Battle of Mount Tabor (biblical)
Encyclopedia
The biblical Battle of Mount Tabor takes place during the time of the Book of Judges
(recorded in chapters 4 and 5) between Canaanite
forces of the king of Hazor and the Israelite army led by Barak
.
, harassed the Israelite tribes. Sisera's army was much stronger than any Israelite force sent into the field.
At this time, the prophetess Deborah
was judging
Israel. She summoned the general Barak, ordering him to march on Mount Tabor
with an Israelite army, promising that she would "deliver them" (the Canaanites) into Barak's "power".
Barak was hesitant and told Deborah that he would not undertake the campaign unless she accompanied the army. The prophetess scolded Barak, telling him that "you shall not gain the glory in the expedition on which you are setting out, for the Lord will have Sisera fall into the power of a woman." However, Deborah agreed to come, and the army gathered at Kadesh
, its number rising to 10,000.
Sisera, despite falling from his chariot, was among the Canaanites to escape the battle. Barak was determined not to let them get far, however, and pursued them so thoroughly that, among the Canaanites, "not even one man" survived. Sisera staggered into the tent of Yael
, wife of Heber
the Kenite, and begged for protection, as the Kenites were not at war with the Hazor Canaanites. Yael hid Sisera and gave him some milk to drink and killed him shortly after by knocking a tent peg through his skull after he had fallen asleep. Thus, when Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, he found that Deborah's prophecy had been fulfilled.
Book of Judges
The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Hebrew bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its title describes its contents: it contains the history of Biblical judges, divinely inspired prophets whose direct knowledge of Yahweh allows them to act as decision-makers for the Israelites, as...
(recorded in chapters 4 and 5) between Canaanite
Canaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
forces of the king of Hazor and the Israelite army led by Barak
Barak
Barak , Al-Burāq the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, was a military general in the Book of Judges in the Bible. He was the commander of the army of Deborah, the prophetess and heroine of the Hebrew Bible...
.
Background
The army of the king of Hazor, under the command of the mercenary SiseraSisera
Sisera was commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor mentioned in the of the Hebrew Bible. After being defeated by Barak, Sisera was killed by Jael, who hammered a tent peg into his temple....
, harassed the Israelite tribes. Sisera's army was much stronger than any Israelite force sent into the field.
At this time, the prophetess Deborah
Deborah
Deborah was a prophetess of Yahweh the God of the Israelites, the fourth Judge of pre-monarchic Israel, counselor, warrior, and the wife of Lapidoth according to the Book of Judges chapters 4 and 5....
was judging
Book of Judges
The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Hebrew bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its title describes its contents: it contains the history of Biblical judges, divinely inspired prophets whose direct knowledge of Yahweh allows them to act as decision-makers for the Israelites, as...
Israel. She summoned the general Barak, ordering him to march on Mount Tabor
Mount Tabor
-Places:*Mount Tabor, a hill in Israel near Nazareth believed by many to be the site of the Transfiguration of ChristIn the United States:*Mount Tabor, Indiana, an unincorporated community...
with an Israelite army, promising that she would "deliver them" (the Canaanites) into Barak's "power".
Barak was hesitant and told Deborah that he would not undertake the campaign unless she accompanied the army. The prophetess scolded Barak, telling him that "you shall not gain the glory in the expedition on which you are setting out, for the Lord will have Sisera fall into the power of a woman." However, Deborah agreed to come, and the army gathered at Kadesh
Kadesh
This article is about Kadesh in the lands of the Amurru, bordering on Damascus Syria up to Hammath; see also Kadesh or Kedesh Kadesh was an ancient city of the Levant, located on or near the headwaters or ford of the Orontes River...
, its number rising to 10,000.
The battle
The Israelites marched to Mount Tabor. Their movements were reported to Sisera, who hastened to the Wadi Kishon, near Mount Tabor. However, a downpour had soaked the ground in the area, significantly slowing the Canaanite chariots in the ensuing mud. The chariots were now almost useless and, when Barak's army attacked from Mount Tabor, the Canaanites faltered.Sisera, despite falling from his chariot, was among the Canaanites to escape the battle. Barak was determined not to let them get far, however, and pursued them so thoroughly that, among the Canaanites, "not even one man" survived. Sisera staggered into the tent of Yael
Yael
Yael is a character mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, as the heroine who killed Sisera to deliver Israel from the troops of king Jabin...
, wife of Heber
Heber
Heber may be:-Religious traditions:*One of the Minor characters in the Book of Genesis*Heber the Kenite, mentioned in the Book of Judges 4:17 of the Hebrew Bible as Jael's husband...
the Kenite, and begged for protection, as the Kenites were not at war with the Hazor Canaanites. Yael hid Sisera and gave him some milk to drink and killed him shortly after by knocking a tent peg through his skull after he had fallen asleep. Thus, when Barak arrived in pursuit of Sisera, he found that Deborah's prophecy had been fulfilled.