Revised Literal Translation

Judges 4

1And the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478againוַיֹּסִ֙פוּ֙vai.yo.Si.fuH3254didלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213evilהָרַ֖עha.Ra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,when Ehudוְאֵה֖וּדve.'e.HudH164was deadמֵֽת׃MetH4191.

2And Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068soldוַיִּמְכְּרֵ֣םvai.yim.ke.RemH4376them into the handבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027of Jabinיָבִ֣יןya.VinH2985kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Canaanכְּנַ֔עַןke.Na.'anH3667,that reignedמָלַ֖ךְma.LakhH4427in Hazorבְּחָצ֑וֹרbe.cha.TzorH2674;the captainוְשַׂר־ve.sar-H8269of whose armyצְבָאוֹ֙tze.va.'OH6635wasSiseraסִֽיסְרָ֔אsis.Ra'H5516,which dweltיוֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevH3427in Haroshethבַּחֲרֹ֥שֶׁתba.cha.Ro.shetH2800of the Gentilesהַגּוֹיִֽם׃ha.go.YimH1471.

3And the childrenבְנֵֽי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478criedוַיִּצְעֲק֥וּvai.yitz.'a.KuH6817unto Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068:for he had nineתְּשַׁ֨עte.Sha'H8672hundredמֵא֤וֹתme.'otH3967chariotsרֶֽכֶב־re.khev-H7393of ironבַּרְזֶל֙bar.ZelH1270;and twentyעֶשְׂרִ֥ים'es.RimH6242yearsשָׁנָֽה׃ סsha.NahH8141he mightilyבְּחָזְקָ֖הbe.cha.ze.KahH2394oppressedלָחַ֞ץla.ChatzH3905the childrenבְּנֵ֧יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478.

4And Deborahוּדְבוֹרָה֙u.de.vo.RahH1683,a prophetessנְבִיאָ֔הne.vi.'AhH5031,the wifeH802of Lapidothלַפִּיד֑וֹתla.pi.DotH3941,she judgedשֹׁפְטָ֥הsho.fe.TahH8199Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478at that timeבָּעֵ֥תba.'EtH6256.

5And she dweltיוֹשֶׁ֨בֶתyo.She.vetH3427under the palm treeתֹּ֜מֶרTo.merH8560of Deborahדְּבוֹרָ֗הde.vo.RahH1683between Ramahהָרָמָ֛הha.ra.MahH7414and Beth–elH1008in mountבְּהַ֣רbe.HarH2022Ephraimאֶפְרָ֑יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669:and the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478came upוַיַּעֲל֥וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927to her for judgmentלַמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃la.mish.PatH4941.

6And she sentוַתִּשְׁלַ֗חva.tish.LachH7971and calledוַתִּקְרָא֙va.tik.Ra'H7121Barakלְבָרָ֣קle.va.RakH1301the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Abinoamאֲבִינֹ֔עַם'a.vi.No.'amH42out of Kedesh–naphtaliמִקֶּ֖דֶשׁmi.Ke.deshH6943,and saidוַתֹּ֨אמֶרva.To.merH559unto him, Hath not Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068Godאֱלֹהֵֽי־'e.lo.hei-H430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478commandedצִוָּ֣ה׀tzi.VahH6680, saying,GoH3212and drawוּמָֽשַׁכְתָּ֙u.ma.shakh.TaH4900toward mountבְּהַ֣רbe.HarH2022Taborתָּב֔וֹרta.VorH8396,and takeוְלָקַחְתָּ֣ve.la.kach.TaH3947with thee tenעֲשֶׂ֤רֶת'a.Se.retH6235thousandאֲלָפִים֙'a.la.FimH505menאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376of the childrenמִבְּנֵ֥יmi.be.NeiH1121of NaphtaliH5321and of the childrenוּמִבְּנֵ֥יu.mi.be.NeiH1121of Zebulunזְבֻלֽוּן׃ze.vu.LunH2074?

7And I will drawוּמָשַׁכְתִּ֨יu.ma.shakh.TiH4900unto thee to the riverנַ֣חַלNa.chalH5158Kishonקִישׁ֗וֹןki.ShonH7028Siseraסִֽיסְרָא֙si.se.Ra'H5516,the captainשַׂר־sar-H8269of Jabin’sיָבִ֔יןya.VinH2985armyצְבָ֣אtze.Va'H6635,with his chariotsרִכְבּ֖וֹrikh.BoH7393and his multitudeהֲמוֹנ֑וֹha.mo.NoH1995;and I will deliverוּנְתַתִּ֖יהוּu.ne.ta.Ti.huH5414him into thine handבְּיָדֶֽךָ׃be.ya.De.khaH3027.

8And Barakבָּרָ֔קba.RakH1301saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto her, If thou wilt goH3212with me, then I will goH1980:but if thou wilt not goH3212with me, thenI will not goH3212.

9And she saidוַתֹּ֜אמֶרva.To.merH559,I will surelyH1980goH3212with thee: notwithstandingאֶ֚פֶס'E.fesH657the journeyהַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ha.De.rekhH1870that thou takestH1980shall not be for thine honourתִּֽפְאַרְתְּךָ֗tif.'ar.te.KhaH8597;for Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068shall sellיִמְכֹּ֥רyim.KorH4376Siseraסִֽיסְרָ֑אsis.Ra'H5516into the handבְֽיַד־ve.yad-H3027of a womanאִשָּׁ֔ה'i.ShahH802.And Deborahדְּבוֹרָ֛הde.vo.RahH1683aroseוַתָּ֧קָםva.Ta.komH6965,and wentH3212with Barakבָּרָ֖קba.RakH1301to Kedeshקֶֽדְשָׁה׃Ked.shahH6943.

10And Barakבָּרָ֜קba.RakH1301calledוַיַּזְעֵ֨קvai.yaz.'EkH2199Zebulunזְבוּלֻ֤ןze.vu.LunH2074and Naphtaliנַפְתָּלִי֙naf.ta.LiH5321to Kedeshקֶ֔דְשָׁהKed.shahH6943;and he went upוַיַּ֣עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927with tenעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת'a.Se.retH6235thousandאַלְפֵ֖י'al.FeiH505menאִ֑ישׁ'IshH376at his feetבְּרַגְלָ֔יוbe.rag.LavH7272:and Deborahדְּבוֹרָֽה׃de.vo.RahH1683went upוַתַּ֥עַלva.Ta.'alH5927with him.

11Now Heberוְחֶ֤בֶרve.Che.verH2268the Keniteהַקֵּינִי֙ha.kei.NiH7017, which wasof the childrenמִבְּנֵ֥יmi.be.NeiH1121of Hobabחֹבָ֖בcho.VavH2246the father in lawחֹתֵ֣ןcho.TenH2859of Mosesמֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehH4872,had severedנִפְרָ֣דnif.RadH6504himself from the KenitesH7017,and pitchedוַיֵּ֣טvai.YetH5186his tentאָהֳל֔וֹ'o.ho.LoH168unto the plainאֵל֥וֹן'e.LonH436of Zaanaimבְּצַעֲנַנִּ֖יםbatz.'a.nimH6815, which isby Kedeshקֶֽדֶשׁ׃Ke.deshH6943.

12And they shewedוַיַּגִּ֖דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046Siseraלְסִֽיסְרָ֑אle.si.se.Ra'H5516that Barakבָּרָ֥קba.RakH1301the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Abinoamאֲבִינֹ֖עַם'a.vi.No.'amH42was gone upעָלָ֛ה'a.LahH5927to mountהַר־har-H2022Taborתָּבֽוֹר׃ סta.VorH8396.

13And Siseraסִֽיסְרָ֜אsis.Ra'H5516gathered togetherוַיַּזְעֵ֨קvai.yaz.'EkH2199all his chariotsרִכְבּ֗וֹrikh.BoH7393, evennineתְּשַׁ֤עte.Sha'H8672hundredמֵאוֹת֙me.'OtH3967chariotsרֶ֣כֶבRe.khevH7393of ironבַּרְזֶ֔לbar.ZelH1270,and all the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971that werewith him, from Haroshethמֵחֲרֹ֥שֶׁתme.cha.Ro.shetH2800of the Gentilesהַגּוֹיִ֖םha.go.YimH1471unto the riverנַ֥חַלNa.chalH5158of Kishonקִישֽׁוֹן׃ki.ShonH7028.

14And Deborahדְּבֹרָ֨הde.vo.RahH1683saidוַתֹּאמֶר֩va.to.MerH559unto Barakבָּרָ֜קba.RakH1301,Upק֗וּםKumH6965; for this isthe dayהַיּוֹם֙hai.yOmH3117in which Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068hath deliveredנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414Siseraסִֽיסְרָא֙si.se.Ra'H5516into thine handבְּיָדֶ֔ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027:is not Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068gone outיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318beforeלְפָנֶ֑יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440thee? So Barakבָּרָק֙ba.RakH1301went downוַיֵּ֤רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381from mountמֵהַ֣רme.HarH2022Taborתָּב֔וֹרta.VorH8396,and tenוַעֲשֶׂ֧רֶתva.'a.Se.retH6235thousandאֲלָפִ֛ים'a.la.FimH505menאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376afterאַחֲרָֽיו׃'a.cha.RavH310him.

15And Yhwhיְ֠הוָהYah.wehH3068discomfitedוַיָּ֣הָםvai.Ya.homH2000Siseraסִֽיסְרָ֨אsis.Ra'H5516, and all hischariotsהָרֶ֧כֶבha.Re.khevH7393, and all hisarmyהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֛הha.ma.cha.NehH4264,with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחֶ֖רֶבChe.revH2719beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Barakבָרָ֑קva.RakH1301;so that Siseraסִֽיסְרָ֛אsis.Ra'H5516lighted downוַיֵּ֧רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381off hischariotהַמֶּרְכָּבָ֖הha.mer.ka.VahH4818,and fled awayוַיָּ֥נָסvai.Ya.nosH5127on his feetבְּרַגְלָֽיו׃be.rag.LavH7272.

16But Barakוּבָרָ֗קu.va.RakH1301pursuedרָדַ֞ףra.DafH7291afterH310the chariotsהָרֶ֙כֶב֙ha.Re.khevH7393,and after the armyהַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הha.ma.cha.NehH4264,unto Haroshethחֲרֹ֣שֶׁתcha.Ro.shetH2800of the Gentilesהַגּוֹיִ֑םha.go.YimH1471:and all the armyמַחֲנֵ֤הma.cha.NehH4264of Siseraסִֽיסְרָא֙si.se.Ra'H5516fellוַיִּפֹּ֞לvai.yi.PolH5307upon the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחֶ֔רֶבChe.revH2719; andthere was not a manאֶחָֽד׃'e.ChadH259leftנִשְׁאַ֖רnish.'ArH7604.

17Howbeit Siseraוְסִֽיסְרָא֙ve.si.se.Ra'H5516fled awayנָ֣סnasH5127on his feetבְּרַגְלָ֔יוbe.rag.LavH7272to the tentאֹ֣הֶל'O.helH168of Jaelיָעֵ֔לya.'ElH3278the wifeאֵ֖שֶּׁת'E.shetH802of Heberחֶ֣בֶרChe.verH2268the Keniteהַקֵּינִ֑יha.kei.NiH7017: for there waspeaceשָׁל֗וֹםsha.LomH7965between Jabinיָבִ֣יןya.VinH2985the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Hazorחָצ֔וֹרcha.TzorH2674and the houseבֵּ֖יתbeitH1004of Heberחֶ֥בֶרChe.verH2268the Keniteהַקֵּינִֽי׃ha.kei.NiH7017.

18And Jaelיָעֵל֮ya.'ElH3278went outוַתֵּצֵ֣אva.te.Tze'H3318to meetH7125Siseraסִֽיסְרָא֒si.se.Ra'H5516,and saidוַתֹּ֣אמֶרva.To.merH559unto him, Turn inסוּרָ֧הsu.RahH5493,my lordאֲדֹנִ֛י'a.do.NiH113,turn inסוּרָ֥הsu.RahH5493to me; fearתִּירָ֑אti.Ra'H3372not. And when he had turned inוַיָּ֤סַרvai.Ya.sarH5493unto her into the tentהָאֹ֔הֱלָהha.'O.he.lahH168,she coveredוַתְּכַסֵּ֖הוּva.te.kha.Se.huH3680him with a mantleבַּשְּׂמִיכָֽה׃ba.se.mi.KhahH8063.

19And he saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a littleמְעַט־me.'at-H4592waterמַ֖יִםMa.yimH4325to drinkהַשְׁקִינִי־hash.ki.ni-H8248;for I am thirstyצָמֵ֑אתִיtza.Me.tiH6770.And she openedוַתִּפְתַּ֞חva.tif.TachH6605a bottleנֹ֧אודNodH4997of milkהֶחָלָ֛בhe.cha.LavH2461,and gave him drinkוַתַּשְׁקֵ֖הוּva.tash.Ke.huH8248,and coveredוַתְּכַסֵּֽהוּ׃va.te.kha.Se.huH3680him.

20Again he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto her, Stand inעֲמֹ֖ד'a.ModH5975the doorפֶּ֣תַחPe.tachH6607of the tentהָאֹ֑הֶלha.'O.helH168,and it shall be, when any manאִ֨ישׁ'ishH376doth comeיָב֜וֹאya.Vo'H935and enquireוּשְׁאֵלֵ֗ךְu.she.'e.LekhH7592of thee, and sayוְאָמַ֛רve.'a.MarH559,Is thereH3426any manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376hereH3426?that thou shalt sayוְאָמַ֥רְתְּve.'a.MartH559, No.

21Then Jaelיָעֵ֣לya.'ElH3278Heber’sחֶ֠בֶרChe.verH2268wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־'e.shet-H802tookוַתִּקַּ֣חva.ti.KachH3947a nailיְתַ֨דye.TadH3489of the tentהָאֹ֜הֶלha.'O.helH168,and tookוַתָּ֧שֶׂםva.Ta.semH7760an hammerהַמַּקֶּ֣בֶתha.ma.Ke.vetH4718in her handבְּיָדָ֗הּbe.ya.DahH3027,and wentוַתָּב֤וֹאva.ta.Vo'H935softlyבַּלָּ֔אטba.LatH3814unto him, and smoteוַתִּתְקַ֤עva.tit.Ka'H8628the nailהַיָּתֵד֙hai.ya.TedH3489into his templesבְּרַקָּת֔וֹbe.ra.ka.ToH7541,and fastenedוַתִּצְנַ֖חva.titz.NachH6795it into the groundבָּאָ֑רֶץba.'A.retzH776:for he was fast asleepנִרְדָּ֥םnir.DamH7290and wearyH5774.So he diedוַיָּמֹֽת׃vai.ya.MotH4191.

22And, behold, as Barakבָרָק֮va.RakH1301pursuedרֹדֵ֣ףro.DefH7291Siseraסִֽיסְרָא֒si.se.Ra'H5516,Jaelיָעֵל֙ya.'ElH3278came outוַתֵּצֵ֤אva.te.Tze'H3318to meetH7125him, and saidוַתֹּ֣אמֶרva.To.merH559unto him, ComeH3212,and I will shewוְאַרְאֶ֔ךָּve.'ar.'E.kaH7200thee the manהָאִ֖ישׁha.'IshH376whom thou seekestמְבַקֵּ֑שׁme.va.KeshH1245.And when he cameוַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'H935into her tent,behold, Siseraסִֽיסְרָא֙si.se.Ra'H5516layנֹפֵ֣לno.FelH5307deadמֵ֔תMetH4191,and the nailוְהַיָּתֵ֖דve.hai.ya.TedH3489wasin his templesבְּרַקָּתֽוֹ׃be.ra.ka.ToH7541.

23So Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430subduedוַיַּכְנַ֤עvai.yakh.Na'H3665on that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117Jabinיָבִ֣יןya.VinH2985the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

24And the handיַ֤דyadH3027of the childrenבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478prosperedH1980 H3212,and prevailedוְקָשָׁ֔הve.ka.ShahH7186against Jabinיָבִ֣יןya.VinH2985the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667,until they had destroyedהִכְרִ֔יתוּhikh.Ri.tuH3772Jabinיָבִ֥יןya.VinH2985kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ פke.Na.'anH3667.

Commentaries on Judges 4