจ, ืขึทืœ ืฉึตืื ืฉึถืื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ื—ึฒื–ึธืงึธื” ื•ึฐืฉืื•ึนืœึถื˜ึถืช:
Charoshes Hogoyim. The name of a city, so entitled because it was a stronghold, and the seat of authority.1This is based on Targum Yonasan, who translates ื—ึฒืจึน๏ฌชึถืช ื”ึท๏ฌฒ๏ญ‹ื™ื…ื as โ€œthe stronghold, metropolis of nationsโ€.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืืฉืจ ืžืœืš ื‘ื—ืฆื•ืจ. ื˜ืจื ืœื›ื“ ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ืืช ื—ืฆื•ืจ, ื•ืžื” ืฉื›ืชื‘ื• ื‘ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข (ื™ื ื™), ื”ื›ื” ื‘ื—ืจื‘, ืขืœ ื—ืฆื•ืจ ื”ื•ื ื—ื•ื–ืจ ื•ืœื ืขืœ ืžืœื›ื”, ื›ื™ ืื—ืจ ืฉืœื›ื“ื• ืฉืœื—ื• ืœื ืคืฉื•, ื•ืžืœืš ื‘ื—ืจื•ืฉืช ื”ื’ื•ื™ื, ื•ื”ื•ื ืžืงื•ื ืžื” ื ืžืฆื ื‘ื” ื›ืœ ืžืœืื›ืช ื—ืจืฉ ื•ืื•ืžืŸ:
Before Joshua captured Chatzor, as its written in Joshua 11:1, he smote it with a sword, but not its king. After he was captured (he saved himself?) and the king of Charoshet goyim, it was a place where all froms of iron work was done.

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึดืฆึฐืขึฒืงึฅื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตึฝื™ึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ืึถืœึพื™ึฐื”ึน๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึธึ‘ื” ื›ึผึดึ ื™ ืชึผึฐืฉืึทึจืข ืžึตืึคื•ึนืช ืจึถึฝื›ึถื‘ึพื‘ึผึทืจึฐื–ึถืœึ™ ืœึ”ื•ึน ื•ึฐึ ื”ึ ื•ึผื ืœึธื—ึทึžืฅ ืึถืชึพื‘ึผึฐื ึตึงื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ›ืœ ื‘ึผึฐื—ื‡ื–ึฐืงึธึ–ื” ืขึถืฉื‚ึฐืจึดึฅื™ื ืฉืึธื ึธึฝื”ืƒย {ืค}

English:

The Israelites cried out to GOD; for he had nine hundred iron chariots, and he had oppressed Israel ruthlessly for twenty years.

Israel cries out to God under the crushing weight of Sisera's 900 iron chariots, which had oppressed them for twenty years. The chariots were so fearsome that the people dared not approach battle, resorting instead to prayer.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืœึธื—ึทืฅ ืึถืช ื‘ึฐึผื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉึฐื‚ืจึธืึตืœ ื‘ึฐึผื—ึธื–ึฐืงึธื”. ื“ึธึผืจึทืฉื ืจึทื‘ึดึผื™ ืชึทึผื ึฐื—ื•ึผืžึธื (ืฆื• ื‘): ื‘ึฐึผื’ึดื“ึผื•ึผืคึดื™ืŸ, ื•ึฐื›ึตืŸ ื”ื•ึผื ืื•ึนืžึตืจ (ืžืœืื›ื™ ื’:ื™ื’): ื—ึธื–ึฐืงื•ึผ ืขึธืœึทื™ ื“ึดึผื‘ึฐืจึตื™ื›ึถื:
Oppressed the Bnei Yisroel intensely. R' Tanchuma expounded, through ridicule. Similarly, it is said, "Your remarks offend me intensely."2Malachi, 3:13. Vs. 14, 15 there define the offensive remarks as ridicule of the worship of Adonoy.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื›ื™ ืชืฉืข ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ื•ืœื–ื” ืœื ืขืจื‘ ืœื‘ื ืœื’ืฉืช ืœืžืœื—ืžื”, ื•ืฆืขืงื• ื‘ืชืคืœื” ืœื”ืณ: ื•ื”ื•ื ืœื—ืฅ ื•ื’ื•ืณ ื‘ื—ื–ืงื”. ื“ื—ืง ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื—ื•ื–ืง ืจื‘:
it was because of the nine hundred chariots that they did not have the feeling of approaching them in battle stirring in their hears. they therefore cried out to Hashem in prayer He oppressed Israel with a lot of strength.

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ื•ึผื“ึฐื‘ื•ึนืจึธื”ึ™ ืึดืฉืึผึธึฃื” ื ึฐื‘ึดื™ืึธึ”ื” ืึตึ–ืฉืึถืช ืœึทืคึผึดื™ื“ึ‘ื•ึนืช ื”ึดึ›ื™ื ืฉืึนืคึฐื˜ึธึฅื” ืึถืชึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ื‘ึผึธืขึตึฅืช ื”ึทื”ึดึฝื™ืืƒ

English:

Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet; she led Israel at that time.

Deborah is introduced as both a prophetess and a judge over Israel. The commentators explain that 'wife of Lappidoth' may allude to her making wicks for the Tabernacle, or metaphorically describe her fiery zeal, and that her dual role as prophetess and leader gave her the authority to judge.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืึตืฉึถืืช ืœึทืคึดึผื™ื“ื•ึนืช. ืฉึถืื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ืขื•ึนืฉึธื‚ื” ืคึฐึผืชึดื™ืœื•ึนืช ืœึทืžึดึผืงึฐื“ึธึผืฉื:
The wife of Lapidos. She fashioned wicks for the sanctuary.3Megilah, 14:a. ืœึท๏ญ„ื…ื™ื“ is translated as โ€œtorchโ€.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืืฉืช ืœืคื™ื“ื•ืช. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ืืฉืช ื—ื™ืœ, ื–ืจื™ื–ื” ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื” ื›ืœืคื™ื“ ืืฉ, ื•ื”ื•ื ืขื ื™ืŸ ืžืœื™ืฆื”, ื•ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ืืžืจื• ื”ื‘ืจื™ื•ืช: ื”ื™ื ืฉืคื˜ื”. ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ื ื‘ื™ืื” ื•ื–ืจื™ื–ื” ื‘ืžืขืฉื™ื”, ื‘ื ืœื” ื”ืžืขืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉื•ืคื˜ืช ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ:
The wife of Lappidot: That is to say, a woman of valor, zealous in her deeds as a torch afire. And this is poetic, and in the way that people speak. She judged: This elevated status came to her on account of her being a prophet, and zealous in her deeds; thus, she was judging Israel.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ืœืคื™ื“ื•ืช. ืืžืจื• ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืจืง ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ื ื•ืขื ื•ื‘ืจืง ื•ืœืคื™ื“ื•ืช ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ื•ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ ื ืงืจืืช ืืฉืช ืœืคื™ื“ื•ืช ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืขื•ืฉื” ืคืชื™ืœื•ืช ืœืžืงื“ืฉ: ืฉืคื˜ื”. ืคืขืœ ืขื‘ืจ ืžื‘ื ื™ืŸ ืคื•ืขืœ ื”ื“ื•ืžื” ืœืžืจื•ื‘ืข ืื• ื”ื•ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ื ื™ ืžืŸ ื”ืงืœ ื‘ืฉืงืœ ืื•ื›ืœืช ืงืฉ:
Lapidot: They said that he is Barak the son of Avinoam, since Barak (lightning] and Lapidot (torches) are close (in meaning). But in the Midrash, she is called eshet lapidot (in this sense, woman of torches), because she made wicks for the sanctuary. She judged: It is a verb in the past tense in the main structure (binyan) ... or [present, as in the verb usage,] eating straw.

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐึ ื”ึดึ ื™ื ื™ื•ึนืฉืึถึจื‘ึถืช ืชึผึทื—ึทืชึพืชึผึนึœืžึถืจ ื“ึผึฐื‘ื•ึนืจึธึ—ื” ื‘ึผึตึงื™ืŸ ื”ึธืจึธืžึธึ›ื” ื•ึผื‘ึตึฅื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึตึฝื™ืชึพืึตึ–ืœ ื‘ึผึฐื”ึทึฃืจ ืึถืคึฐืจึธึ‘ื™ึดื ื•ึทื™ึผึทืขึฒืœึฅื•ึผ ืึตืœึถึ›ื™ื”ึธ ื‘ึผึฐื ึตึฅื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ–ืœ ืœึทืžึผึดืฉืึฐืคึผึธึฝื˜ืƒ

English:

She used to sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would come to her for decisions.

Deborah held court outdoors under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel, where Israelites came for judgment. The commentators explain she chose an open setting to avoid being secluded with male litigants, and that the various place names may indicate her widespread financial holdings rather than a single location.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืชึทึผื—ึทืช ืชึนึผืžึถืจ. ืชึฐึผืžึธืจึดื™ื ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืœึธื”ึผ ื‘ึดึผื™ืจึดื™ื—ื•ึน: ื‘ึตึผื™ืŸ ื”ึธืจึธืžึธื” ื•ึผื‘ึตื™ืŸ ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ืึตืœ ื‘ึฐึผื”ึทืจ ืึถืคึฐืจึธื™ึดื. ืœึฐืคึดื™ ืชึทึผืจึฐื’ึผื•ึผืžื•ึน ืฉึถืืœ ื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธืŸ ื™ึตืฉื ืœึดืœึฐืžึนื“ ืฉึถืืึตื™ืŸ ืžึดืงึฐืจึธื ื–ึถื” ื›ึฐึผืžึทืฉึฐืืžึธืขื•ึน, ื•ึฐืึตื™ืŸ ืึตืœึผื•ึผ ืกึดื™ืžึธื ึตื™ ืžึฐืงื•ึนื ื™ึฐืฉึดืื™ื‘ึธืชึธื”ึผ, ืึถืœึธึผื ืœึธืžึทื“ึฐื ื•ึผ ืฉึถืืึดืฉึธึผืื” ืขึฒืฉึดืื™ืจึธื” ื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ื•ึผืžึดืŸ ื”ึทืžึฐึผืงื•ึนืžื•ึนืช ื”ึธืึตืœึผื•ึผ ื”ึธื™ึฐืชึธื” ืคึทึผืจึฐื ึธืกึธืชึธื”ึผ, ื•ึฐื”ึดื™ื ื™ื•ึนืฉึถืื‘ึถืช ื‘ึฐึผืขึดื™ืจึธื”ึผ, ืขึฒื˜ึธืจื•ึนืช ืฉึฐืืžึธื”ึผ: ืชึทึผื—ึทืช ืชึนึผืžึถืจ. ืชึฐึผืžึธืจึดื™ื ื”ึธื™ื•ึผ ืœึธื”ึผ ื‘ึดึผื™ืจึดื™ื—ื•ึน, ื•ึผื›ึฐืจึธืžึดื™ื ื‘ึธึผืจึธืžึธื”, ื•ึฐื–ึตื™ืชึดื™ื ื‘ึฐึผื‘ึดืงึฐืขึทืช ื‘ึตึผื™ืช ืึตืœ, ืฉึถืื”ื•ึผื ืžึฐืงื•ึนื ืฉึธืืžึตืŸ, ื•ึฐืขึธืคึธืจ ื—ึดื•ึธึผืจ ื‘ึฐึผื”ึทืจ ืึถืคึฐืจึทื™ึดื, (ืชืจื’ื•ื:) ืณื‘ึฐึผื˜ื•ึผืจ ืžึทืœึฐื›ึธึผืืณ, ืื•ึนืžึตืจ ืึฒื ึดื™ ืฉึถืืžึผื•ึนื›ึฐืจึดื™ืŸ ืื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ ืœึฐื™ื•ึนืฆึฐืจึตื™ ื—ึถืจึถืฉื‚. ื•ึฐื™ึตืฉื ืคึผื•ึนืชึฐืจึดื™ืŸ: ืณืขึธืคึธืจ ื—ึดื•ึธึผืจืณ, ืฉึฐื‚ื“ึตื” ื–ึถืจึทืข, ื›ึฐึผืžื•ึน (ืžืฉื ื” ืฉื‘ื™ืขื™ืช ื‘:ื): ืฉึฐื‚ื“ึตื” ื”ึทืœึธึผื‘ึธืŸ:
Under [Devorah's] date tree. She owned date trees in Yericho. Between Ramah and Beis El, on Mount Ephrayim. From Yonasan's translation4Targum Yonasan renders, โ€œShe lived in the city of Ataros. Devorah was financially independent. She owned date trees in Yericho, orchards in Ramah, oil producing olive trees in the wetlands of the Beis Eil plateau, white soil in Tur Malka.โ€ we infer that this passage is not meant literallyโ€”that these are not intended to identify her dwelling place. Rather, we learn that she was an affluent woman, with financial interests in these places. She lived in a city named Ataros. Under [Devorah's] date tree. She owned date trees in Yericho, vineyards in Rama, olive trees in the Bethel plateau, a fertile area, and white soil in Mount Ephrayim, at Tur Malka. In my opinion, this was sold for ceramic use. Some interpret "white soil" as grain fields, as in "the grain [lit. "white"] field."5The Talmud [Moed Katan, 6:b, etc.] refers to the grain field as ๏ฌซึฝื“ึตื” ืœื‡ื›ื‡ืŸ, literally โ€œwhite field.โ€ Rashi [Peโ€™ah, 3:1] explains that this is because grain whitens when ripe for harvesting. Or, to distinguish between the grain field, which is subject to the sunโ€™s white glare, and the orchard, which is darkened by the shade of the trees.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืชื—ืช ืชืžืจ. ืœื‘ืœ ืชืชื™ื—ื“ ืขื ื”ืื ืฉื™ื ื”ื‘ืื™ื ืืœื™ื” ืœืžืฉืคื˜, ืงื‘ืขื” ื™ืฉื™ื‘ืชื” ืชื—ืช ืื™ืœืŸ ืชืžืจ, ืฉืื™ืŸ ืฉื ืžืงื•ื ื™ื™ื—ื•ื“ (ืžื’ื™ืœื” ื™ื“ ื): ื“ื‘ื•ืจื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืจืžื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ื•ืชืžื™ื“ ื”ื™ืชื” ื“ื‘ื•ืจื” ื‘ื™ืŸ ื”ืจืžื” ื•ื›ื•ืณ: ื•ื™ืขืœื• ืืœื™ื”. ืืœ ื”ืžืงื•ื ื”ื”ื•ื:
Under the date palm: So that she not be secluded with the men who would come to her for judgement, she fixed her place under the date palm. As there is no place for seclusion there (Megillah 14:1). Devorah, between Ramah and Bet El: That is to say, Devorah was always between Ramah [and Beit El]. And they would go up to her: To that place.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ืชืžืจ. ื›ืžื• ืชืžืจ ื•ืชื™ืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื”ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืŸ ื•ื”ื™ื ื™ืชื‘ื” ื‘ืงืจืชื ื•ื’ื•' ื•ื™"ืœ ื“ืจืš ื”ืคืฉื˜ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืœื” ื‘ื™ืช ืชื—ืช ืชื•ืžืจ ืื—ื“ ื•ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ ื“ื‘ื•ืจื” ื”ื•ื ื™ืชืจื•ืŸ ื”ื”ื•ื“ืขื” ื›ื™ ื›ื‘ืจ ื–ื›ืจื” ื•ืืžืจ ื•ื”ื™ื ื™ื“ืขื ื• ื›ื™ ืขืœื™ื” ื ืืžืจ ื•ื–ื›ืจ ืื—ืจ ื›ืŸ ื“ื‘ื•ืจื” ืœืจื•ื‘ ื”ื”ื•ื“ืขื” ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ืžืฉืคื˜ ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืžื• ืืœื” ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ื ื— ื ื— ื•ื–ื•ืœืชื•: ื•ื™ืขืœื•. ื•ื”ื™ื• ืขื•ืœื™ื ืืœื™ื” ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืžืฉืคื˜ ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื ื”ื™ืชื” ืฉื•ืคื˜ืช ืืช ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ื”ื”ื ื•ื ื‘ื•ืืชื” ื”ื™ืชื” ืœื–ืžื ื” ื›ื™ ืœื ืžืฆืื ื• ืœื” ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืœืขืชื™ื“:
Tomer: It is like, tamar (date). And Yonatan translated the verse (in the Targum) like this, "And she sat in the town, etc." And it can be said, according to its plain sense, that she had a house under a date palm. And that which it said, Devorah, (again) is additional identification, for she was already mentioned. And it stated, "And she," [because] we knew that it was speaking about her, and [since] it mentioned, Devorah, after this for additional identification. As this is the way of the language, as in (Genesis 6:9), "These are the generations of Noach, Noach," and others beside it. And they went up: And the Children of Israel would go up to her for judgement, since she judged Israel in those days. But her prophecy was [only] for her time; as we have not found a prophecy of hers for the future (in the Bible).

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึผึดืฉืึฐืœึทึ—ื— ื•ึทืชึผึดืงึฐืจึธืึ™ ืœึฐื‘ึธืจึธึฃืง ื‘ึผึถืŸึพืึฒื‘ึดื™ื ึนึ”ืขึทื ืžึดืงึผึถึ–ื“ึถืฉื ื ึทืคึฐืชึผึธืœึดึ‘ื™ ื•ึทืชึผึนึจืืžึถืจ ืึตืœึธึœื™ื• ื”ึฒืœึนึฅื ืฆึดื•ึผึธึฃื”โ€‰ื€ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฃื” ืึฑืœึนื”ึตึฝื™ึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึ—ืœ ืœึตึคืšึฐ ื•ึผืžึธึฝืฉืึทื›ึฐืชึผึธึ™ ื‘ึผึฐื”ึทึฃืจ ืชึผึธื‘ึ”ื•ึนืจ ื•ึฐืœึธืงึทื—ึฐืชึผึธึฃ ืขึดืžึผึฐืšึธึ— ืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึคืจึถืช ืึฒืœึธืคึดื™ืึ™ ืึดึ”ื™ืฉื ืžึดื‘ึผึฐื ึตึฅื™ ื ึทืคึฐืชึผึธืœึดึ–ื™ ื•ึผืžึดื‘ึผึฐื ึตึฅื™ ื–ึฐื‘ึปืœึฝื•ึผืŸืƒ

English:

She summoned Barak son of Abinoam, of Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, โ€œThe ETERNAL, the God of Israel, has commanded: Go, march up to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.

Deborah delivers God's prophetic command to Barak: gather 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun and march to Mount Tabor. The word 'draw' implies he must persuade the fearful Israelites to join, since they dreaded Sisera's overwhelming military force.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ึฒืœึนื ืฆึดื•ึธึผื”. ื‘ึฐึผื™ึทื“ ืžึนืฉึถืื” (ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื›:ื™ื–): ื›ึดึผื™ ื”ึทื—ึฒืจึตื ืชึทึผื—ึฒืจึดื™ืžึตื, ื›ึธึผืšึฐ ืฉึฐืื ื•ึผื™ึธื” ื‘ึดึผืžึฐื›ึดื™ืœึฐืชึธื (ื‘ื ื™ื‘):
Has notโ€ฆ.commanded? Through Moshe, "For you shall totally annihilate them."6Devarim, 20:17 Mechilta teaches this.7Yalkut, 4:43.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื”ืœื ืฆื•ื” ื”ืณ. ื‘ืืžืช ืฆื•ื” ื”ืณ, ื›ื™ ื‘ื ื‘ื•ืื” ื ืืžืจ ืœื”, ื•ืขื ืฉืœื ื ื–ื›ืจ: ืœืš ื•ืžืฉื›ืช. ืžืฉื•ืš ืœื‘ื•ืช ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืœืคืชื•ืชื ืœื‘ื ืขืžืš ื‘ื”ืจ ืชื‘ื•ืจ ืœื”ืœื—ื ื‘ืกื™ืกืจื, ื›ื™ ืžืื“ ืคื—ื“ื• ืžื—ื™ืœื• ื”ืจื‘:
Did the Lord not command: In truth, God did command [it]. As it was told to her in a prophecy, but it was not mentioned [in the text]. Go and draw: Draw the hearts of the Children of Israel, to entice them to come with you to Mount Tabor to wage war against Sisera. As they were very frightened of his large army.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ื•ืชืฉืœื—. ืื ื”ื™ืชื” ืืฉืชื• ื”ื™ืชื” ืคืจื•ืฉื” ืžืขืช ื”ืชื ื‘ืื•ืชื” ื•ื™ืฉื‘ื” ืœื” ืชื—ืช ื”ืชื•ืžืจ ื•ืขืชื” ืฉืœื—ื” ืœืงืจื•ื ืœื• ืœืืžืจ ืœื• ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืืฉืจ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”': ื”ืœื ืฆื•ื”. ืื™ื ื• ืชื—ืœืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืืœื ืืžืจื” ืœื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ืงื•ื“ืžื™ื ืœื–ื” ื•ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืื—ื– ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืžื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ื‘ื”ืŸ ืžืŸ ื”ืฆื•ืจืš ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ืœื ืฉืžืขืช ื‘ืชื™ ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ื™ ื ืชืŸ ื”' ื‘ื™ื“ื™ื ื• ืืช ื›ืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ืฉืืžืจื• ืฉื ื™ ื”ืžืจื’ืœื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉืคื™ืจืฉื ื• ื•ื‘ืื” ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื”ืžืœื” ื”ื–ืืช ืœื—ื–ืง ื›ืื“ื ืฉืžืชืจื” ื‘ื—ื‘ืจื• ื•ืžื–ื”ื™ืจื• ื•ืื•ืžืจ ื”ืœื ืืžืจืชื™ ืœืš ื”ื–ื”ืจ ืœืš ื•ื”ืฉืžืจ ืฉืœื ืชืชืจืฉืœ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ืœื ืฉืœื—ืชื™ืš ืฉืืž' ืœื’ื“ืขื•ืŸ: ื•ืžืฉื›ืช. ืชืžืฉื•ืš ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ืชืคืชื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืขื“ ืฉืชื‘ื™ืื ื‘ื”ืจ ืชื‘ื•ืจ ื›ื™ ื™ืจืื™ื ื”ื™ื• ืžื—ื™ืœ ืกื™ืกืจื ืœืคื™ื›ืš ื”ื™ื• ืฆืจื™ื›ื™ื ืคืชื•ื™ ื•ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื:
And she sent: If she was his wife, she was separated from the time of her becoming a prophetess and going to sit under the palm tree. And now she sent to call to him, telling him the prophecy that God spoke to her. Did He not command: This is not the beginning of [her] words, but she rather said other words before these. However Scripture seized upon the essence to be found in the words that were required. And likewise (Ruth 2:8), "Have you not heard, my daughter"; and (Joshua 2:24), "Since the Lord gave the whole land into our hands," which the scouts said - as we explained. And this word also came to strengthen [the matter], like someone who warns his fellow; and cautions him and says, "Did I not tell you; be careful and watch yourself not to be negligent about the matter." And likewise (Judges 6:14), "have I not sent you," that He said to Gideon. And draw: Draw Israel and entice them with words, until they come to Mount Tabor. As they were frightened of Sisera's army. Hence they needed enticement and many words.

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื•ึผืžึธืฉืึทื›ึฐืชึผึดึจื™ ืึตืœึถึœื™ืšึธ ืึถืœึพื ึทึฃื—ึทืœ ืงึดื™ืฉืึ—ื•ึนืŸ ืึถืชึพืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธืึ™ ืฉื‚ึทืจึพืฆึฐื‘ึธึฃื ื™ึธื‘ึดึ”ื™ืŸ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพืจึดื›ึฐื‘ึผึ–ื•ึน ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื”ึฒืžื•ึนื ึ‘ื•ึน ื•ึผื ึฐืชึทืชึผึดึ–ื™ื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึฐื™ึธื“ึถึฝืšึธืƒ

English:

And I will draw Sisera, Jabinโ€™s army commander, with his chariots and his troops, toward you up to the Wadi Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hands.โ€

God promises to lure Sisera and his entire army to the Wadi Kishon and deliver them into Barak's hands. The commentators explain that God manipulated Sisera's heart to march out despite his own astrologers warning him against it.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื•ืžืฉื›ืชื™ ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ืืชืŸ ื‘ืœื‘ื• ืœืœื›ืช ืืœ ื ื—ืœ ืงื™ืฉื•ืŸ:
And I will draw: That is to say, I will put it into his heart to come to the Kishon River.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ื•ืžืฉื›ืชื™. ืืžืจ ื›ื™ ืจืื• ืืฆื˜ื’ื ื™ื ื™ ืกื™ืกืจื ืฉืœื ื™ืฆื ื‘ืื•ืชื” ืžืœื—ืžื” ื›ื™ ืžื ื•ืฆื— ื™ื”ื™ื” ืื ื™ืฆื ื•ื”ืงื‘"ื” ืžืฉืš ืœื‘ื• ืœืฆืืช ื•ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืฉืืžืจ ื•ืžืฉื›ืชื™ ื•ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืชืจื’ื ื•ืื™ืชื‘ื™ื‘, ื•ืชืจื’ื•ื ื•ื”ื’ื™ืจื ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ื—ืจื‘ ื•ืชื‘ื™ื ื•ืŸ ืข"ื™ ืงื˜ื•ืœื™ืŸ:
And I will draw: He said that Sisera's astrologists saw that he would not leave that war, as he would be defeated if he came out [to it]; but the Holy One, blessed be He, drew his heart to go out. And this is [the meaning of] what He said, "And I will draw." But Yonatan translated it as ...

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึคืืžึถืจ ืึตืœึถึ™ื™ื”ึธึ™ ื‘ึผึธืจึธึ”ืง ืึดืึพืชึผึตืœึฐื›ึดึฅื™ ืขึดืžึผึดึ–ื™ ื•ึฐื”ึธืœึธึ‘ื›ึฐืชึผึดื™ ื•ึฐืึดืึพืœึนึฅื ืชึตึฝืœึฐื›ึดึ›ื™ ืขึดืžึผึดึ–ื™ ืœึนึฅื ืึตืœึตึฝืšึฐืƒ

English:

But Barak said to her, โ€œIf you will go with me, I will go; if not, I will not go.โ€

Barak conditions his participation in the battle on Deborah accompanying him, revealing either a lack of confidence in going without prophetic support or a desire to ensure God's presence through His prophetess.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืื ืชืœื›ื™ ืขืžื™. ืืœ ื”ืžืœื—ืžื”:
If you will go with me to the war.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึผึนึœืืžึถืจ ื”ึธืœึนึงืšึฐ ืึตืœึตึฃืšึฐ ืขึดืžึผึธึ—ืšึฐ ืึถึšืคึถืก ื›ึผึดื™ึฉ ืœึนึจื ืชึดึฝื”ึฐื™ึถึœื” ืชึผึดึฝืคึฐืึทืจึฐืชึผึฐืšึธึ— ืขึทืœึพื”ึทื“ึผึถึ™ืจึถืšึฐึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืึทืชึผึธึฃื” ื”ื•ึนืœึตึ”ืšึฐ ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ื‘ึฐึฝื™ึทื“ึพืึดืฉืึผึธึ”ื” ื™ึดืžึฐื›ึผึนึฅืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ืึถืชึพืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธึ‘ื ื•ึทืชึผึธึงืงื‡ื ื“ึผึฐื‘ื•ึนืจึธึ›ื” ื•ึทืชึผึตึฅืœึถืšึฐ ืขึดืึพื‘ึผึธืจึธึ–ืง ืงึถึฝื“ึฐืฉืึธื”ืƒ

English:

โ€œVery well, I will go with you,โ€ she answered. โ€œHowever, there will be no glory for you in the course you are taking, for then GOD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.โ€ So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

Deborah agrees to go but warns Barak that the glory of this victory will not be his โ€” God will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman. Radak explains this refers to Deborah herself receiving the credit, while Metzudat David understands it as a prophecy about Jael.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืืคืก ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ื›ื™ ื”ื ื” ื”ืคืืจ ื”ื ื™ืชืŸ ืœืฉืจ ื”ืฆื‘ื ื”ื•ื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืื—ื“ ืžืฉื ื™ ื“ืจื›ื™ื, ืื• ื‘ื”ืจืื•ืช ืื•ืžืฅ ืœื‘ื‘ื• ืœืœื›ืช ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ืžื‘ืœื™ ืคื—ื“, ืื• ื‘ื”ืชื’ื‘ืจ ื”ื•ื ืื• ืื—ื“ ืžืื ืฉื™ื• ืœื”ืžื™ืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืื ืฉื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืžืœื—ืžืชื• ื•ืœื–ื” ืืžืจื”, ื”ืœื ืกื™ืกืจื ื™ื•ืžืช ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืืฉื”, ื•ื”ื™ื ื™ืขืœ ืืฉืช ื—ื‘ืจ ื”ืงื™ื ื™, ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ืืžืจ ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ. ืื ื›ืŸ, ื™ื“ืขื• ื”ื›ืœ ืฉืžื™ื“ ื”ืณ ื”ื™ืชื” ื–ืืช, ื›ื™ ืœื ื‘ื›ื— ืชื’ื‘ืจ ืืฉื”, ื•ืื ื›ืŸ, ืื ื’ื ืชืคื—ื“ ืœืœื›ืช ืœืžืœื—ืžื” ื‘ืœืขื“ื™, ืื ื›ืŸ, ืฉื•ื‘ ืœื ืชื”ื™ื” ืœืš ืขืœ ื”ื“ืจืš ืฉืืชื” ื”ื•ืœืš ื”ืชืคืืจื•ืช ื”ืจืื•ื™ ืœืš ื‘ื”ื™ื•ืชืš ืฉืจ ื”ืฆื‘ื, ื›ื™ ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืžื” ืœืคืืจืš:
However: As glory is given to the general of the army in one of two ways. Either he shows courage in his heart and he goes to war without fear; or he or one of his people is victorious and kills the leader of the opposing force. And that is why she was saying, "Will not Sisera be killed by a woman" - and that was Yael, wife of Chever the Kenite, as it will be stated concerning this matter (Judges 4:21). If so, everyone will know that 'this was from the hand of the Lord.' Because its not by strength that a woman is victorious. And if so - if you are also afraid to go to war without me; if so, in the way that you are going, there will no longer be a path of glory that is appropriate for you, given that you are the general of the army. As there will be nothing [else] to glorify you.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ื“ ืืฉื”. ื™"ืž ื™ืขืœ ืฉื ืžื›ืจ ืกื™ืกืจื ื‘ื™ื“ื” ื•ืขืœ ืคื™ ื”ื ื‘ื•ืื” ืืžืจื” ื–ื” ื•ืื™ื ื ื• ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืœืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืคืกื•ืง ืฉืืžืจ ืืคืก ื›ื™ ืœื ืชื”ื™ื” ืชืคืืจืชืš ืืœื ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื›ืš ืื ืืœืš ืœื ืชื”ื™ื” ืชืคืืจืชืš ื›ื™ ืขืœ ื™ื“ื™ ืชื”ื™ื” ื”ืชืฉื•ืขื” ื•ื™ืืžืจื• ื›ื™ ื‘ื™ื“ ื“ื‘ื•ืจื” ื™ืžื›ื•ืจ ื”' ืืช ืกื™ืกืจื ื•ืœื ืชื”ื™ื” ื”ืชืฉื•ืขื” ื”ื–ืืช ื ืงืจืืช ืขืœ ืฉืžืš:
Into the hands of a woman: Some explain it as Yael, since Sisera was delivered into her hands; and that Devorah said this prophetically. But it is not correct with relation to the verse, when it stated, "However, there will be no glory for you." Rather its explanation is like this: If I go, there will be no glory for you, but rather the glory will be for me, since the salvation will be through me and they will say that the Lord delivered Sisera into the hands of Devorah. So this salvation will not be called by your name.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืด ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทื–ึฐืขึตึจืง ื‘ึผึธืจึธึœืง ืึถืชึพื–ึฐื‘ื•ึผืœึปึคืŸ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื ึทืคึฐืชึผึธืœึดื™ึ™ ืงึถึ”ื“ึฐืฉืึธื” ื•ึทื™ึผึทึฃืขึทืœ ื‘ึผึฐืจึทื’ึฐืœึธึ”ื™ื• ืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึฅืจึถืช ืึทืœึฐืคึตึ–ื™ ืึดึ‘ื™ืฉื ื•ึทืชึผึทึฅืขึทืœ ืขึดืžึผึ–ื•ึน ื“ึผึฐื‘ื•ึนืจึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Barak then mustered Zebulun and Naphtali at Kedesh; ten thousand men marched up after him;aafter him Lit. โ€œat his feet.โ€ and Deborah also went up with him.

Barak musters 10,000 men from Zebulun and Naphtali at Kedesh and leads them up to Mount Tabor, with Deborah joining the march. The phrase 'at his feet' means the troops followed his lead into battle.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ึทื™ึทึผืขึทืœ ื‘ึฐึผืจึทื’ึฐืœึธื™ื•. ืขึดืžึผื•ึน:
At his heels. With him.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื•ื™ืขืœ. ื”ืขืœื” ืœื”ืจ ืชื‘ื•ืจ ืขืฉืจืช ื•ื›ื•ืณ, ืขื ื”ืœื•ื›ื• ืื—ืจื™ื•, ื›ืžื• (ืœืงืžืŸ ื— ื”), ืœืขื ืืฉืจ ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•:
And he went up: He brought up ten thousand to Mount Tabor, etc. - in that they went up after him, as in (Judges 8:4), "for the nation that is behind [me]" (literally, "at my feet," like here).
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ื•ื™ืขืœ ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•. ื”ืขืœื”:
And he elevated behind him: He brought up.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื—ึถึคื‘ึถืจ ื”ึทืงึผึตื™ื ึดื™ึ™ ื ึดืคึฐืจึธึฃื“ ืžึดืงึผึทึ”ื™ึดืŸ ืžึดื‘ึผึฐื ึตึฅื™ ื—ึนื‘ึธึ–ื‘ ื—ึนืชึตึฃืŸ ืžึนืฉืึถึ‘ื” ื•ึทื™ึผึตึฃื˜ ืื‡ึฝื”ึณืœึ”ื•ึน ืขึทื“ึพืึตื™ืœึฅื•ึนืŸ (ื‘ืฆืขื ื™ื) [ื‘ึผึฐืฆึทืขึฒื ึทื ึผึดึ–ื™ื] ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืึถืชึพืงึถึฝื“ึถืฉืืƒ

English:

Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the other Kenites,bfrom the other Kenites Lit. โ€œfrom Cainโ€; cf. 1.16. descendants of Hobab, father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent at Elon-bezaanannim, which is near Kedesh.

The narrative pauses to introduce Heber the Kenite, who had separated from his clan (descendants of Moses' father-in-law) and settled near Kedesh. This detail sets the stage for Sisera's later flight to Jael's tent, explaining how a Kenite family came to be in the area.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืึตืœื•ึนืŸ ื‘ึฐึผืฆึทืขึฒื ึทื ึดึผื™ื. (ืชืจื’ื•ื:) ืžึตื™ืฉึทืืจ ืึทื’ึฐื ึทื™ึธึผื, ืžึฐืงื•ึนื ืžึตื™ืฉึทืืจ ืฉึถืืœ ื‘ึฐึผืฆึธืขึดื™ื, ืžืจื™ืฉืดืง ื‘ึฐึผืœึทืขึทืดื– ื•ึฐื”ื•ึผื ืึทื’ึฐื ึทื™ึธึผื ื’ึตึผื‘ึดื™ื, ื›ึฐึผืžึดื™ืŸ ื’ึผื•ึผืžื•ึนืช ืฉึถืื”ึทืžึทึผื™ึดื ื ึดืงึฐื‘ึธึผืฆึดื™ื ืฉึธืื, ืณืึทื’ึฐื ึตื™ ื“ึฐึผืึทืจึฐืขึธื ืžึดืงึฐืจื•ึนืŸืณ (ืงื™ื“ื•ืฉื™ืŸ ืกื ื):
Elon Betza'anayim. The marshland plain.8This is Targum Yonasanโ€™s rendition. A plateau area with marshes, "mariscum", "morass" in old French. This is called ืึทื’ึธื ึทื™ึธืโ€”pools, similar to ditches where water settles, "entitled 'the earth's flasks.'"9Kiddushin, 61:a, notes that water filed ditches are entitled ืึท๏ฌฒื‡ื ึตื™ ๏ฌณึฝืึทืจึฐืขึธื, โ€œthe earthโ€™s flasks.โ€ Thus, ืึทื’ึธื ึทื™ื‡ื, โ€œflasks,โ€ refer to the marshland pools.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื ืคืจื“ ืžืงื™ืŸ. ืคื™ืจืฉ ืืช ืขืฆืžื• ืžืฉืืจ ื‘ื ื™ ืงื™ืŸ ืฉื™ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื”, ื›ืžื• ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ืชื—ื™ืœืช ื”ืกืคืจ (ืœืขื™ืœ ื ื˜ื–): ืžื‘ื ื™ ื—ื‘ื‘. ืขืœ ืงื™ืŸ ื”ื•ื ื—ื•ื–ืจ: ื•ื™ื˜ ืื”ืœื•. ื•ืขืœ ืฉื‘ื ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื ืก ืกื™ืกืจื ืืœ ืื”ืœ ื™ืขืœ ืืฉืช ื—ื‘ืจ ื”ืงื™ื ื™, ืœื›ืš ื”ืงื“ื™ื ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื—ื‘ืจ ื ืคืจื“ ืžืงื™ืŸ ื•ื ื˜ื” ืื”ืœื• ืคื”:
Separated from Kayin: He separated himself from the rest of the Sons of Kayin who dwelt in the Judean Desert, as it stated at the beginning of the book (Judges 1:16). Of the descendants of Chovav: This refers to Kayin. And he pitched his tent: And because it will be coming to say that Sisera escaped to the tent of Yael, the wife of Chever the Kenite - therefore it prefaced [it by] saying that Chever separated from Kayin and pitched his tent here.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ื ืคืจื“. ืงืžื•ืฅ ืคื™' ื ืคืจื“ ืžืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ื”ื•ื“ื” ืฉื™ืฉื‘ื• ืฉื ื‘ื ื™ ืงื ื™ ื›ืฉืขืœื• ืžืขื™ืจ ื”ืชืžืจื™ื: ืื™ืœื•ืŸ ื‘ืฆืขื ื™ื. ื›ืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื•ืงืจื™ ื‘ืฆืขื ื ื™ื ื•ื”ื›ืœ ืขื ื™ืŸ ืื—ื“ ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉื ืžืงื•ื ื ืงืจื ื›ืŸ ืขืœ ืขื ื™ืŸ ื™ื“ื•ืข ืืฆืœื ื•ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืชืจื’ื ืžื™ืฉืจ ืื’ื ื™ื ื“ื•ืžื” ืฉืœืงื—ื•ื”ื• ืžืŸ ื‘ืฆืขื™ ื”ืžื™ื ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืจื–"ืœ ืฉื”ื ื’ื‘ื™ื ืžืœืื™ื ืžื™ื ื‘ืฉื“ื•ืช ืฉื”ื ื›ืžื• ืื’ื ื•ืช ืžืœืื•ืช ืžื™ื ื•ื›ืŸ ื–ื›ืจื•ื”ื• ื”ื ื–"ืœ ื‘ื–ื” ื”ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจื• ื”ื ื”ื• ืื’ื ื™ ื“ืืจืขื ืžืงืจื•ืŸ:
Separated: It is vocalized with a kamatz. The explanation is that he separated from the Judean Desert, as the Children of the Kenites had settled there when they went up from the City of Dates. Elon-bezaanim: So is it written; but it is read, bezaanannim. Yet it is all the same content, and that is the name of a place that was called for a matter known to them. But Yonatan (in the Targum) translated [it as], the plain of marshes (agaania). It appears that they got it from betzai of water - which in the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed, are holes full of water in the fields that are like pits full of water. And they, may their memory be blessed, mentioned them, as they said (Bava Kamma 61), "they are called pools (agaani) of the land."

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทื’ึผึดึ–ื“ื•ึผ ืœึฐืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธึ‘ื ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ืขึธืœึธึ›ื” ื‘ึผึธืจึธึฅืง ื‘ึผึถืŸึพืึฒื‘ึดื™ื ึนึ–ืขึทื ื”ึทืจึพืชึผึธื‘ึฝื•ึนืจืƒ

English:

Sisera was informed that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor.

Sisera receives intelligence that Barak has taken a strategic position atop Mount Tabor, which he correctly interprets as a preparation for war.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื›ื™ ืขืœื” ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื‘ื™ืŸ ืฉืจื•ืฆื” ืœื”ืœื—ื, ื•ืœื›ืš ืขืœื” ืœื”ืชื’ื‘ืจ ื‘ื”ืจ:
That he had gone up: From this he understood that he wanted to wage war; and that is why he went up, to fortify himself on the mountain.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทื–ึฐืขึตึจืง ืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธึœื ืึถืชึพื›ึผื‡ืœึพืจึดื›ึฐื‘ึผึ—ื•ึน ืชึผึฐืฉืึทึคืข ืžึตืื•ึนืชึ™ ืจึถึฃื›ึถื‘ ื‘ึผึทืจึฐื–ึถึ”ืœ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึธืขึธึ–ื ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืึดืชึผึ‘ื•ึน ืžึตื—ึฒืจึนึฅืฉืึถืช ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดึ–ื ืึถืœึพื ึทึฅื—ึทืœ ืงึดื™ืฉืึฝื•ึนืŸืƒ

English:

So Sisera ordered all his chariotsโ€”nine hundred iron chariotsโ€”and all the troops he had to move from Harosheth-goiim to the Wadi Kishon.

Sisera mobilizes his full military might โ€” all 900 iron chariots and his entire army โ€” from Harosheth-goiim to the Wadi Kishon, unwittingly walking into the very trap God had orchestrated through Deborah's prophecy.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžึตื—ึฒืจึนืฉึถืืช ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดื ืึถืœ ื ึทื—ึทืœ ืงึดื™ืฉืื•ึนืŸ. ื”ึดื–ึฐืขึดื™ืงึธื ืฉึถืื™ึตึผืœึฐื›ื•ึผ ืึถืœ ื ึทื—ึทืœ ืงึดื™ืฉืื•ึนืŸ ืžึตื—ึฒืจึนืฉึถืืช ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดื ืฉึถืื”ื•ึผื ื™ื•ึนืฉึตืื‘ ืฉึธืื:
From Charoshes Hagoyim to Kishon stream. He mobilized them to proceed to the stream of Kishon from Charoshes Hagoyim where he was stationed.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ืžื—ืจื•ืฉืช ื”ื’ื•ื™ื. ืคื™ืจืฉื ื•ื”ื• ืœืžืขืœื”:
From Haroshet-hagoyim: We explained this above (Radak on Judges 4:2).

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึผึนึฉืืžึถืจึฉ ื“ึผึฐื‘ึนืจึธึจื” ืึถืœึพื‘ึผึธืจึธึœืง ืงึ—ื•ึผื ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ื–ึถึคื” ื”ึทื™ึผื•ึนืึ™ ืึฒืฉืึถืจึฉ ื ึธืชึทึจืŸ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึคื” ืึถืชึพืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธืึ™ ื‘ึผึฐื™ึธื“ึถึ”ืšึธ ื”ึฒืœึนึฅื ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ื™ึธืฆึธึฃื ืœึฐืคึธื ึถึ‘ื™ืšึธ ื•ึทื™ึผึตึคืจึถื“ ื‘ึผึธืจึธืงึ™ ืžึตื”ึทึฃืจ ืชึผึธื‘ึ”ื•ึนืจ ื•ึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึงืจึถืช ืึฒืœึธืคึดึ›ื™ื ืึดึ–ื™ืฉื ืึทื—ึฒืจึธึฝื™ื•ืƒ

English:

Then Deborah said to Barak, โ€œUp! This is the day on which GOD will deliver Sisera into your hands: GOD is marching before you.โ€ Barak charged down Mount Tabor, followed by the ten thousand men,

Deborah signals the divinely appointed moment for attack, urging Barak to charge down from Mount Tabor with the assurance that God Himself is marching before them. Barak descends with his 10,000 men to engage Sisera's forces.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืงื•ื. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ืืœ ืชืชืขื›ื‘ ืœืขืžื•ื“ ืคื” ืœื• ; ืชื’ื‘ืจ ื‘ื”ืจ: ื›ื™ ื–ื” ื”ื™ื•ื. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ื”ื’ื–ืจื” ื’ื–ื•ืจื” ืฉื”ื™ื•ื ืชื ืฆื— ืืช ืกื™ืกืจื ื•ืœื ืชื•ื›ืœ ืขื•ื“ ืœื”ืชืขื›ื‘ ื‘ื”ืจ: ื”ืœื ื”ืณ. ืœื ืชื™ืจื ืœืจื“ืช ืœืขืžืง, ื›ื™ ื”ืœื ื”ืณ ื•ื›ื•ืณ:
Up: That is to say, don't delay yourself, standing here to fortify yourself on the mountain For this is the day: That is to say, the decree is set that today you will defeat Sisera, so you may no longer delay on the mountain. Has not the Lord: Do not fear to go down to the valley, "as has not the Lord, etc."
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ื”ืœื ื”' ื™ืฆื ืœืคื ื™ืš. ื›ืชืจื’ื•ืžื• ื”ืœื ืžืœืื›ื ื“ื”' ื ืคืง ืœืืฆืœื—ื ืงื“ืžืš:
Has not the Lord gone out before you: It is like its translation (in the Targum) - "did not the angel of the Lord go out before you to make you successful."

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึธึฃื”ื‡ื ื™ึฐึ ื”ึนื•ึธึ ื” ืึถืชึพืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธึจื ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึธืจึถึงื›ึถื‘ ื•ึฐืึถืชึพื›ึผื‡ืœึพื”ึทึฝืžึผึทื—ึฒื ึถึ›ื” ืœึฐืคึดื™ึพื—ึถึ–ืจึถื‘ ืœึดืคึฐื ึตึฃื™ ื‘ึธืจึธึ‘ืง ื•ึทื™ึผึตึงืจึถื“ ืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธึ›ื ืžึตืขึทึฅืœ ื”ึทืžึผึถืจึฐื›ึผึธื‘ึธึ–ื” ื•ึทื™ึผึธึฅื ื‡ืก ื‘ึผึฐืจึทื’ึฐืœึธึฝื™ื•ืƒ

English:

and GOD threw Sisera and all his chariots and army into a panic before the onslaught of Barak.cbefore the onslaught of Barak Lit. โ€œat the edge of the sword before Barak.โ€ Sisera leaped from his chariot and fled on foot

God throws Sisera's entire army into disarray before Barak's charge, and his forces are cut down by the sword. Sisera himself abandons his chariot and flees on foot to avoid being recognized and captured.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืœืคื™ ื—ืจื‘. ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื ื”ืจื’ื™ื ื‘ื—ื“ื•ื“ ื”ื—ืจื‘: ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•. ืœื‘ืœ ื™ื›ื™ืจ ืื•ืชื• ืžื™ ืžื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื•ื™ืชืคื•ืฉ ืื•ืชื•:
With the edge of the sword: To be killed by the sharpness of the sword. On foot: So that one of the Children of Israel not recognize him and catch him.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ื•ึผื‘ึธืจึธึ—ืง ืจึธื“ึทึžืฃ ืึทื—ึฒืจึตึคื™ ื”ึธืจึถึ™ื›ึถื‘ึ™ ื•ึฐืึทื—ึฒืจึตึฃื™ ื”ึทึฝืžึผึทื—ึฒื ึถึ”ื” ืขึทึ–ื“ ื—ึฒืจึนึฃืฉืึถืช ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดึ‘ื ื•ึทื™ึผึดืคึผึนึžืœ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพืžึทื—ึฒื ึตึคื” ืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธืึ™ ืœึฐืคึดื™ึพื—ึถึ”ืจึถื‘ ืœึนึฅื ื ึดืฉืึฐืึทึ–ืจ ืขึทื“ึพืึถื—ึธึฝื“ืƒ

English:

as Barak pursued the chariots and the soldiers as far as Harosheth-goiim. All of Siseraโ€™s soldiers fell by the sword; not one was left.

Barak pursues the fleeing chariots and soldiers all the way back to Harosheth-goiim, annihilating Sisera's entire army to the last man โ€” a total and decisive victory.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืขื“ ืื—ื“. ืืคื™ืœื• ืื—ื“:
Until (ad) one: Even one.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธืึ™ ื ึธึฃืก ื‘ึผึฐืจึทื’ึฐืœึธึ”ื™ื• ืึถืœึพืึนึฃื”ึถืœ ื™ึธืขึตึ”ืœ ืึตึ–ืฉืึถืช ื—ึถึฃื‘ึถืจ ื”ึทืงึผึตื™ื ึดึ‘ื™ ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ืฉืึธืœึ—ื•ึนื ื‘ึผึตึšื™ืŸ ื™ึธื‘ึดึฃื™ืŸ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐึพื—ึธืฆึ”ื•ึนืจ ื•ึผื‘ึตึ•ื™ืŸ ื‘ึผึตึ–ื™ืช ื—ึถึฅื‘ึถืจ ื”ึทืงึผึตื™ื ึดึฝื™ืƒ

English:

Sisera, meanwhile, had fled on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was friendship between King Jabin of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.

Sisera flees to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was a peace alliance between Jabin and Heber's family. Radak explains that Sisera deliberately avoided his army's escape route to evade pursuit, choosing instead a nearby ally's tent where he thought he could hide safely.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืืœ ืื”ืœ. ืœืฆื“ ื”ืื”ืœ: ื›ื™ ืฉืœื•ื. ื•ืœื–ื” ื—ืฉื‘ ืœื”ืžืœื˜ ืฉืžื”:
To the tent: To the side of the tent. For there was peace: And because of this, he thought to escape there.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ื•ืกื™ืกืจื ื ืก. ืœื ื ืก ืืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืก ืžื—ื ื”ื• ื›ื™ ื”ื ื ืกื• ืืœ ื ื•ื›ื— ืืจืฆื ืฉื”ื™ื ื—ืจื•ืฉืช ื”ื’ื•ื™ื ื•ื‘ืจืง ื•ืขืžื• ืจื“ืคื• ืื—ืจื™ื”ื ื•ื”ื›ื•ื ืœืคื™ ื—ืจื‘ ื•ืกื™ืกืจื ื™ื“ืข ืฉืœื ื™ื•ื›ืœ ืœื”ืžืœื˜ ื‘ื ื•ืกื• ื›ื™ ื™ื“ื‘ื™ืงื•ื”ื• ื•ื ืก ืœืžืงื•ื ืื—ืจ ืฉืœื ื™ืจื’ื™ืฉื• ื‘ื• ื•ื™ืจื“ืคื• ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ื ืก ืœืžืงื•ื ืื—ืจ ืงืจื•ื‘ ืœืžืงื•ื ื”ืžืœื—ืžื” ืœื”ืžืœื˜ ืืœ ืื”ืœ ื™ืขืœ ื›ื™ ืฉืœื•ื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ื ื•ื—ืฉื‘ ืฉื™ืžืœื˜ ืฉื ื•ื™ืกืชื™ืจื•ื”ื• ืขื“ ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื”ืžืœื—ืžื”:
And Sisera had fled: He did not flee to the place that his camp fled, as they fled towards their land, which was Haroshet-hagoyim; and Barak and his people chased after them and smote them with the edge of the sword. But Sisera knew that he could not escape by [just] fleeing, for they would catch up to him. So he fled to another place, in which they would not notice him and chase after him. So he fled to a different place close to the war's location, to escape to Yael's tent. For there was peace between them, so he thought that he could escape there and she would hide him until the war had passed.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึผึตืฆึตึฃื ื™ึธืขึตืœึฎ ืœึดืงึฐืจึทึฃืืช ืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธืึ’ ื•ึทืชึผึนึฃืืžึถืจ ืึตืœึธึ—ื™ื• ืกื•ึผืจึธึงื” ืึฒื“ึนื ึดึ›ื™ ืกื•ึผืจึธึฅื” ืึตืœึทึ–ื™ ืึทืœึพืชึผึดื™ืจึธึ‘ื ื•ึทื™ึผึธึคืกึทืจ ืึตืœึถึ™ื™ื”ึธึ™ ื”ึธืึนึ”ื”ึฑืœึธื” ื•ึทืชึผึฐื›ึทืกึผึตึ–ื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึทืฉื‚ึผึฐืžึดื™ื›ึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Jael came out to greet Sisera and said to him, โ€œCome in, my lord, come in here, do not be afraid.โ€ So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

Jael warmly welcomes the hesitant Sisera into her tent and covers him with a blanket, lulling him into a false sense of security. Her invitation and reassurance mask her true intentions as she prepares the conditions for his demise.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื‘ึทึผืฉึฐึผื‚ืžึดื™ื›ึธื”. ืชึดึผืจึฐื’ึตึผื ื™ื•ึนื ึธืชึธืŸ: ื‘ึฐึผื’ื•ึนื ึฐื›ึธื, ื•ึผืคึตืจึทืฉื ืจึทื‘ ื”ึทืื™ (ืฉื‘ืช ื ื ื): ื’ึผื•ึนื ึฐื›ึธื - ื’ึฐึผืœื•ึผืคึฐืงึฐืจึดื™ืŸ, ืงื•ื˜ืดื ื‘ึฐึผืœึทืขึทืดื–:
With a cloak. Yonasan renders ื’๏ญ‹ื ึฐื›ื‡ื. R' Hai translates ื’๏ญ‹ื ึฐื›ื‡ื as cloak, "Coate" in old French.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืกื•ืจื”. ืจืืชื” ืฉื”ื™ื” ื›ืžืกืชืคืง ืื ืœื™ืœืš ืœืื”ืœื” ืื ืœื ื•ืก ืขื•ื“ ืœื”ืœืŸ, ื•ืืžืจื” ืœื•, ืกื•ืจ ืžืžืงื•ื ืžื”ืœื›ืš ื•ื‘ื•ื ืืœื™ ื•ืืœ ืชื™ืจื:
Turn in: She saw that he was like one in doubt whether to go to her tent or to flee further on. So she said to him, "Turn from the place that you are going, come to me and do not be afraid."
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ืกื•ืจื” ืื“ื ื™ ืกื•ืจื” ืืœื™. ืฉื ื™ื”ื ืžืœืจืข ืฉืœื ื›ืžื ื”ื’ ื‘ืจื•ื‘: ื‘ืฉืžื™ื›ื”. ืชื™ืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื‘ื’ื•ื ื›ื ื•ืคื™ืจืฉ ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ื”ืื™ื™ ื–"ืœ ื’ืœื•ืคืงืจื ื”ื ื–ื›ืจ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืจื–"ืœ ืงื•ื˜"ื ื‘ืœืข"ื– ื•ื‘ืขืจื‘ื™ ื’ื•ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ืชืจื’ื•ื ื•ื”ื•ื ื›ืกื•ืช ืขื‘ ื™ื•ืฆืื™ืŸ ืžืžื ื• ืฆื™ืฆื™ื•ืช ืžืŸ ื”ืฆืžืจ ื‘ื›ืœ ืคื ื™ ื”ื›ืกื•ืช ื•ื ืจืื” ื›ื™ ืžืคื ื™ ื–ื” ื ืงืจื ืฉืžื™ื›ื” ื›ื™ ื‘ื“ื‘ืจื™ื”ื ืฉืžื™ื›ืชื ื“ื‘ืจ ืขื‘ ื•ื‘ื•ื™ืงืจื ืจื‘ื” ื•ืชื›ืกื”ื• ื‘ืฉืžื™ื›ื” ืจื‘ื ืŸ ื“ืชืžืŸ ืืžืจื™ ื‘ืกื•ื“ืจื ืจื‘ื ืŸ ื“ื”ื›ื ืืžืจื™ ื‘ืžืฉื™ื›ืœื ืืžืจ ืจื™ืฉ ืœืงื™ืฉ ื—ื–ืจื ื• ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืžืงืจื ื•ืœื ืžืฆืื ื• ื›ืœื™ ืฉืฉืžื• ืฉืžื™ื›ื” ืืœื ืžื” ื”ื•ื ืฉืžื™ื›ื” ื‘ืฉื™"ืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืฉืžื™ื›ื” ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืžื™ ื”ื•ื ื›ืืŸ ืฉืžืขื™ื“ ืขืœ ื™ืขืœ ืฉืœื ื ื’ืข ื‘ื” ืกื™ืกืจื:
Turn in, my lord, turn in: Both of these times, the accent is on the second syllable, which is not like the prevalent custom. With a blanket: Yonatan translated (in the Targum), "With a gunkha"; and Rabbenu Hai, may his memory be blessed, explained [that] it is a gelofkera (coat), found in the words of our Rabbis, may their memory be blessed (Gittin 35a). It is a cot in [Old French]. And in Arabic, it is a guabi, like the language of the Targum. And that is a thick garment from which fringes come out from the wool on the whole surface of the garment. And it appears that this is why it is called semikhah - since in their words (Talmudic Aramaic), semikhta is something thick. And in Vayikra Rabbah: "And she covered him with a semikhah": The Rabbis from there said, "With a shawl." The Rabbis from here said, "With a washing vessel." Reish Lakish said, "We have gone over all of Scripture and we have not found a vessel the name of which is, semikhah! Rather what is semikhah? It is written with a shin (as opposed to a sin), shemikhah. That is to say, My name is here (Shemi kan), to testify about Yael - that Sisera did not touch her.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึงืืžึถืจ ืึตืœึถึ›ื™ื”ึธ ื”ึทืฉืึฐืงึดื™ื ึดื™ึพื ึธึฅื ืžึฐืขึทื˜ึพืžึทึ–ื™ึดื ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ืฆึธืžึตึ‘ืืชึดื™ ื•ึทืชึผึดืคึฐืชึผึทึžื— ืึถืชึพื ึนึงืื•ื“ ื”ึถื—ึธืœึธึ›ื‘ ื•ึทืชึผึทืฉืึฐืงึตึ–ื”ื•ึผ ื•ึทืชึผึฐื›ึทืกึผึตึฝื”ื•ึผืƒ

English:

He said to her, โ€œPlease let me have some water; I am thirsty.โ€ She opened a skin of milk and gave him some to drink; and she covered him again.

When Sisera asks for water, Jael strategically gives him milk instead, because milk induces drowsiness. She then covers him again, ensuring he falls into a deep sleep that will leave him defenseless.
โ–ถCommentaries (3)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื ึนืื“ ื”ึถื—ึธืœึธื‘. ืฉึถืื”ึถื—ึธืœึธื‘ ืžึทื›ึฐื‘ึดึผื™ื“ ืึถืช ื”ึทื’ึผื•ึผืฃ ืœึดื”ึฐื™ื•ึนืช ื ึดืจึฐื“ึธึผื:
The milk pouch. Since milk induces drowsiness, then slumber.10He requested water. Why did she give him milk? To make him drowsy.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื ืื“ ื”ื—ืœื‘. ื”ืฉืงืชื• ื—ืœื‘ ื›ื™ ืžื‘ื™ื ืชืจื“ืžื”: ื•ืชื›ืกื”ื•. ื›ื™ ื‘ืขืช ื”ืฉืงืชื• ื ื’ืœื” ื›ืกื•ื™ื•, ื•ื—ื–ืจื” ืœื›ืกื•ืชื•:
A pouch of milk: She gave him milk to drink, because it brings on slumber. And she covered him: Because when she was giving him milk to drink, he became uncovered. So she covered him again.
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ื•ืชืฉืงื”ื• ื•ืชื›ืกื”ื•. ื—ื–ืจื” ื•ื›ืกืชื• ืื—ืจ ืฉื”ืฉืงืชื” ืื•ืชื• ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืจื“ื ื•ืœื ื™ืจื’ื™ืฉ ื•ืžื” ืฉื”ืฉืงืชื• ื—ืœื‘ ืœื”ื›ื‘ื™ื“ื• ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื ืจื“ื:
And she gave him to drink and she covered him: She covered him again after she gave him to drink, so that he would fall asleep and not notice. And that which she gave him milk to drink was to make him [feel] heavy, in order that he fall asleep.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฃืืžึถืจ ืึตืœึถึ”ื™ื”ึธ ืขึฒืžึนึ–ื“ ืคึผึถึฃืชึทื— ื”ึธืึนึ‘ื”ึถืœ ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื”ึฉ ืึดืึพืึดึจื™ืฉื ื™ึธื‘ึนึœื ื•ึผืฉืึฐืึตืœึตึ—ืšึฐ ื•ึฐืึธืžึทึ›ืจ ื”ึฒื™ึตึฝืฉืึพืคึผึนึฅื” ืึดึ–ื™ืฉื ื•ึฐืึธืžึทึฅืจึฐืชึผึฐ ืึธึฝื™ึดืŸืƒ

English:

He said to her, โ€œStand at the entrance of the tent. If anybody comes and asks you if there is anybody else here, say โ€˜No.โ€™โ€

Sisera instructs Jael to guard the tent entrance and deny his presence to anyone who asks, trying to ensure his hiding place remains secret. Rashi notes the unusual masculine verb form 'stand,' suggesting he urged her to be as bold and vigilant as a man.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืขึฒืžึนื“ ืคึถึผืชึทื— ื”ึธืึนื”ึถืœ. ื–ึธืจึฐื–ึดื™ ืขึทืฆึฐืžึตืšึฐ ื›ึผึฐื–ึธื›ึธืจ. ื•ึฐื™ึตืฉื ืคึผื•ึนืชึฐืจึดื™ื: ืณืขึฒืžึนื“ืณ, ื›ึฐึผืžื•ึน ืœึทืขึฒืžึนื“:
Stand at the entrance to the tent. Be zealous about it. Some interpret ืขึฒืžึนื“ [lit. "stand"] as ืœึทืขึฒืž๏ญ‹ื“, "to stand".11This interpretation adds the ืœ, which does not actually appear in the text, so that the reading is โ€œHe told her to stand at the entrance.โ€ According to the literal textual interpretation, the reading is, โ€œHe told her, stand at the entrance.โ€ This is problematic, as the masculine ืขึฒืž๏ญ‹ื“, rather than ืขึดืžึฝื“ึดื™, is inappropriate in addressing a woman. The additional ืœ solves this difficulty by transforming the command, ืขึฒืž๏ญ‹ื“, โ€œstandโ€, into the infinitive ืœึทืขึฒืž๏ญ‹ื“, โ€œto stand.โ€
ืจื“ืดืงRadak
ืขืžื•ื“. ืžืงื•ืจ ื•ื™ืืžืจ ืืœื™ื” ืœืขืžื•ื“ ืคืชื— ื”ืื”ืœ: ื•ืชืฆื ื—. ื”ื™ืชื“ ืขื‘ืจื” ืจืงืชื• ื•ื ืชืงืขื” ื‘ืืจืฅ: ื ืจื“ื. ืคืชื— ื•ื”ื•ื ื ืคืขืœ ืขื‘ืจ: ื•ื™ืขืฃ. ื”ืขื™ืŸ ื‘ืคืชื— ืœื”ื‘ื“ื™ืœ ื‘ื™ื ื• ื•ื‘ื™ืŸ ื•ื™ืขืฃ ืืœื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ืขื ื™ืŸ ืื—ืจ ื•ืคื™' ื•ื™ืขืฃ ื•ื›ื‘ืจ ืขื™ืฃ ืœืคื™ื›ืš ื ืจื“ื ื•ืœื ื”ืจื’ื™ืฉ ื‘ื”ื›ื•ืชื” ืื•ืชื• ื•ื™ืžืช:
Stand: It is an infinitive: And he said to her to stand at the entrance of the tent. And she fastened: The peg went through his temple and became stuck in the ground. Asleep: It is [vocalized with a] patach, and it is past tense, passive. And exhausted (veyaaf): The [letter] ayin is with a patach, to differentiate between [this word] and "veya'af alai" (Isaiah 6:6), which is a different matter. And [it means that] he was already tired. Hence he did not feel her striking him, and he died.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึผึดืงึผึทึฃื— ื™ึธืขึตึฃืœ ืึตึฝืฉืึถืชึพื—ึถึ ื‘ึถืจ ืึถืชึพื™ึฐืชึทึจื“ ื”ึธืึนึœื”ึถืœ ื•ึทืชึผึธึงืฉื‚ึถื ืึถืชึพื”ึทืžึผึทืงึผึถึฃื‘ึถืช ื‘ึผึฐื™ึธื“ึธึ—ื”ึผ ื•ึทืชึผึธื‘ึคื•ึนื ืึตืœึธื™ื•ึ™ ื‘ึผึทืœึผึธึ”ืื˜ ื•ึทืชึผึดืชึฐืงึทึคืข ืึถืชึพื”ึทื™ึผึธืชึตื“ึ™ ื‘ึผึฐืจึทืงึผึธืชึ”ื•ึน ื•ึทืชึผึดืฆึฐื ึทึ–ื— ื‘ึผึธืึธึ‘ืจึถืฅ ื•ึฐื”ึฝื•ึผืึพื ึดืจึฐื“ึผึธึฅื ื•ึทื™ึผึธึ–ืขึทืฃ ื•ึทื™ึผึธืžึนึฝืชืƒ

English:

Then Jael wife of Heber took a tent pin and grasped the mallet. When he was fast asleep from exhaustion, she approached him stealthily and drove the pin through his temple till it went down to the ground. Thus he died.

Jael takes a tent peg and hammer โ€” tools familiar to a nomadic woman โ€” and stealthily drives the peg through Sisera's temple into the ground while he sleeps. His deep exhaustion from battle and the milk ensured he never woke, and he died instantly.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื™ึฐืชึทื“ ื”ึธืึนื”ึถืœ. ืงื‘ื™ืœื™ืดืœ ื‘ึฐึผืœึทืขึทืดื–, ืฉึถืืชึผื•ึนืงึฐืขึดื™ืŸ ื‘ึธึผืึธืจึถืฅ ืขึดื ืฉึดืืคึผื•ึผืœึตื™ ื”ึธืึนื”ึถืœ ืœึฐืคื•ึนืฉึฐืื˜ื•ึน: ื”ึทืžึทึผืงึถึผื‘ึถืช. (ืชืจื’ื•ื:) ืึทืจึฐื–ึทืคึฐืชึธึผื, ืžืจื˜ื™ืดืœ ื‘ึฐึผืœึทืขึทืดื–: ื‘ึทึผืœึธึผืื˜. (ืชืจื’ื•ื:) ื‘ึฐึผืจึธื–, ื—ึถืจึถืฉื: ื•ึทืชึดึผืฆึฐื ึทื— ื‘ึธึผืึธืจึถืฅ. (ืชืจื’ื•ื:) ื•ึผื ึฐืขึธืฆึทืช ื‘ึฐึผืึทืจึฐืขึธื:
A tent peg. "Chevilles" in old French. This is embedded in the ground with the lower flap of the tent in order to extend it fully. A hammer. Hammer, "martel" in old French. Furtively. Stealthily, in secret. And impaled it into the ground.๏ฌตื ึฐืขึทืฆึท๏ญŠึฐ ๏ฌฑึฐ๏ฌฎืจึฐืขึธื,12This is Targum Yonasanโ€™s rendition. and impaled it into the ground.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื™ืชื“ ื”ืื”ืœ. ื”ื™ืชื“ ื”ืขืฉื•ื™ ืœืชืงื•ืข ื‘ืืจืฅ ืขื ืฉืคื•ืœื™ ื”ืื”ืœ: ื‘ืœืื˜. ืœื‘ืœ ื™ืขื•ืจ ืžืฉื ืชื•: ื•ืชืฆื ื— ื‘ืืจืฅ. ื”ื›ืชื” ื‘ืžืงื‘ืช ืขืœ ื”ื™ืชื“ ืขื“ ืฉื—ืœืฃ ืจืงืชื• ื•ื ืชื—ื‘ ื‘ืืจืฅ: ื•ื”ื•ื ื ืจื“ื. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ืขืœ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ืจื“ื ืžืฉืชื™ื™ืช ื”ื—ืœื‘ ื•ืขื™ืฃ ืขืœ ื›ื™ ื ืก ื‘ืจื’ืœื™ื•, ื•ืœื–ื” ืžืช ืžื™ื“:
A tent peg: The peg that is made to be planted into the ground [together] with the lower edges of the tent. Stealthily: So that he not wake him up from his sleep. And she fastened it to the ground: She hit the peg with the hammer, until it passed [through] his temple and became stuck in the ground. For he was fast asleep: That is to say, since he was fast asleep because of the milk, and he was exhausted because he had been fleeing on his feet - so because of this, he died immediately.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตึฃื” ื‘ึธืจึธืงึฎ ืจึนื“ึตึฃืฃ ืึถืชึพืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธืึ’ ื•ึทืชึผึตืฆึตึคื ื™ึธืขึตืœึ™ ืœึดืงึฐืจึธืืชึ”ื•ึน ื•ึทืชึผึนึฃืืžึถืจ ืœึ”ื•ึน ืœึตึฃืšึฐ ื•ึฐืึทืจึฐืึถึ”ืšึผึธ ืึถืชึพื”ึธืึดึ–ื™ืฉื ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพืึทืชึผึธึฃื” ืžึฐื‘ึทืงึผึตึ‘ืฉื ื•ึทื™ึผึธื‘ึนึฃื ืึตืœึถึ”ื™ื”ึธ ื•ึฐื”ึดื ึผึตึคื” ืกึดึฝื™ืกึฐืจึธืึ™ ื ึนืคึตึฃืœ ืžึตึ”ืช ื•ึฐื”ึทื™ึผึธืชึตึ–ื“ ื‘ึผึฐืจึทืงึผึธืชึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

Now Barak appeared in pursuit of Sisera. Jael went out to greet him and said, โ€œCome, I will show you the man you are looking for.โ€ He went inside with her, and there Sisera was lying dead, with the pin in his temple.

When Barak arrives in pursuit of Sisera, Jael comes out to meet him and leads him into the tent, where he finds Sisera lying dead with the tent peg still lodged in his temple โ€” fulfilling Deborah's prophecy that Sisera would fall by a woman's hand.
โ–ถCommentaries (2)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื‘ึฐึผืจึทืงึธึผืชื•ึน. (ืชืจื’ื•ื:) ื‘ึฐึผืฆึดื™ื“ึฐืขึตื™ื”ึผ, ื ื™ืœืดื” ื˜ื™ืžืคื™ืดื” ื‘ึฐึผืœึทืขึทืดื–, ื•ึผืชึฐื—ึธื‘ึธื”ึผ ื‘ึฐึผืจึทืงึธึผืชื•ึน ื•ึผื‘ึธืึธืจึถืฅ:
In his forehead.๏ฌฑึฐืฆึดื™ื“ึฝืขึตื™ื”, "tenplia" in old French. She had penetrated his forehead and the ground.
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ืจื“ืฃ ืืช ืกื™ืกืจื. ืœืคื™ ืžื—ืฉื‘ืช ื“ืขืชื•, ืœื‘ืงืฉื• ื‘ืืฉืจ ื”ื•ื ืฉื:
He chased after Sisera: According to his thinking, to seek him where he was.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื’ ยท Verse 23

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทื›ึฐื ึทึคืข ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ืึ™ ื‘ึผึทื™ึผึฃื•ึนื ื”ึทื”ึ”ื•ึผื ืึตึ–ืช ื™ึธื‘ึดึฃื™ืŸ ืžึถึฝืœึถืšึฐึพื›ึผึฐื ึธึ‘ืขึทืŸ ืœึดืคึฐื ึตึ–ื™ ื‘ึผึฐื ึตึฅื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตึฝืœืƒ

English:

On that day God subdued King Jabin of Canaan before the Israelites.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื“ ยท Verse 24

Hebrew:

ื•ึทืชึผึตึœืœึถืšึฐ ื™ึทึคื“ ื‘ึผึฐื ึตึฝื™ึพื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœึ™ ื”ึธืœึฃื•ึนืšึฐ ื•ึฐืงึธืฉืึธึ”ื” ืขึทึ–ืœ ื™ึธื‘ึดึฃื™ืŸ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐึพื›ึผึฐื ึธึ‘ืขึทืŸ ืขึทึšื“ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื”ึดื›ึฐืจึดึ”ื™ืชื•ึผ ืึตึ–ืช ื™ึธื‘ึดึฅื™ืŸ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐึพื›ึผึฐื ึธึฝืขึทืŸืƒย {ืค}

English:

The hand of the Israelites bore harder and harder on King Jabin of Canaan, until they destroyed King Jabin of Canaan.

The defeat of Sisera was not the end but the beginning of Israel's sustained campaign against Jabin, as their military pressure grew progressively stronger until they completely destroyed his kingdom.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืžืฆื•ื“ืช ื“ื•ื“Metzudat David
ื•ืชืœืš ื•ื’ื•ืณ. ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ, ื‘ื›ืœ ืคืขื ื™ื•ืชืจ:
And continued, etc.: That is to say, more each time.

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