Judges

Chapter 4

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּosi֨pu֙ bּene֣y yishsera'e֔l la'ashs֥ot hara֖ bּe'eyne֣y yehva֑h ve'eh֖ud meֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, now that Ehud was dead.

וַיֹּסִ֨פוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְאֵה֖וּד מֵֽת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּimekּere֣m yehva֗h bּeyad֙ yabi֣yn meֽleke-kּena֔'an 'ashshe֥r mala֖ke bּechatz֑or veshsar-tzeba'o֙ siֽysera֔ veh֥u yoshshe֖b bּacharo֥shshet hagּoyiֽm׃

Edified Edition (EDE)So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in HaroshES Haggoyim.

וַיִּמְכְּרֵ֣ם יְהוָ֗ה בְּיַד֙ יָבִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר מָלַ֖ךְ בְּחָצ֑וֹר וְשַׂר־צְבָאוֹ֙ סִֽיסְרָ֔א וְה֥וּא יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בַּחֲרֹ֥שֶׁת הַגּוֹיִֽם׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּitze'aq֥u beneֽy-yishsera'e֖l 'el-yehva֑h kּi֠y tּeshsha֨ me'֤ot reֽkeb-bּarezel֙ l֔o ve֠hu lacha֞tz 'et-bּene֧y yishsera'e֛l bּechazeqa֖h 'eshseri֥ym shshanaֽh׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help.

וַיִּצְעֲק֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֠י תְּשַׁ֨ע מֵא֤וֹת רֶֽכֶב־בַּרְזֶל֙ ל֔וֹ וְ֠הוּא לָחַ֞ץ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּחָזְקָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): udeborah֙ 'ishshּa֣h nebiy'a֔h 'e֖shshet lapּiyd֑ot hi֛y shshopeta֥h 'et-yishsera'e֖l bּa'e֥t hahiֽy'׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Now Deborah, a prophetess [1], the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

וּדְבוֹרָה֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה נְבִיאָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת לַפִּיד֑וֹת הִ֛יא שֹׁפְטָ֥ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ve֠hiy yoshshe֨bet tּaֽchat-tּo֜mer dּebora֗h bּe֧yn harama֛h ube֥yn bּeֽyt-'e֖l bּeha֣r 'epera֑yim vayּa'al֥u 'ele֛yha bּene֥y yishsera'e֖l lamּishshepּaֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)She held court under the Palm of Deborah [2] between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes settled.

וְ֠הִיא יוֹשֶׁ֨בֶת תַּֽחַת־תֹּ֜מֶר דְּבוֹרָ֗ה בֵּ֧ין הָרָמָ֛ה וּבֵ֥ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל בְּהַ֣ר אֶפְרָ֑יִם וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֵלֶ֛יהָ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּishshela֗ch vatּiqera'֙ lebara֣q bּen-'abiyno֔'am miqּe֖deshsh napetּali֑y vatּo֨'mer 'ela֜yv halo֥ tziua֣h ׀ yehva֣h 'eloheֽy-yishsera'e֗l le֤ke umaֽshshaketּa֙ bּeha֣r tּab֔or velaqachetּa֣ 'imּeka֗ 'ashse֤ret 'alapiym֙ 'i֔yshsh mibּene֥y napetּali֖y umibּene֥y zebulֽun׃

Edified Edition (EDE)She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor.

וַתִּשְׁלַ֗ח וַתִּקְרָא֙ לְבָרָ֣ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֔עַם מִקֶּ֖דֶשׁ נַפְתָּלִ֑י וַתֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲלֹ֥א צִוָּ֣ה ׀ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לֵ֤ךְ וּמָֽשַׁכְתָּ֙ בְּהַ֣ר תָּב֔וֹר וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ עִמְּךָ֗ עֲשֶׂ֤רֶת אֲלָפִים֙ אִ֔ישׁ מִבְּנֵ֥י נַפְתָּלִ֖י וּמִבְּנֵ֥י זְבֻלֽוּן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): umashshaketּi֨y 'ele֜yka 'el-na֣chal qiyshsh֗on 'et-siֽysera'֙ shsar-tzeba֣ yabi֔yn ve'et-rikebּ֖o ve'et-hamon֑o unetatּi֖yhu bּeyadeֽka׃

Edified Edition (EDE)I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.'"

וּמָשַׁכְתִּ֨י אֵלֶ֜יךָ אֶל־נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֗וֹן אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא֙ שַׂר־צְבָ֣א יָבִ֔ין וְאֶת־רִכְבּ֖וֹ וְאֶת־הֲמוֹנ֑וֹ וּנְתַתִּ֖יהוּ בְּיָדֶֽךָ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֤'mer 'ele֨yha֙ bּara֔q 'im-tּeleki֥y 'imּi֖y vehala֑ketּiy ve'im-lo֥ teleki֛y 'imּi֖y lo֥ 'eleֽke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go."

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ בָּרָ֔ק אִם־תֵּלְכִ֥י עִמִּ֖י וְהָלָ֑כְתִּי וְאִם־לֹ֥א תֵלְכִ֛י עִמִּ֖י לֹ֥א אֵלֵֽךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo֜'mer halo֧ke 'ele֣ke 'imּa֗ke 'e֚pes kּiy֩ lo֨ tiֽheye֜h tּiֽpe'aretּeka֗ 'al-hadּe֨reke֙ 'ashshe֣r 'atּa֣h hole֔ke kּi֣y beֽyad-'ishshּa֔h yimekּo֥r yehva֖h 'et-siֽysera֑ vatּa֧qam dּebora֛h vatּe֥lek 'im-bּara֖q qeֽdeshshah׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Certainly I will go with you," said Deborah. "But because of the course you are taking, the honour will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

וַתֹּ֜אמֶר הָלֹ֧ךְ אֵלֵ֣ךְ עִמָּ֗ךְ אֶ֚פֶס כִּי֩ לֹ֨א תִֽהְיֶ֜ה תִּֽפְאַרְתְּךָ֗ עַל־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה הוֹלֵ֔ךְ כִּ֣י בְֽיַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה יִמְכֹּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָ֑א וַתָּ֧קָם דְּבוֹרָ֛ה וַתֵּ֥לֶך עִם־בָּרָ֖ק קֶֽדְשָׁה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּaze'e֨q bּara֜q 'et-zebulu֤n ve'et-napetּaliy֙ qe֔deshshah vayּa֣'al bּeragela֔yv 'ashse֥ret 'alepe֖y 'i֑yshsh vatּa֥'al 'imּ֖o dּeboraֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.

וַיַּזְעֵ֨ק בָּרָ֜ק אֶת־זְבוּלֻ֤ן וְאֶת־נַפְתָּלִי֙ קֶ֔דְשָׁה וַיַּ֣עַל בְּרַגְלָ֔יו עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת אַלְפֵ֖י אִ֑ישׁ וַתַּ֥עַל עִמּ֖וֹ דְּבוֹרָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): veche֤ber haqּeyniy֙ nipera֣d miqּa֔yin mibּene֥y choba֖b chote֣n moshshe֑h vayּe֣t 'ahol֔o 'ad-'el֥on btz'nym bּetza'ananּi֖ym 'ashshe֥r 'et-qeֽdeshsh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Now Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law, and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.

וְחֶ֤בֶר הַקֵּינִי֙ נִפְרָ֣ד מִקַּ֔יִן מִבְּנֵ֥י חֹבָ֖ב חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֵּ֣ט אָהֳל֔וֹ עַד־אֵל֥וֹן בצענים בְּצַעֲנַנִּ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶת־קֶֽדֶשׁ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּagּi֖du lesiֽysera֑ kּi֥y 'ala֛h bּara֥q bּen-'abiyno֖'am har-tּabֽor׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,

וַיַּגִּ֖דוּ לְסִֽיסְרָ֑א כִּ֥י עָלָ֛ה בָּרָ֥ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֖עַם הַר־תָּבֽוֹר׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּaze'e֨q siֽysera֜ 'et-kּal-rikebּ֗o tּeshsha֤ me'ot֙ re֣keb bּareze֔l ve'et-kּal-ha'a֖m 'ashshe֣r 'itּ֑o mecharo֥shshet hagּoyi֖m 'el-na֥chal qiyshshֽon׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Sisera summoned from HaroshES Haggoyim to the Kishon River all his men and his nine hundred chariots fitted with iron.

וַיַּזְעֵ֨ק סִֽיסְרָ֜א אֶת־כָּל־רִכְבּ֗וֹ תְּשַׁ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ רֶ֣כֶב בַּרְזֶ֔ל וְאֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ מֵחֲרֹ֥שֶׁת הַגּוֹיִ֖ם אֶל־נַ֥חַל קִישֽׁוֹן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo'mer֩ dּebora֨h 'el-bּara֜q q֗um kּi֣y ze֤h hayּom֙ 'ashsher֩ nata֨n yehva֤h 'et-siֽysera'֙ bּeyade֔ka halo֥ yehva֖h yatza֣ lepane֑yka vayּe֤red bּaraq֙ meha֣r tּab֔or va'ashse֧ret 'alapi֛ym 'i֖yshsh 'acharaֽyv׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?" So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him.

וַתֹּאמֶר֩ דְּבֹרָ֨ה אֶל־בָּרָ֜ק ק֗וּם כִּ֣י זֶ֤ה הַיּוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁר֩ נָתַ֨ן יְהוָ֤ה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ הֲלֹ֥א יְהוָ֖ה יָצָ֣א לְפָנֶ֑יךָ וַיֵּ֤רֶד בָּרָק֙ מֵהַ֣ר תָּב֔וֹר וַעֲשֶׂ֧רֶת אֲלָפִ֛ים אִ֖ישׁ אַחֲרָֽיו׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּa֣ham ye֠hvah 'et-siֽysera֨ ve'et-kּal-hare֧keb ve'et-kּal-haֽmּachane֛h lepiy-che֖reb lipene֣y bara֑q vayּe֧red siֽysera֛ me'a֥l hamּerekּaba֖h vayּa֥nas bּeragelaֽyv׃

Edified Edition (EDE)At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot.

וַיָּ֣הָם יְ֠הוָה אֶת־סִֽיסְרָ֨א וְאֶת־כָּל־הָרֶ֧כֶב וְאֶת־כָּל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛ה לְפִי־חֶ֖רֶב לִפְנֵ֣י בָרָ֑ק וַיֵּ֧רֶד סִֽיסְרָ֛א מֵעַ֥ל הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֖ה וַיָּ֥נָס בְּרַגְלָֽיו׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): ubara֗q rada֞p 'achare֤y hare֨keb֙ ve'achare֣y haֽmּachane֔h 'a֖d charo֣shshet hagּoyi֑m vayּipּo֞l kּal-machane֤h siֽysera'֙ lepiy-che֔reb lo֥ nishshe'a֖r 'ad-'echaֽd׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as HaroshES Haggoyim, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left.

וּבָרָ֗ק רָדַ֞ף אַחֲרֵ֤י הָרֶ֨כֶב֙ וְאַחֲרֵ֣י הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה עַ֖ד חֲרֹ֣שֶׁת הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וַיִּפֹּ֞ל כָּל־מַחֲנֵ֤ה סִֽיסְרָא֙ לְפִי־חֶ֔רֶב לֹ֥א נִשְׁאַ֖ר עַד־אֶחָֽד׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vesiֽysera'֙ na֣s bּeragela֔yv 'el-'o֣hel ya'e֔l 'e֖shshּet che֣ber haqּeyni֑y kּi֣y shshal֗om bּe֚yn yabi֣yn meֽleke-chatz֔or ube֕yn bּe֖yt che֥ber haqּeyniֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.

וְסִֽיסְרָא֙ נָ֣ס בְּרַגְלָ֔יו אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל יָעֵ֔ל אֵ֖שֶּׁת חֶ֣בֶר הַקֵּינִ֑י כִּ֣י שָׁל֗וֹם בֵּ֚ין יָבִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־חָצ֔וֹר וּבֵ֕ין בֵּ֖ית חֶ֥בֶר הַקֵּינִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּetze֣ ya'el֮ liqera֣'t siֽysera'֒ vatּo֣'mer 'ela֗yv sura֧h 'adoni֛y sura֥h 'ela֖y 'al-tּiyra֑ vayּa֤sar 'ele֨yha֙ ha'o֔helah vatּekasּe֖hu bּashsּemiykaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid." So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

וַתֵּצֵ֣א יָעֵל֮ לִקְרַ֣את סִֽיסְרָא֒ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו סוּרָ֧ה אֲדֹנִ֛י סוּרָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י אַל־תִּירָ֑א וַיָּ֤סַר אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ הָאֹ֔הֱלָה וַתְּכַסֵּ֖הוּ בַּשְּׂמִיכָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֧'mer 'ele֛yha hashsheqiyniy-na֥ me'at-ma֖yim kּi֣y tzame֑'tiy vatּipetּa֞ch 'et-no֧'vd hechala֛b vatּashsheqe֖hu vatּekasּeֽhu׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"I’m thirsty," he said. "Please give me some water." She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלֶ֛יהָ הַשְׁקִינִי־נָ֥א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם כִּ֣י צָמֵ֑אתִי וַתִּפְתַּ֞ח אֶת־נֹ֧אוד הֶחָלָ֛ב וַתַּשְׁקֵ֖הוּ וַתְּכַסֵּֽהוּ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer 'ele֔yha 'amo֖d pּe֣tach ha'o֑hel vehayah֩ 'im-'i֨yshsh yab֜o ushshe'ele֗ke ve'ama֛r hayeֽshsh-pּo֥h 'i֖yshsh ve'ama֥retּe 'aֽyin׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Stand in the doorway of the tent," he told her. "If someone comes by and asks you, 'Is anyone in there?' say 'No.'"

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֔יהָ עֲמֹ֖ד פֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֑הֶל וְהָיָה֩ אִם־אִ֨ישׁ יָב֜וֹא וּשְׁאֵלֵ֗ךְ וְאָמַ֛ר הֲיֵֽשׁ־פֹּ֥ה אִ֖ישׁ וְאָמַ֥רְתְּ אָֽיִן׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּiqּa֣ch ya'e֣l 'eֽshshet-che֠ber 'et-yeta֨d ha'o֜hel vatּa֧shsem 'et-hamּaqּe֣bet bּeyada֗hּ vatּab֤o 'elayv֙ bּalּa֔'t vatּiteqa֤ 'et-hayּated֙ bּeraqּat֔o vatּitzena֖ch bּa'a֑retz vehֽu'-niredּa֥m vayּa֖'ap vayּamoֽt׃

Edified Edition (EDE)But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.

וַתִּקַּ֣ח יָעֵ֣ל אֵֽשֶׁת־חֶ֠בֶר אֶת־יְתַ֨ד הָאֹ֜הֶל וַתָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־הַמַּקֶּ֣בֶת בְּיָדָ֗הּ וַתָּב֤וֹא אֵלָיו֙ בַּלָּ֔אט וַתִּתְקַ֤ע אֶת־הַיָּתֵד֙ בְּרַקָּת֔וֹ וַתִּצְנַ֖ח בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְהֽוּא־נִרְדָּ֥ם וַיָּ֖עַף וַיָּמֹֽת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vehinּe֣h baraq֮ rode֣p 'et-siֽysera'֒ vatּetze֤ ya'el֙ liqera't֔o vatּo֣'mer l֔o le֣ke ve'are'e֔kּa 'et-ha'i֖yshsh 'ashsher-'atּa֣h mebaqּe֑shsh vayּabo֣ 'ele֔yha vehinּe֤h siֽysera'֙ nope֣l me֔t vehayּate֖d bּeraqּatֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "Come," she said, "I will show you the man you’re looking for." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple, dead.

וְהִנֵּ֣ה בָרָק֮ רֹדֵ֣ף אֶת־סִֽיסְרָא֒ וַתֵּצֵ֤א יָעֵל֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ לֵ֣ךְ וְאַרְאֶ֔ךָּ אֶת־הָאִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֣ה מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵלֶ֔יהָ וְהִנֵּ֤ה סִֽיסְרָא֙ נֹפֵ֣ל מֵ֔ת וְהַיָּתֵ֖ד בְּרַקָּתֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּakena֤ 'elohiym֙ bּayּ֣om hah֔u 'e֖t yabi֣yn meֽleke-kּena֑'an lipene֖y bּene֥y yishsera'eֽl׃

Edified Edition (EDE)On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites.

וַיַּכְנַ֤ע אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא אֵ֖ת יָבִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־כְּנָ֑עַן לִפְנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּe֜leke ya֤d bּeneֽy-yishsera'el֙ hal֣oke veqashsha֔h 'a֖l yabi֣yn meֽleke-kּena֑'an 'a֚d 'ashshe֣r hikeri֔ytu 'e֖t yabi֥yn meֽleke-kּenaֽ'an׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.

וַתֵּ֜לֶךְ יַ֤ד בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ הָל֣וֹךְ וְקָשָׁ֔ה עַ֖ל יָבִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־כְּנָ֑עַן עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִכְרִ֔יתוּ אֵ֖ת יָבִ֥ין מֶֽלֶךְ־כְּנָֽעַן׃פ