Judges 4 13

Judges 4:13 kjv

And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.

Judges 4:13 nkjv

So Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth Hagoyim to the River Kishon.

Judges 4:13 niv

Sisera summoned from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River all his men and his nine hundred chariots fitted with iron.

Judges 4:13 esv

Sisera called out all his chariots, 900 chariots of iron, and all the men who were with him, from Harosheth-hagoyim to the river Kishon.

Judges 4:13 nlt

he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River.

Judges 4 verses

Judges 4 13 Meaning

Judges 4:13 describes the meticulous and overwhelming mobilization of Sisera's military might in preparation for battle against the Israelites. It details his assembling of all his formidable iron chariots and the full complement of his fighting men, strategically moving them from their base at Harosheth of the Gentiles towards the significant battleground near the river Kishon. This verse underscores the vast scale and advanced technology of the enemy force, setting the stage for a seemingly impossible confrontation from a human perspective.

Judges 4 13 Context

Judges chapter 4 begins with the Israelites again doing evil in the sight of the LORD after the death of Ehud. Consequently, God sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor, whose commander was Sisera. Jabin oppressed Israel severely for twenty years, particularly through his formidable military, characterized by "nine hundred chariots of iron." This verse (Judges 4:13) immediately follows Deborah's prophetic call to Barak, instructing him to take 10,000 men to Mount Tabor to meet Sisera. It vividly illustrates Sisera's aggressive and confident response to the threat of Israelite mobilization, depicting the grand assembly of his technologically superior forces as he moves to decisively crush the Israelites at the appointed battle site. It sets the scene for a pivotal divine intervention where God will demonstrate His power against seemingly invincible human might. Historically, the control of iron technology represented a significant military advantage in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, making Sisera's army particularly fearsome.

Judges 4 13 Word analysis

• Sisera: The name of the commander of Jabin's army, symbolizing the Canaanite oppression over Israel. His central role here highlights his command of this formidable force.

• gathered: (Hebrew: וַיַּזְעֵק, vaya'azeḳ) The root verb implies to call, summon, or assemble rapidly. It conveys an urgent and decisive action, not a slow mobilization, suggesting Sisera's readiness to confront the Israelite challenge with overwhelming force. This contrasts with Israel's often-hesitant posture.

• all his chariots: Emphasizes the totality and comprehensiveness of his force. No reserve, no hesitation. This "all" sets up the coming divine reversal, as "all" will be defeated.

• nine hundred: (Hebrew: תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת, tesha me'ot) A specific, very large number for ancient warfare, especially for chariots. This quantitative detail underlines the immense, seemingly insurmountable military advantage Sisera possessed. Such a number of chariots represented incredible logistics and power.

• chariots of iron: (Hebrew: רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל, rekhev barzel) This is a critical detail. "Barzel" (iron) signifies the cutting-edge military technology of the time. Iron was superior to bronze for weapons, armor, and chariot components, providing greater durability and lethality. Its mention highlights the technological and strategic superiority of the Canaanites over the often less-equipped Israelites, instilling fear. It represents a significant polemic: even advanced human technology is no match for God.

• and all the people that were with him: Not just the elite chariot corps, but also the accompanying infantry or other supporting personnel. This clarifies that Sisera's full fighting contingent was mobilized, ensuring an overwhelming numerical advantage beyond just the chariots. It signals a complete military deployment.

• from Harosheth of the Gentiles: (Hebrew: מֵחֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם, meHaroshet haGoyim) Sisera's home base and military hub. "Harosheth" possibly means "forest of carpenters" or "iron works," hinting at its strategic importance for building and maintaining chariots. "HaGoyim" (the Gentiles/nations) indicates it was a place with strong non-Israelite inhabitants, perhaps a stronghold for Canaanite power, potentially involved in trade routes or alliances with other foreign peoples, further emphasizing the formidable, unified enemy against Israel.

• unto the river Kishon: (Hebrew: עַד־נַחַל קִישׁוֹן, ad-nachal Kishon) The designated battle site. The Kishon is a seasonal river or wadi in the Jezreel Valley, known for sudden floods. Its geography, often muddy banks after rain, would become a key factor in the upcoming battle, despite Sisera choosing it as a suitable location for his chariots due to the surrounding plains. It signifies the point of decisive engagement.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Sisera gathered all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron": This phrase paints a clear picture of military might, specifically emphasizing the quantitative (nine hundred) and qualitative (iron) superiority of Sisera's forces. It foregrounds the seemingly impossible odds faced by Israel. The double mention of "chariots" reinforces their prominence and significance as the primary weapon system.
  • "and all the people that were with him": This adds a layer of depth to the description of Sisera's army, confirming it wasn't just a specialized chariot unit but a full combined-arms force, leaving no doubt about the sheer scale of the opposition.
  • "from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river Kishon": This precisely defines the logistical movement and the strategic geography of the unfolding conflict. It marks Sisera's domain of power (Harosheth) and his intended arena for decisive victory (Kishon), setting the precise stage for God's impending intervention.

Judges 4 13 Bonus section

The detailed description of Sisera's mobilization serves to enhance the contrast between human might and divine power. It sets the stage for a dramatic reversal where the very strength upon which Sisera relied—his chariots and the terrain around the Kishon suitable for them—would become the instrument of his downfall (Judges 5:21, the Kishon's floods washing away his chariots and men). This specific detailing of enemy strength is a common literary device in the Bible to highlight God's sovereign intervention and His ability to save "by many or by few" (1 Sam 14:6), ensuring that glory is given to Him alone. It emphasizes that no matter how organized, well-equipped, or numerically superior an adversary, God's plan cannot be thwarted.

Judges 4 13 Commentary

Judges 4:13 serves as a crucial build-up, vividly illustrating the overwhelming might of the Canaanite oppressors whom Israel was about to face. By detailing the assembly of Sisera’s full force, especially the formidable nine hundred iron chariots, the narrative intentionally magnifies the perceived power of the enemy. These iron chariots were the ancient equivalent of modern tanks, representing advanced military technology and tactical superiority. Their deployment from "Harosheth of the Gentiles," a place of considerable power, to the strategic "river Kishon," indicates Sisera's calculated move to swiftly crush the nascent Israelite resistance. The human assessment would deem Israel’s victory impossible. However, this seemingly insurmountable display of power functions precisely to highlight God’s glory. The greater the enemy's might, the clearer the divine hand in their inevitable defeat, as recounted in the subsequent verses and in the poetic rendition of chapter 5. This verse is not merely descriptive; it elevates the stakes to underscore the miraculous nature of the victory that only the LORD, not human strength, could achieve.