DEBORAH, JAEL – Part 2

Learn: Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Read: Judges 4:1-24

Judges 2 gives a description of the spiritual condition of the nation of Israel following the days of Joshua. It gives a background for our study of Deborah and Jael.

1.Who sold Israel into the hand of their enemy Jabin king of Canaan?  v 2a, Why?  v 1

2. Where did king Jabin reign?  v 2b, Who was the captain of his army?  v 2c

3. What did king Jabin use to oppress Israel?  v 3b,  How long did this oppression last?   v 3c

NOTE: Hazor, the most important stronghold in northern Canaan, was 4 miles SW of Lake Huleh on a principle trade route.   Ryrie Study Bible Commentary on Judges 4:2

4. Use a Bible map of “Canaan as divided among the 12 Tribes” to locate Hazor.

5. Why did the LORD begin to deliver Israel from king Jabin?  v 3a

6. Who did the LORD raise up to be a judge for Israel once they called on him?  vv 4, 5

7. Who did Deborah send for to lead the armies of Israel in their battle against king Jabin’s armies?  v 6a 

8. What command did the LORD give to Deborah to relay to Barak?  v 6 b

9. What promise did the LORD give to Barak concerning the armies of king Jabin which were led by the general Sisera?  v 7

10. Use a “physical map of Israel” to locate the Kishon River and Mount Tabor.

11. What was Barak’s requirement as a necessary precondition to obeying God’s command?   v 8 

12. How do you know that Barak’s reticence to obey him did not please the LORD?  v 9

13. Once Barak had Deborah’s assurance that she would go with him to the battle how did he proceed? vv 9c, 10

14. At this point another name is interjected as part of the coming battle. Who?  v 11

NOTE: The Druse, who serve valiantly in the army of modern Israel and are loyal citizens, believe that they are the modern day descendants of these Kenites, the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, which are spoken of in this passage. They have their own religion, known only to their elders, who guide the rest of the people. No one can join their religion or people group, and they only marry within their people group.

15. As this battle began, how did Sisera the general of the Canaanites proceed?  vv 12, 13

16. What was the assurance that Barak carried with him into the battle?   v 14a

17. What means did the LORD use to deliver the army of Sisera into the hands of Barak?                                                   v 15a; Judges 5:20, 21

18. When he saw that the battle was going against him, what did the general Sisera do?  vv 15b, 17

19. How devastating was the loss to the armies of king Jabin under his general Sisera?   v 16

20. How did Jael greet the fleeing Sisera?    v 18

21. What 2 things did Sisera ask of Jael?  vv 19, 20

22. According to verse 17 there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite at that time. Sisera felt safe with Jael, but she knew that to play neutral in this case was actually choosing to side with the Canaanite king. Which people did Jael choose to side with?  vv 21, 22                                             How did Jael make her choice known? 

23. People will often say that they are neutral on a certain matter and do or say nothing when a hard choice is put in front of them. We may call that “sitting on the fence”. Jael could have said, ”I am neutral”, and done nothing to aid Israel. Use the following Scripture and discuss the idea of neutrality in the face of choices that arise in our lives. What is the choice that is given in each passage?                                                                                                                         Joshua 24:14, 15 

Deuteronomy 30:15-19

 Romans 12:1, 2

Acts 16:30, 32

II Timothy 1:8; Matthew 10:32, 33

James 4:7-10

24. Is there a neutral option given in any of the passages listed in question 23?                     Explain.

25. We are called to make choices every day of our life. When the choice is difficult or complicated, and we would rather not make a choice at all. What must we remember about making “no choice”?

26. Deborah, Barak, the armies of Israel, and Jael all participated in the victory over the armies of king

 Jabin, but in reality it was ______________ who subdued Jabin’s armies.  v 23

27. In what ways did these two women, Deborah and Jael, encourage you in your trust of the LORD more in your daily choices?