Judg 5:19 | KingComments | STEP | ( ) In this vivid report we see how the kings of Canaan in great self-assurance went up to deal with the rebellious people of Israel. They had thought they would achieve a great victory, with a lot of booty. But with irony in her voice Deborah says: “They took no plunder in silver.” The battle took place at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo, which is in the border areas of Issachar and Manasseh. Many interpreters point to the connection between Megiddo in the Old Testament and “Har-Magedon” in Revelation 16 ( ). Har-Magedon probably means ‘mountain of Megiddo’. The relationship between the names is not the only thing that stands out. What is even more important is the similarity between the events of Judges 4 and what is written in the book of Revelation. With Megiddo the enemy armies are defeated and the people of the LORD are delivered. At Har-Magedon something similar will take place ( ). The armies of the then restored Roman Empire, that is the united Western Europe that in the future will come to the aid of apostate Israel in its fight against the king of the north, will be destroyed by the coming of Christ. The God-fearing part of Israel is then saved and is called “all Israel” ( ). ( ) The suggestion is made that this is an allusion to a cloudburst, which turned the battlefield into a mud pool and the jammed battle cars could not do anything anymore. This enabled the Israelites to gain the victory. This would explain why Sisera did not flee in his car, but on foot ( ). The wheels got stuck in the mud and the horses sank into it. This also explains why the torrent Kison could turn into a wild flowing mass of water. However, it is also possible that God did something that He did earlier in the plagues He brought over Egypt. With the seventh plague we read: “And the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation” ( ). We can imagine that with such natural violence it can look like the stars are falling from the sky and that hail makes the ground swampy and the torrent wild. This spectacle is an encouragement for everyone who takes part in the battle. They say to themselves, as it also can be translated: “O my soul, trample on the strong ones.” When we see God interfering in the battle, it gives strength and courage. The expression “trample” or “march” is also translated as “tread upon their high places” ( ) as proof of the submission of the enemy. In Judges 20 it is translated as “trod them down” ( ). The “trampling” means breaking the enemy’s power and gaining victory. This language is also characteristic of someone who stands in the victory of Christ. Such a person is not satisfied with half the result, but continues, until the full victory is achieved in the certainty of also achieving it. No matter how the horses’ hoofs of enemy armies beat from the dashing, the enemy will be defeated in pursuit by the brave warriors of God’s people. ( ) It is not known where Meroz is or has been located. It is probably a city in the middle of the area where the battle took place. This can be inferred from the heavy curse that is pronounced about Meroz. Other tribes have also been accused of not taking part in the fight, but not that serious. It may be that this distinction originates from the location of the areas. Anyone who is closer to a conflict area and sees what is happening with their own eyes has a greater responsibility than anyone who is further away and is less directly involved in the events. A possible meaning of the name Meroz is ‘built of cedars’. This indicates something of the things they lived for. They lived in cedar palaces and lived in peace, without worrying about the condition of their brothers. They loved themselves and not the LORD. Paul says of people who do not love the Lord: “If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed” ( ). What Deborah says of Meroz reminds us of what the LORD says through the mouth of Haggai. He reproaches His people that they are all busy for their own house, while they are not concerned about God’s house ( ). They lived for here and now. Deborah is the mouth of the Angel of the LORD when she curses Meroz. This indifference to their brothers is seen as a renunciation of the help of the LORD in His fight against the enemy. Here we see how the LORD identifies Himself with His suffering people.

‏ Judges 5:19

5. Description of the Battle

(Jdg 5:19) In this vivid report we see how the kings of Canaan in great self-assurance went up to deal with the rebellious people of Israel. They had thought they would achieve a great victory, with a lot of booty. But with irony in her voice Deborah says: “They took no plunder in silver.”

The battle took place at Taanach near the waters of Megiddo, which is in the border areas of Issachar and Manasseh. Many interpreters point to the connection between Megiddo in the Old Testament and “Har-Magedon” in Revelation 16 (Rev 16:16). Har-Magedon probably means ‘mountain of Megiddo’.

The relationship between the names is not the only thing that stands out. What is even more important is the similarity between the events of Judges 4 and what is written in the book of Revelation. With Megiddo the enemy armies are defeated and the people of the LORD are delivered. At Har-Magedon something similar will take place (Rev 19:11-21). The armies of the then restored Roman Empire, that is the united Western Europe that in the future will come to the aid of apostate Israel in its fight against the king of the north, will be destroyed by the coming of Christ. The God-fearing part of Israel is then saved and is called “all Israel” (Rom 11:26).

(Jdg 5:20-22) The suggestion is made that this is an allusion to a cloudburst, which turned the battlefield into a mud pool and the jammed battle cars could not do anything anymore. This enabled the Israelites to gain the victory. This would explain why Sisera did not flee in his car, but on foot (Jdg 4:15). The wheels got stuck in the mud and the horses sank into it. This also explains why the torrent Kison could turn into a wild flowing mass of water.

However, it is also possible that God did something that He did earlier in the plagues He brought over Egypt. With the seventh plague we read: “And the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation” (Exo 9:23-24). We can imagine that with such natural violence it can look like the stars are falling from the sky and that hail makes the ground swampy and the torrent wild.

This spectacle is an encouragement for everyone who takes part in the battle. They say to themselves, as it also can be translated: “O my soul, trample on the strong ones.” When we see God interfering in the battle, it gives strength and courage. The expression “trample” or “march” is also translated as “tread upon their high places” (Deu 33:29) as proof of the submission of the enemy. In Judges 20 it is translated as “trod them down” (Jdg 20:43). The “trampling” means breaking the enemy’s power and gaining victory.

This language is also characteristic of someone who stands in the victory of Christ. Such a person is not satisfied with half the result, but continues, until the full victory is achieved in the certainty of also achieving it. No matter how the horses’ hoofs of enemy armies beat from the dashing, the enemy will be defeated in pursuit by the brave warriors of God’s people.

(Jdg 5:23) It is not known where Meroz is or has been located. It is probably a city in the middle of the area where the battle took place. This can be inferred from the heavy curse that is pronounced about Meroz. Other tribes have also been accused of not taking part in the fight, but not that serious. It may be that this distinction originates from the location of the areas. Anyone who is closer to a conflict area and sees what is happening with their own eyes has a greater responsibility than anyone who is further away and is less directly involved in the events.

A possible meaning of the name Meroz is ‘built of cedars’. This indicates something of the things they lived for. They lived in cedar palaces and lived in peace, without worrying about the condition of their brothers. They loved themselves and not the LORD. Paul says of people who do not love the Lord: “If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed” (1Cor 16:22).

What Deborah says of Meroz reminds us of what the LORD says through the mouth of Haggai. He reproaches His people that they are all busy for their own house, while they are not concerned about God’s house (Hag 1:2-4 ; 9). They lived for here and now.

Deborah is the mouth of the Angel of the LORD when she curses Meroz. This indifference to their brothers is seen as a renunciation of the help of the LORD in His fight against the enemy. Here we see how the LORD identifies Himself with His suffering people.