Bible Strands
Judges 4:12
When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up Mount Tabor,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator delivers a military update to Sisera at the precise moment Barak advances his forces toward Mount Tabor. This intelligence directly precedes Sisera's mobilization of his iron chariot corps.
The words — The verb וַיַּגִּדוּ (wa.ya.Gi.du) literally means "and they told," indicating messengers delivering news to Sisera. The phrase עָלָה בָּרָק (a.Lah ba.Rak) translates to "Barak went up," describing his tactical ascent to the high ground.
The thread — Mount Tabor appears in Joshua 19:12 and Joshua 19:34 as a geographic marker within the tribal borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. It is later invoked in Psalm 89:12 as a created landmark that rejoices in God's name.
Why it lands — The verse records a factual military report that demands recognition of how strategic terrain influences ancient warfare. It requires the reader to note the shift from Kenite neutrality to active military confrontation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
Cross-references
- Psalms 89:12 North and south You created; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.
- Joshua 19:12 From Sarid it turned eastward along the border of Chisloth-tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia.
- Joshua 19:34 Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and ran from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun on the south side, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east.
- Jeremiah 46:18 As surely as I live, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts, there will come one who is like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea.
- Judges 4:6 She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.