Judges 4 3

Judges 4:3 kjv

And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

Judges 4:3 nkjv

And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel.

Judges 4:3 niv

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.

Judges 4:3 esv

Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years.

Judges 4:3 nlt

Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help.

Judges 4 verses

Judges 4 3 Meaning

Judges 4:3 describes the moment when the people of Israel, having suffered severely for two decades under the oppressive hand of Jabin, king of Hazor, finally turned back to the Lord and cried out for deliverance. This king, through his commander Sisera, commanded an overwhelming military force, particularly noted for its fearsome nine hundred chariots made with iron, symbolizing his perceived invincibility and the depth of Israel's plight. Their cry indicates a recognition of their desperate state and a return, albeit under duress, to seek their covenant God.

Judges 4 3 Context

Judges chapter 4 unfolds during a dark period in Israel's history, characterized by recurrent cycles of disobedience, divine judgment in the form of oppression, the people's cry for deliverance, and God raising up a deliverer. This verse initiates the fourth major cycle of oppression after the time of Ehud. The immediate context shows Israel again doing "evil in the sight of the Lord" (Judg 4:1) following the death of Ehud. Their disobedience led God to hand them over to Jabin, king of Hazor, a powerful Canaanite stronghold whose previous destruction by Joshua (Josh 11:1-12) seemingly was not complete, or whose power had regenerated. Hazor was a formidable enemy, situated in the northern part of Israel. Sisera, Jabin's commander, ruled with ruthless efficiency from Harosheth Hagoyim, commanding an intimidating force that included 900 chariots of iron. This was state-of-the-art military technology, a highly effective and terrifying weapon in ancient warfare, giving Sisera overwhelming superiority on the plains. The twenty years of oppression described in the verse indicates a prolonged, severe period of hardship and subjugation for the Israelites, pushing them to the point of utter desperation where they finally recognized their need to turn back to the Lord.

Judges 4 3 Word analysis

• And the children of Israel: This phrase emphasizes the corporate identity of God's covenant people. Their action, "cried," represents the national response to their suffering. It reflects their ongoing pattern in the book of Judges—a cycle of unfaithfulness leading to distress.
• cried (צעק - tsa'aq): This Hebrew verb denotes a loud, desperate, often sudden outcry or scream, typically for help or in protest of injustice or great distress. It implies deep suffering and helplessness. This is a common phrase in the Book of Judges to describe Israel's turning point from idolatry and oppression back towards God. It signals not necessarily deep spiritual repentance, but a desperate call born out of immediate physical and political anguish, which God, in His mercy, responds to.
• unto the Lord (יהוה - Yahweh): This specifies the divine recipient of their cry. After abandoning Yahweh for Baal and Ashtoreth, their cry "unto the Lord" signifies a crucial turning, however superficial or desperate, back to their covenant God, recognizing His authority and power even in their forgotten state.
• for he had nine hundred chariots of iron:
  • nine hundred: This number represents a massive and overwhelming force for that period, symbolizing total dominance and the utter helplessness of the Israelites. It signifies an almost unbeatable military advantage in ancient warfare.
  • chariots of iron (רֶכֶב בַּרְזֶל - rechev barzel): These were formidable weapons, heavily armored and used for shock tactics in battle. Iron, a newly developed and robust material, would have made them nearly impenetrable and highly destructive against infantry, particularly on the flat plains suited for chariots. Their presence highlights the terrifying military superiority of Sisera's army and the significant challenge faced by Israel. It sets up a powerful contrast, where human reliance on seemingly invincible military technology will be overcome by God's supernatural intervention, emphasizing that His power transcends human might. This detail serves as a direct polemic, subtly affirming God's supremacy over all worldly power and human strength.
• and twenty years: (‘esrim shanah). This duration emphasizes the prolonged and severe nature of the oppression. It signifies a long period of suffering, degradation, and loss, highlighting the profound effect of their disobedience and making their cry for help deeply sincere out of utter weariness.
• he mightily oppressed (לחץ בְחָזְקָה - lachats b'chozkah):
  • oppressed (lachats): Means to press, squeeze, crush, or afflict. It denotes severe duress and harsh subjugation, physically, economically, and emotionally.
  • mightily (b'chozkah): Intensifies the action, meaning "with strength" or "powerfully." It underscores the heavy hand and brutal nature of Sisera's dominion over Israel, leaving them utterly subdued and desperate.

Judges 4 3 Bonus section

• The phrase "cried unto the Lord" appears frequently throughout the book of Judges (e.g., Judg 3:9, 3:15, 6:6-7, 10:10), establishing a cyclical pattern. It consistently marks the lowest point of Israel's spiritual decline and the turning point where God's redemptive action is initiated.
• The "chariots of iron" also reflect a technological advancement that gave the Canaanites a tactical edge against Israel, who primarily relied on infantry. God's subsequent victory through Deborah and Barak will be a demonstration of divine power nullifying even advanced military technology, notably through a natural event (rain, creating boggy terrain for chariots) and a woman's strategic brilliance and another woman's act.
• The re-emergence of Jabin, king of Hazor, from a city supposedly eradicated by Joshua (Josh 11) indicates that Israel's initial conquest was either incomplete or that remnants of Canaanite power successfully rebuilt and reasserted dominance, largely due to Israel's disobedience and failure to completely dispossess their enemies as commanded by God. This historical echo underlines the consequences of Israel's spiritual complacency.

Judges 4 3 Commentary

Judges 4:3 starkly presents the nadir of Israel's national life under Canaanite subjugation, revealing their repeated failure to adhere to the covenant and God's unwavering response to their desperate plea. The severity of the oppression by King Jabin, conveyed by the twenty-year duration and the fearsome nine hundred chariots of iron, underscores Israel's vulnerability and Sisera's perceived invincibility. These "chariots of iron" represent the ultimate military advantage of the age, making any resistance seem futile. Yet, the verse pivots on Israel's "cry unto the Lord," which signifies their turning away from idols and acknowledging Him as their only hope. This act, while possibly driven by pragmatism rather than deep spiritual revival, initiates God's mechanism of deliverance. It exemplifies the recurring biblical theme that even in profound suffering caused by their own sin, God responds mercifully to the genuine distress and desperate call of His people, regardless of their past infidelity.