Things Are Seldom What They Seem: Reflections on Judges 4:1-7

The demand seems clear; the prophet has spoken; Barak has only to obey. But his response to the command is very surprising: "If you go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go" (Judges 4:8). The Israelite male leader is expected to fulfill the command of YHWH's prophet, but he does not. Without the presence of Deborah, the reluctant Barak will not participate in the battle, despite Deborah's assurance that Sisera will fall into Barak's hand. After his hesitation, Deborah's promise changes: "I will surely go with you, but the way you are going will not lead to your glory, for YHWH will (now) sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" (Judges 4:9). The cowardly Barak's battle prize has been torn from him and given to a woman. Is the woman Deborah, or may we expect another?

The answer comes in a memorable and terrible scene. After the rout of the forces of Sisera at the base of Tabor, we witness the Canaanite general leap from his chariot and head for what he assumes to be a hospitable tent of the Kenite, Heber, who has a treaty with Jabin. What he gets instead of hospitality is deception and death at the "hand" of Heber's wife, Jael, when she helps the general sleep in order to murder him by driving a tent peg into his skull! In one of the Bible's greatest understatements, after Jael performs the monstrous deed, we are told "and he died" (Judges 4:21). No kidding!

And then Barak comes riding up, looking for Sisera. Too late! He has indeed been felled by the hand of a woman. There can be no glory for the feckless Barak. Jael and Deborah are heroines, while Barak and Sisera are both cowards and losers.

I titled this article "things are seldom what they seem," borrowing from the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, HMS Pinafore. The Bible often presents us with surprising actions and characters, dashing our common expectations, warning us that YHWH acts in ways we sometimes least expect. This ancient tale in ways subtle and not so subtle reinforces that biblical theme, one we would do well to remember about the surprising YHWH and one we need to tell our congregations, lest they become too complacent concerning this wonderful and mysterious God we worship.