1
The People of Israel kept right on doing evil in God's sight. With Ehud dead,
2
God sold them off to Jabin king of Canaan who ruled from Hazor. Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim, was the commander of his army.
3
The People of Israel cried out to God because he had cruelly oppressed them with his nine hundred iron chariots for twenty years.
4
Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time.
5
She held court under Deborah's Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hills of Ephraim. The People of Israel went to her in matters of justice.
6
She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "It has become clear that God, the God of Israel, commands you: Go to Mount Tabor and prepare for battle. Take ten companies of soldiers from Naphtali and Zebulun.
7
I'll take care of getting Sisera, the leader of Jabin's army, to the Kishon River with all his chariots and troops. And I'll make sure you win the battle."
8
Barak said, "If you go with me, I'll go. But if you don't go with me, I won't go."
9
She said, "Of course I'll go with you. But understand that with an attitude like that, there'll be no glory in it for you. God will use a woman's hand to take care of Sisera."