Study Desk

So the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the people of the land. For they did not drive them out.

So now I say, ‘I will not drive them away from you. They will be like thorns in your sides. Their gods will be a trap to you.'"

So they called that place Bochim. And there they gave gifts in worship to the Lord.

They turned away from the Lord, the God of their fathers, Who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods of the nations around them, and worshiped them. So they made the Lord angry.

So the anger of the Lord was against Israel. He said, "This nation has sinned against My agreement I made with their fathers. They have not listened to My voice.

So the Lord let those nations stay. He was not quick to drive them out. And He did not give them into the power of Joshua.

So the children of the people of Israel who had not fought in wars might be taught about war.

So the anger of the Lord was against Israel. He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. The people of Israel worked for Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.

The people of Israel sinned in the eyes of the Lord again. So the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab strength against Israel, because they had sinned in the eyes of the Lord.

When Ehud had gone out, Eglon's servants came. They saw that the doors of the summer room were locked. So they said, "He is only resting in there away from the heat."

They waited until they were afraid because Eglon did not open the doors of the summer room. So they opened the lock and looked in the doors. And they found their owner lying dead on the floor.

He said to them, "Go after them. For the Lord has given into your hands the Moabites who hate you." So they went down after him. They took over the crossing places of the Jordan beside Moab. And they did not let anyone cross.

So Moab was crushed under the power of Israel that day. And the land had rest for eighty years.

So the Lord let them be taken by Jabin king of Canaan, who ruled in Hazor. The head of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.

Deborah said to Barak, "Get up! For this is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. See, the Lord has gone out before you." So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and 10,000 men followed him.

Jael went out to meet Sisera, saying, "Come in, my lord. Come in to me. Do not be afraid." So he went into her tent, and she put a cover over him.

He said to her, "Give me a little water to drink. For I am thirsty." So she opened a skin bag of milk and gave him a drink. Then she covered him.

But Heber's wife Jael took a big tent nail in her hand and a tool to hit it with. Because Sisera was very tired, he went into a deep sleep. She went to him in secret and hit the big nail into the side of his head. It went through and into the ground. So he died.

As Barak came after Sisera, Jael came out to meet him. She said to him, "Come. I will show you the man you are looking for." So Barak went in with her, and he saw Sisera lying dead with the big tent nail in his head.

"The mother of Sisera looked out of the window. She looked through the window and cried in sorrow, ‘Why is his war-wagon so long in coming? Why do the steps of his horses wait?'