Exodus 17:9-16
Moses said to Joshua,“ Choose some of our men. Then go out and fight against the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I’ll stand there holding the walking stick God gave me.”So Joshua fought against the Amalekites, just as Moses had ordered. Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.As long as Moses held up his hand, the Israelites were winning. But every time he lowered his hands, the Amalekites began to win.When Moses’ arms got tired, Aaron and Hur got a stone and put it under him. Then he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands. Aaron was on one side, and Hur was on the other. Moses’ hands remained steady until sunset.So Joshua destroyed the Amalekite army with swords.Then the Lord said to Moses,“ This is something to be remembered. So write it on a scroll. Make sure Joshua knows you have done it. I will completely erase the memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”Then Moses built an altar. He called it The Lord Is My Banner.He said,“ The Amalekites opposed the authority of the Lord. So the Lord will fight against the Amalekites for all time to come.”
Judges 4:6-5:31
Deborah sent for Barak. He was the son of Abinoam. Barak was from Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. Deborah said to Barak,“ The Lord, the God of Israel, is giving you a command. He says,‘ Go! Take 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun with you. Then lead them up to Mount Tabor.I will lead Sisera into a trap. He is the commander of Jabin’s army. I will bring him, his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River. There I will hand him over to you.’ ”Barak said to her,“ If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”“ All right,” Deborah said.“ I’ll go with you. But because of the way you are doing this, you won’t receive any honor. Instead, the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.” So Deborah went to Kedesh with Barak.There he sent for men from Zebulun and Naphtali. And 10,000 men followed him into battle. Deborah also went with him.Heber, the Kenite, had left the other Kenites. They came from the family line of Hobab. He was the brother- in- law of Moses. Heber set up his tent by the large tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.Sisera was told that Barak, the son of Abinoam, had gone up to Mount Tabor.So Sisera gathered together his 900 chariots that had some iron parts. He also gathered together all his men. He brought them from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.Then Deborah said to Barak,“ Go! Today the Lord will hand Sisera over to you. Hasn’t the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor. His 10,000 men followed him.As Barak’s men marched out, the Lord drove Sisera away from the field of battle. The Lord scattered all of Sisera’s chariots. Barak’s men struck down Sisera’s army with their swords. Sisera got down from his chariot. He ran away on foot.Barak chased Sisera’s chariots and army. Barak chased them all the way to Harosheth Haggoyim. All of Sisera’s troops were killed by swords. Not even one was left.But Sisera ran away on foot. He ran to the tent of Jael. She was the wife of Heber, the Kenite. Sisera ran there because there was a treaty between Heber’s family and Jabin, the king of Hazor.Jael went out to meet Sisera.“ Come in, sir,” she said.“ Come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent. Then she covered him with a blanket.“ I’m thirsty,” he said.“ Please give me some water.” So Jael opened a bottle of milk. The bottle was made out of animal skin. She gave him a drink of milk. Then she covered him up again.“ Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her.“ Someone might come by and ask you,‘ Is anyone in there?’ If that happens, say‘ No.’ ”But Heber’s wife Jael picked up a tent stake and a hammer. She went quietly over to Sisera. He was lying there, fast asleep. He was very tired. She drove the stake through his head right into the ground. So he died.Just then Barak came by because he was chasing Sisera. Jael went out to meet him.“ Come right in,” she said.“ I’ll show you the man you are looking for.” So he went in with her. Sisera was lying there with the stake through his head. He was dead.On that day God brought Jabin under Israel’s control. He was a king in Canaan.Israel’s power grew stronger and stronger against King Jabin. The Israelites became so strong that they destroyed him.On that day Deborah and Barak sang a song. Barak was the son of Abinoam. Here is what Deborah and Barak sang.“ The princes in Israel lead the way. The people follow them just because they want to. When this happens, praise the Lord!“ Kings, hear this! Rulers, listen! I will sing to the Lord. I will praise the Lord in song. He is the God of Israel.“ Lord, you went out from Seir. You marched out from the land of Edom. The earth shook. The heavens poured. The clouds poured down their water.The mountains shook because of the Lord. He was at Mount Sinai. They shook because of the Lord. He is the God of Israel.“ The main roads were deserted. So travelers used the winding paths. That happened in the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath. It happened in the days of Jael.Those who lived in the villages of Israel would not fight. They held back until I, Deborah, came. I came as a mother in Israel.War came to the city gates. Then God chose new leaders. But no shields or spears were seen anywhere. There weren’t any among 40,000 men in Israel.My heart is with the princes in Israel. It’s with the people who follow them just because they want to. Praise the Lord!“ Some of you ride on white donkeys. Some of you sit on your saddle blankets. Some of you walk along the road. Think aboutthe voices of the singers at the watering places. They sing about the victories of the Lord. They sing about the victories of his people who live in Israel’s villages.“ The people of the Lord went down to the city gates.‘ Wake up, Deborah! Wake up!’ they said.‘ Wake up! Wake up! Begin to sing! Barak, get up! Son of Abinoam, capture your prisoners!’“ The nobles who were left came down. The people of the Lord came down to me against the powerful enemy.Some came from the part of Ephraim where some Amalekites lived. Some from Benjamin were with the people who followed Ephraim. Captains came down from Makir. Those who rule like commanders came down from Zebulun.The princes of Issachar were with Deborah. The men of Issachar were with Barak. They went into the valley under his command. In the territories of Reuben, men looked deeply into their hearts.Why did they stay among the sheep pens? Why did they stay to hear shepherds whistling for the flocks? In the territories of Reuben, men looked deeply into their hearts.Gilead stayed east of the Jordan River. Why did Dan stay near the ships? The men of Asher remained on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. They stayed in their safe harbors.The people of Zebulun put their very lives in danger. So did Naphtali on the hillside fields.“ Kings came and fought. The kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the streams of Megiddo. But they didn’t carry away any silver. They didn’t take anything at all.From the heavens the stars fought. From the sky they fought against Sisera.The Kishon River swept them away. The Kishon is a very old river. My spirit, march on! Be strong!The hooves of the horses pounded like thunder. The powerful horses of our enemies galloped away.‘ Let Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord.‘ Let bitter curses fall on its people. They did not come to help the Lord. They did not come to help him against our powerful enemies.’“ May Jael be the most blessed woman of all. May the wife of Heber, the Kenite, be blessed. May she be the most blessed woman of all those who live in tents.Sisera asked for water. She gave him milk. In a bowl fit for nobles she brought him buttermilk.Her hand reached out for a tent stake. Her right hand reached for a hammer. She hit Sisera. She crushed his head. She drove the stake right through his head.He sank down. He fell at her feet. He was lying there. At her feet he sank down. He fell. He fell where he sank down. That’s where he died.“ Sisera’s mother looked out through the window. From behind the wooden screen she cried out.‘ Why is his chariot taking so long to get here?’ she said.‘ Why can’t I hear the noise of his chariots yet?’Her wisest ladies answer her. And here’s what she keeps saying to herself.She says,‘ They must be finding riches to bring back. They must be dividing them up. Each man is getting a woman or two. They are giving colorful clothes to Sisera. The clothes are very beautiful. He will bring some for me to wear. The men must be finding many things to bring home.’“ Lord, may all your enemies be destroyed. But may all who love you be like the morning sun. May they be like the sun when it shines the brightest.” So the land was at peace for 40 years.
