Judges 4:2 kjv
And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
Judges 4:2 nkjv
So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim.
Judges 4:2 niv
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 Harosheth Haggoyim.
Judges 4:2 esv
And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.
Judges 4:2 nlt
So the LORD turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim.
Judges 4 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:30 | "How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them...?" | God's selling or abandoning His people. |
| Judg 2:14 | "So the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. He delivered them into the hands of plunderers..." | Divine judgment, handing over to enemies. |
| Judg 3:8 | "Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim..." | Parallel phrasing for God's action in a previous oppression. |
| Judg 10:7 | "So the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the people of Ammon." | Another instance of God 'selling' His people into bondage. |
| Lev 26:14-17 | "But if you do not obey Me... I will appoint terror over you, wasting disease... Your enemies shall eat it." | Covenant curses for disobedience, resulting in enemy dominance. |
| Deut 28:15, 25 | "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord... The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies." | The broader context of covenant breaking leading to defeat. |
| Josh 11:1-13 | "So Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the mountains... and Hazor he burned with fire." | Previous conquest and destruction of Hazor by Joshua, highlighting its resurgence. |
| 1 Sam 12:9-11 | "And when you forgot the Lord your God, He sold you into the hand of Sisera... and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab." | Samuel recounts Israel's history of divine judgment and foreign oppression. |
| Neh 9:26-27 | "Nevertheless they were disobedient... therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies who oppressed them." | A prayer summarizing Israel's historical cycle of rebellion and divine punishment. |
| Pss 44:12 | "You sell Your people for a trifle, And do not profit from their sale." | Laments God's apparent abandonment, though it is due to their sin. |
| Isa 50:1 | "For your iniquities have you sold yourselves..." | Highlights that Israel's own sin caused their servitude. |
| Jer 2:19 | "Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing to forsake the Lord your God..." | Direct consequences of abandoning God. |
| Amos 9:7 | "Are you not like the people of Ethiopia to Me, O children of Israel? says the Lord. Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, The Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?" | God's sovereignty over all nations, using them for His purposes. |
| Rom 1:24, 26, 28 | "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness... God gave them up to vile passions... God gave them over to a debased mind." | NT concept of God "giving over" people to consequences of sin. |
| Heb 12:5-6, 10 | "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord... For whom the Lord loves He chastens..." | Divine discipline for restoration and growth. |
| Rev 3:19 | "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." | Reinforces the purpose of divine correction. |
| Judg 4:1 | "When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord." | The direct cause preceding the oppression in Judg 4:2. |
| Judg 5:19 | "The kings came and fought... by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoils of silver." | Reference to the battle against Sisera at a location near Harosheth. |
| Deut 7:2-4 | "you shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them... for they would turn your sons away from following Me..." | God's command not to ally with Canaanites, which Israel failed to obey, leading to their dominance. |
Judges 4 verses
Judges 4 2 Meaning
Judges 4:2 describes a new period of Israelite oppression after the death of Ehud. The Lord, as a consequence of Israel's renewed disobedience and apostasy (mentioned in the preceding verse), "sold" them, meaning He delivered or abandoned them, into the hands of Jabin, the powerful king of Canaan reigning in Hazor. This verse also identifies Sisera, Jabin's formidable military commander, who was stationed at Harosheth Hagoyim. This divine action initiated another cycle of judgment and servitude for the people of Israel.
Judges 4 2 Context
Judges chapter 4 immediately follows the peace established by the judge Ehud. Judges 4:1 states that after Ehud's death, "the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord." This sets the stage for the recurring cycle observed throughout the Book of Judges: Israel's sin and idolatry provoke God's anger, leading Him to allow them to fall under the oppression of foreign powers. Verse 2 initiates this phase, specifying the new oppressor.
Historically, the Canaanites were the native inhabitants of the land God promised to Israel. While Joshua had conquered many cities, including Hazor (Joshua 11:10-11), Israel failed to completely drive out all the inhabitants as commanded by God. Over time, due to spiritual compromise and disobedience, the remaining Canaanite populations regrew in strength and influence, sometimes even re-establishing powerful kingdoms like Hazor. The period of the Judges was characterized by this fluctuating state of obedience, rebellion, divine judgment, and deliverance, illustrating Israel's struggles to fully possess the land and adhere to their covenant with Yahweh. Jabin's reign over a powerful northern kingdom with a strong military, especially known for its chariots (mentioned in Judg 4:3), represents a formidable challenge to an apostate Israel.
Judges 4 2 Word analysis
- And the Lord (וַיהוָה - wai Yahweh): Emphasizes divine agency. It is Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, who sovereignly orchestrates these events, not chance or the superior might of the Canaanites alone. This underscores God's active role in judging His people's unfaithfulness.
- sold them (וַיִּמְכֹּר - vayyimkôr): Literally "and He sold." This Hebrew verb denotes handing over, giving up, or abandoning to an external power, usually as a consequence of actions, much like property being given up or sold into bondage. It does not imply a literal financial transaction. It signifies God's deliberate act of withdrawing His protective hand and delivering Israel into the control of their enemies as a disciplinary measure for their sin and spiritual infidelity. This is a common metaphor for divine judgment in the Bible, signifying servitude.
- into the hand of (בְּיַד - bəyad): This idiom means "into the power," "under the control," or "at the mercy of." It describes subjugation and enslavement. Israel was brought completely under the dominion of their oppressors.
- Jabin (יָבִין - Yāḇîn) king of Canaan: "Jabin" means "intelligent" or "discerning." The recurrence of this name for a king of Hazor, previously defeated by Joshua (Josh 11), could indicate a dynastic name or the revival of a powerful city state after generations. "King of Canaan" here signifies his extensive dominion over the Canaanite peoples, particularly in the north. This also highlights Israel's failure to complete the conquest.
- Hazor (חָצוֹר - Ḥāṣôr): A historically very important and large fortified city in northern Canaan, near the Waters of Merom. Its re-emergence as a dominant power signifies a significant threat to Israel and their continued failure to maintain control over the promised land. Archeological evidence confirms its importance.
- the commander of whose army (וְשַׂר־צְבָאוֹ - wəśar-tzəḇāʾô): Identifies Sisera as the head of Jabin's military, indicating a professional army and structured opposition. This implies a centralized military power that poses a severe threat.
- Sisera (סִיסְרָא - Sîsərā): A foreign name, possibly Philistine or Aegean, given the diverse ethnic mix in the region. His distinct mention separate from Jabin emphasizes his personal significance as a powerful military leader. His headquarters location is specific.
- Harosheth Hagoyim (חֲרֹשֶׁת הַגּוֹיִם - Ḥărošet Hagōyim): "Harosheth of the Gentiles/Nations" or "Work-shop of the Nations." This location implies a concentration of non-Israelite populations, possibly a manufacturing hub, particularly for weapons or chariots (Judg 4:3 mentions iron chariots), reinforcing its strategic and military importance for the Canaanites. Its name also suggests a melting pot of various "nations" or foreign groups, which may have contributed to its military strength and served as a base of operations for Sisera's army.
Judges 4 2 Bonus section
The reappearance of Hazor as a major Canaanite power suggests either a remarkably swift and effective rebuilding after Joshua's conquest or, more likely, a considerable period of time where Israel was not effectively exercising their dominion in the north. Some scholars propose that the "Jabin" mentioned here may not be the same individual as in Joshua's time but a dynastic name or title of the kings of Hazor, signifying a revived Canaanite confederacy with strong control over key trade routes and military resources, particularly their dreaded iron chariots. This shows the long-term consequences of Israel's spiritual decline, as well as the deep-seated nature of their disobedience in failing to completely drive out the pagan influences from the land, which God had strictly commanded for their protection and holiness.
Judges 4 2 Commentary
Judges 4:2 powerfully encapsulates a pivotal moment in the cycle of apostasy and divine judgment during the Judges period. The direct assertion that "the Lord sold them" underscores Yahweh's absolute sovereignty and active involvement in the affairs of His people. Their servitude under Jabin and Sisera was not a mere stroke of bad luck or the overwhelming strength of the enemy; it was a deliberate act of God's discipline. This reflects a theological understanding common in ancient Israel: national fortune was directly tied to fidelity to the covenant with God. When Israel strayed into idolatry, as stated in Judges 4:1, God, in His righteousness, withdrew His protection and used foreign oppressors as instruments of correction.
The mention of Hazor and its king, Jabin, highlights the re-emergence of a powerful Canaanite stronghold that Joshua had previously destroyed. This signifies Israel's failure to fully dispossess the inhabitants of the land, leading to recurring conflicts and domination. Sisera's prominence as the army commander based at Harosheth Hagoyim (likely a center of Gentile power and military industry) emphasizes the organized and formidable nature of this oppression, particularly due to their superior iron weaponry (mentioned in the next verse). The specific identification of the oppressor details the reality of their suffering, which would eventually compel Israel to cry out to the Lord for deliverance, setting the stage for Deborah and Barak. This verse ultimately serves as a stark reminder of the bitter consequences of covenant disobedience and God's unwavering commitment to His people's repentance and faithfulness, even through severe chastening.